CHICO — When the bell rings at Marsh Junior High School, some students need only travel a street’s length away to get home at Chico’s newest affordable apartments, North Creek Crossings.
Some 160 new rent-regulated apartment units were dedicated Tuesday in a grand opening ceremony at North Creek Crossings, where units have been filling since the summer with people taking advantage of the apartment’s fixed affordable rent.
With a renter qualification of 30% to 60% of the area’s median income, the renters at North Creek Crossings are the “heartbeat” of Chico, according to Affordable Housing Development Company Executive Vice President Laurie Doyle.
“Some occupations of some of our residents: restaurant staff, retail employees, entry level public service staff; musicians, cashiers, administrative assistants — these are the people that live here,” Doyle said. “They’re what we call the heartbeat; the heartbeat of this community of Chico.”
The completion of North Creek Crossings is a result of conversations starting in 2019 with Chico planning out the future development of Meriam Park as a whole, Doyle said.
It is now the first completed development of Meriam Park north of Little Chico Creek. Bare patches of grass nearby are expected to be developed into housing as well.
Doyle said residents have been taking possession of their new homes since July, and the apartments are now fully rented.
“It feels great; it feels like everyone is going to have a wonderful place to spend Christmas this year,” Doyle said.
Chico Housing Manager Marie Demers said the project helps address the community’s need for affordable housing and helped with the receipt of funding for completion of Bruce Road expansions.
Depending on family size, rent for a single person can range from as low as $438 per month for a one-bedroom up to $1,215 per month for a three-bedroom.
Rent at the new apartments are set to be regulated at fixed rates for 55 years, according to Butte County Housing Authority Director Ed Mayer.
“There’s many households that struggle with housing. We believe as much as about 40% of the community is housing burdened,” Mayer said. “I can’t help but think that a place like this is going to positively influence a lot of lives, and we’re putting into play here an asset that really is an investment on behalf of the whole community.”
