Jamboree is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that is repurposing a site in the southwest neighborhood of the City of Chico. When complete in summer 2023, Park Avenue Chico (the community’s current working name) will be new affordable housing for working families, vulnerable seniors, and those with special needs.
The city’s need for more quality affordable housing is great, especially since Butte County was the epicenter of the 2018 Camp Fire. As the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state’s history, the blaze destroyed more than 18,000 structures – nearly 75% of which were residential homes. Currently, there are one- to three-year waitlists for affordable units in Chico. Park Avenue is among many efforts to rebuild this entire community.
As Jamboree’s first affordable housing community with the City of Chico, this collaboration brings together partners from the private sector and government agencies to create more affordable housing – especially for low-income and extremely low-income households. The new construction of Park Avenue will create 59 homes for individuals, working families, vulnerable seniors, and those with special needs.
In partnership with the Butte County Affordable Housing Development Corporation (BCAHDC) and encouraged by the new Park Avenue corridor plan, Jamboree will transform the former site of the Jesus Center – a local nonprofit that serves the unhoused with food and temporary housing – into permanent housing with services that support residents to thrive in their local neighborhood. This furthers the city’s strategic goal to promote accessible housing for extremely low-income households while also continuing to revitalize and diversify downtown Chico.
Park Avenue will offer a combination of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartment homes for residents and a three-bedroom single-family home for an onsite property manager. Special design consideration of the four-story residential building integrates seamlessly into the Park Avenue commercial corridor zone. The brick façade is designed to bridge the surrounding residential neighborhood with the local commercial corridor aesthetic, meeting the architectural design vision for the future of this corridor.
Each apartment home will have energy-efficient appliances and lighting, plus water-efficient features that provide cost-savings on household utilities – including a solar photovoltaic system designed to reduce monthly electricity costs for residents by up to 50%.
Common areas on the ground floor will feature a multi-purpose community room with kitchen, a computer lab, meeting rooms, and offices for leasing, property management, and service providers. A central courtyard with an outdoor barbecues, seating and recreation areas, a community garden, and a small pet park will provide opportunities for shared activities to encourage connection among residents. Park Avenue is currently slated for completion in summer 2023.
Just minutes from downtown Chico, the pedestrian-friendly property is near shopping, schools, and adjacent to the bus line on Park Avenue. A unique feature of the bike-friendly property will be short- and long-term secured bike parking and bike repair stations for residents.
Extending the site’s legacy of helping those facing challenges, the new Park Avenue development will reserve 27 apartments for individuals with special needs. Jamboree and its partners will provide ongoing property management and onsite services that will be tailored to meet the needs of all residents. Programs that foster learning, health and wellness, and community building will be provided at no cost to the residents.
Quality affordable housing like Park Avenue is creating stronger, healthier communities across California. Jamboree’s long-term ownership of 55+ years will assure both its residents and the City of Chico that Park Avenue will continue to be a well-maintained and affordable community asset for years to come. It’s part of Jamboree’s strategic approach to be a good neighbor and a longstanding partner that collaborates with investors, property management, and community service leaders to revitalize neighborhoods and offer quality housing choices to residents in the County of Butte.
