Opening May 2013!
FreFinch Youth Center (FFYC), in partnership with Alameda County
Social Services Agency, will provide a single-site location where a young
adult can find housing, health services and vocational support. Ideally located on the FFYC campus in Oakland, the village will provide young adults
with a safe, supportive community, where they can achieve resiliency, financial independence, and permanence and stability upon exiting foste
Fred Finch Youth Center (Fred Finch), in partnership with Alameda County Social Services Agency, is creating a place where a young adult from the children's foster care system can find housing, health services and vocational support. Located on the FFYC campus in Oakland, Rising Oaks will provide young adults with a safe, supportive community, where they can achieve resiliency, financial independence, and permanence and stability upon exiting foster care.
May 16, 2013
Thank you to all those who were able to join us for the grand opening of Rising Oaks on May 16th! It was a beautiful day and we had well over 100 attendees and well-wishers for the day's festivities. The young musicians of the Bret Harte Friends Ensemble serenaded guests as they arrived at the Fred Finch campus. The Master of Ceremonies was Tom Alexander, President and CEO of Fred Finch Youth Center, who welcomed Mayor Jean Quan, representatives from Congresswoman Barbara Lee's office and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner's office, Alameda County Social Services, our funders, Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, the Fred Finch Board of Directors, and numerous other contributors to the realization of Rising Oaks. The program concluded with the traditional ribbon-cutting by one of our new residents, followed by tours of the newly completed apartments! Please visit our News and Events page for more coverage and photos of the Rising Oaks Grand Opening!
Carrie |
May 10, 2013
Next week is a big week at Fred Finch Youth Center that will officially recognize the realization of the first component of a vision conceived over 7 years ago! To celebrate the completion of the Rising Oaks Apartments, festivities will include first, a Neighborhood Gratitude Reception on Wednesday, May 15th, followed by the Grand Opening on Thursday May 16th. We hope you are able to join us as we prepare to welcome our new residents! You can also view the invitations and RSVP information by following the links above or visiting our News and Events page.
This past year has seen a lot of courage and change at Fred Finch, along with the anticipation of the hope and opportunity that this new housing will provide to the young adults that will live there. Fred Finch Youth Center is grateful for the collaboration, cooperation and dedication of those who helped to make this dream a reality.
Thank you! |
April 1, 2013
Rising Oaks Housing Update
Applications that were received by the 3/25/2013 deadline were entered in a random lottery. We are currently processing those applications and establishing a waitlist. Applicants will be contacted by postal mail of their status. Please check our website for updates as to when we will be accepting new applications.
We expect to welcome our new tenants beginning in May, 2013! |
March, 2013
The excitement continues to build as we near the end of construction and get ready to welcome our new tenants later this spring. The building interiors have been painted and we are installing cabinets and flooring over the next few weeks. Due to a nice stretch of dry weather, the site is now being graded for sidewalks and landscaping. We hope you are enjoying the very visible signs of progress!
Application packages, including frequently asked questions and eligibility criteria, are available on our Leasing Information page. The first tenants will be selected by lottery, and thereafter be placed on a waitlist. The deadline to submit applications for the first lottery will be Monday, March 25th at 5:00 pm.
Carrie |
Rising Oaks Wellness Center!
In another exciting development, Fred Finch was recently awarded a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to create a satellite health center. We will be partnering again with Alameda County Social Services Administration as well as Native American Health Centers, Alameda County Health Services Administration, and Oakland Unified School District, to provide access to health and dental services to youth and young adults. We will be renovating an existing space on the Fred Finch campus, with an anticipated 2014 opening.
The Rising Oaks Wellness Center is the next phase toward the fulfillment of our comprehensive vision for a campus that will include housing, health services, education, and vocational supports which lead to the development of skills building toward independence, and a new lease on life for those we serve. So there is much to celebrate! |
RISING OAKS
Grand Opening
will be part of
Affordable Housing Week
In collaboration with East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), Fred Finch will be featured as a part of Affordable Housing Week actvities with the Rising Oaks Grand Opening on Thursday, May 16th at 3:30 pm. For more information about Affordable Housing Week events, please visit
www.ebho.org |
December 31, 2012
Well, the weather has definitely made an appearance! The various storms in November and December caused some delays with the installation of roofing. We have to give credit to our general contractor, Branagh, and site supervisor, Terry Pickett, for their diligence in keeping the buildings and materials as dry as possible so work could continue when we had a few dry spells. The roof is finally on, siding is on and we are ready to paint the exterior of the buildings. With the roofing complete, inside work can begin in earnest!
