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The Planning Commission approved
an 82-unit senior housing
development this week at the
site of the former Hillcrest
Motel in the Dimond district.
Neighbors of the future Lincoln
Court development had fought to
close the Hillcrest and said
they're thrilled the plan was
embraced by the city.
"We're glad, the neighbors are
glad," activist Marcel DeGross
said after the commission's
Wednesday night meeting. "It was
a long fight, and now we just
want to get on with our lives."
The Lincoln Court development
will be three stories high at
its highest and hold 82
apartments for seniors. The
lower level of the new building
will be a 5,000-square-foot
senior center.
The $15 million project is being
built by Domus Development, a
San Francisco nonprofit housing
corporation. The housing project
will be the start of a new era
for the Dimond district, said
Meea Kang of Domus.
"It's a true testimony to what
the neighborhood wants," she
said of the large number of
people who turned out in support
of the project.
After several years of dispute,
the city knocked down the
Hillcrest Motel on MacArthur
Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue
last year.
Neighbors had complained it was
a blight, and Oakland police
said it was a magnet for
criminal activity, including
drug dealing and prostitution.
Finally, Councilmember Jean
Quan's (Montclair-Laurel) staff
took on the motel. Oakland
followed suit under a
three-year-old law targeting
substandard hotels.
Hillcrest was the first motel
the city attorney's office
brought before an administrative
judge, alleging the owners had
violated terms of their
operating agreement.
The hearing officer imposed 17
specific restrictions to improve
security at the motel and
protect the safety of its
guests. Hillcrest owners decided
to shut down the motel and put
it on the market.
Domus Development bought the
property for more than $1
million. It recently received a
$3.5 million loan from the city,
which officials at Domus said
they intend to pay back and are
in line for federal grants.
The Planning Commission's
decision is final unless it is
appealed to the City Council
within 10 days of Wednesday's
ruling.
Quan said she doubts there will
be an appeal, and said the City
Council supports the project.
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