As construction continues, we are continuing to prepare for the arrival of our new tenants this spring. The Rising Oaks Grand Opening Celebration is currently scheduled for May 16th! Additional updates to the website with information regarding leasing and tenant eligibility guidelines will be provided shortly. Stay tuned!
Happy New Year!
|
|
|
October, 2012
Fall is upon us with some suggestion of changes in the weather. We enjoyed our time at Oaktoberfest and appreciated meeting more of our neighbors and being able to share our progress on Rising Oaks.
Recent rains have not had a major impact on the schedule- framing is now complete, windows and doors are being installed, and waterproofing is underway. Preparations have also begun on the roof structure to support the solar panels which will alleviate much of the electrical costs for Rising Oaks.
Carrie |
|
|
September, 2012
As one of the more visible components of construction, the continued framing of each of the three buildings which are part of Rising Oaks, has heightened both the awareness of our progress and the anticipation of completion. Those on campus enjoy stopping to see the work underway. The weather remains good, allowing our contractors to remain on schedule. Look for us at Oaktoberfest in the Dimond on October 6th!
Best,
Carrie
|
August 27, 2012
Rising Oaks is rising! Changes are taking place quickly. In addition to framing, the underground utilities and storm water drains have been installed. We remain on track for completion in the spring of 2013 and look forward to the opportunities and hope for a better life that Rising Oaks will provide to our new tenants.
Enjoy!
|
We're pouring the foundation!
July 18, 2012
This week the construction crew is getting ready to pour the foundations for Rising Oaks on Friday, July 20th! There should be little, to no impact on Coolidge Avenue for the one-day pour. There will be a second foundation pour sometime during the first week of August. Please check the calendar under the News and Events tab for further updates. Those needing to access the rear of the campus by auto will be redirected by staff.
You might find the process interesting if you happen going past the campus!
Carrie |
 |
What is a "Wafflemat"?
The crew is utilizing a waffle-mat foundation system, a post-tensioned slab-on-grade construction and rebar reinforced mats which has been used for decades. Originally, post-tensioned slabs were constructed by trenching to form in-ground beams (or “ribs”) to provide stiffness when combined with a relatively thin slab. The on-grade mat foundation, or “Wafflemat,” has emerged as a third-generation post-tensioned slab. The use of its hollow forms, or “Waffleboxes,” in a grid arrangement placed directly on grade to create voids in a waffle-like pattern, creates a series of ribs in both directions, with post-tensioning tendons located in the ribs. Concrete is then placed over the forms. |
Project Update: June 19, 2012
So much has happened over the last two months and Rising Oaks is really beginning to rise! Demolition is complete, debris hauled away, and the building pad sites have been graded and soils compacted to receive the new buildings. The construction crew is now forming the building pads and we can really begin to see the shape of the project as it will be in its final layout. This work will be followed by installation of the underslab utilities work which includes electric, water and sanitary systems.
We would like to thank the FFYC staff and Coolidge Avenue neighbors for their patience and understanding of the good work that is being done to create Rising Oaks. And, we hope that you are even enjoying the construction process as it unfolds. We want you to know that we are sensitive to this activity in the neighborhood and desire to be good neighbors. If you have any questions regarding Rising Oaks, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best,
Carrie |
|
|
|
April 19, 2012
Demolition is continuing and you can definitely see and hear the difference on campus! We are about halfway through the demolition phase. The weather is finally cooperating, so we anticipate that we will be through with most of this stage by May 1. Our new construction sign has also been posted on Coolidge Ave. The vision of Rising Oaks is becoming a reality! Upcoming events to further support Rising Oaks include the Champions for Youth Invitational Golf Tournament to be held June 11th at the Claremont Country Club this year. If you would like more information please see our "Get Involved" tab or contact us through this website.
Carrie |
April 10, 2012
Construction has begun in earnest with the demolition of the old resident buildings on the Fred Finch campus! Previously known as Franklin, Saroyan and New Yosemite, these buildings will be replaced with 3 new buildings comprising 30 studio apartment units and a community room for residents. You can see renderings for the new buildings on Plans and Renderings tab under Project Information.
A little piece of Fred Finch history. Saroyan was named after the famous playwright, William Saroyan, who was a resident of Fred Finch Youth Center for a short time when it was operated as an orphanage in the early 1900's.
Demolition is anticipated to be completed toward the end of April, to be followed by rough grading.
We appreciate your patience during this particularly noisy phase of the project.
Have a great week.
Carrie
Project Update: April 10, 2012
Construction has begun in earnest with the demolition of the old resident buildings on the Fred Finch campus! Previously known as Franklin, Saroyan and New Yosemite, these buildings will be replaced with 3 new buildings comprising 30 studio apartment units and a community room for residents. You can see renderings for the new buildings on Plans and Renderings tab under Project Information.
A little piece of Fred Finch history. Saroyan was named after the famous playwright, William Saroyan, who was a resident of Fred Finch Youth Center for a short time when it was operated as an orphanage in the early 1900's.
Demolition is anticipated to be completed toward the end of April, to be followed by rough grading.
We appreciate your patience during this particularly noisy phase of the project.
Have a great week.
Carrie
|
Project Update: March 22, 2012
Rising Oaks is officially under construction as marked by our Groundbreaking Ceremony held last Friday, March 16th. Although the rain had been falling steadily all week, we were lucky enough to have a break exactly at 2 pm, the start of the festivities! The event was well-attended despite the weather. Alameda County Board of Supervisors Keith Carson and Nate Miley, as well as Oakland City Council Member, Libby Schaaf, were among our distinguished guest speakers. Other guests included representatives from Alameda County Social Services, our funders, developer, contractor, FFYC Board members and staff, and of course- you, our neighbors and friends of Fred Finch Youth Center! The mood was festive and full of hope as we embark on the next step in our journey to help former foster youth launch their adult lives.
Now we are getting down to the business of building Rising Oaks! Branagh, our contractor, has been prepping the sight the last couple of weeks, and expects to demolish the buildings beginning the week of April 2nd. It will be noisy! Note that the City of Oakland allows construction to occur between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm. Generally, we will not begin any significant activity prior to 8 am, and most of the work will end by 5 pm. We greatly appreciate your patience as we progress through this necessary step in the process.
Carrie
Project Update: February 7, 2012
Dear Friends and Neighbors of Fred Finch:
You’ve heard a lot about, and some have participated in developing the vision for Rising Oaks! We are poised to see that vision become a reality. Fred Finch Youth Center, located at 3800 Coolidge Avenue in Oakland, will soon be home to Rising Oaks apartments which will provide housing to youth aging out of the foster care system. It is our goal to provide you with regular updates in the coming weeks and months as to information which might be useful to you and to keep you apprised of our progress during construction. This website should assist us in that process.
You may have noticed some recent activity. During December, in anticipation of the start of construction, we began trimming some of the trees on our property. There will be additional tree trimming activity in the coming months in order to preserve those which will enhance the site (yellow tags), and to remove those that are diseased or unstable (red tags). We have also posted a general outline of the construction phases, which are anticipated to be completed by March 2013, under our “Project Information” tab, together with renderings and site plans for Rising Oaks. The Notice of Construction listed under the same tab, provides general contact information if you have any questions or concerns. The calendar located on the “Home” page will alert you to upcoming events, and you may also email me through the “Contact Us” link on this website.
We appreciate that any construction activity is disruptive and can be inconvenient. We are prepared to do our best to minimize the impact the coming months may have in our neighborhood, but also ask for your patience. Rising Oaks will ultimately enable young adults to establish roots to reach their dreams, benefitting the entire community for years to come. We look forward to sharing, with you, our journey toward the realization of Rising Oaks.
Best,
Carrie Dern
Project Manager
|
|
