(Fairfield, CA) - Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), founded in 1984, has housed thousands of families throughout the Northern California region, from Davis to Sacramento to Woodland, and Southern California's Coachella Valley. Our organization creates equitable communities for individuals, families, seniors and for those with special needs.

CHOC Real Estate Development is a significant part of our organization; our team drives the development of affordable housing communities in California, and ensures projects are completed on schedule, with the needs of our residents always in mind.

Our organization believes that affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and is achievable with enriching, supportive programs that give pride to residents, stabilize families, and improve local economies. CHOC’s holistic approach to housing has earned our nonprofit an award-winning reputation for excellence, both in the design of our buildings and in the sustainable lifestyle our organization brings to communities.

Continue reading for a deeper dive on CHOC Real Estate Development!

CHOC Real Estate Development VP Vincent Nicholas with Dolores Huerta, members of his Real Estate Development team and representatives of davisREED Construction; on the occasion of the Placita Dolores Huerta Groundbreaking in Coachella, CA (April 28th, 2022).

Real Estate Development’s critical role

Led by Vince Nicholas, Vice President of Real Estate Development, our team brings quality development expertise to site selection, acquisition, design, construction accounting and supervision, debt and equity structuring, and overall project management.

Per Nicholas: "All of these elements are highly complex and specialized, crucial in navigating affordable housing funding programs and commercial credit markets. Together, our real estate development team works to initiate and see through the construction of our affordable housing developments from start to finish, with, of course, our financing, city, county, agency and construction partners."

How many communities has CHOC developed and built?

CHOC has developed, built and currently operates more than 25 multifamily affordable housing communities in California. Our portfolio of communities covers the Tri County area of Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties in Northern California, as well as Riverside County and Coachella Valley in Southern California.

Recent Construction from CHOC Real Estate Development in Palm Springs, CA | Photo by Noé Montes

Who does CHOC serve?

As a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), CHOC serves primarily very low, low, and moderate income working families and individuals.

A CHDO is a private nonprofit, community-based organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for the communities it serves. In order to achieve the mission and vision of our organization, CHOC works in partnership with local governments, private corporations, other nonprofits and stakeholders to address the affordable housing needs of our respective CHDO communities.

What important factors does CHOC consider when property for a new community is located?

There are many factors involved in selecting a potential location for a new affordable housing community. “Early on, we research which cities we think may have affordable housing needs. Sometimes, we receive a lead on land, so at that point we begin to analyze this land, to see if it has access to public transportation, grocery stores, and more,” says Nicholas.

“It’s very community driven, our efforts,” says Nicholas, adding: “We want to build in livable areas, inside a city or community that already has many economic and quality of life factors that predisposed it to a good living experience.”

Patricia Dykes, a Real Estate Development Project Coordinator at CHOC’s Fairfield office, describes her involvement in the funding process: “It’s a lengthy process, but…I’m using my organizational and multitasking skills to streamline and prepare…as the process moves forward.” Ms. Dykes brings over 30 years of escrow and title experience to CHOC Real Estate Development, working closely with VP Vince Nicholas to complete predevelopment due diligence for all CHOC communities.

Recent CHOC construction featuring a view of the mountains in Palm Springs, CA | Photo by Noé Montes

Once property is selected, what are CHOC’s next steps in the process?

Once property (i.e. land) is selected and support from a municipality is established, financing becomes CHOC’s next focus. “While we're sourcing financing and simultaneously working to demonstrate that this location is a good place for affordable funds to be used, we also work with our design team to decide what type of construction is most suitable, to move forward with…as well as what’s financially viable in terms of that construction,” says Nicholas.

Nicholas adds that when construction begins, weekly OAC (owner, architect, and contractor) meetings begin, in order to ensure that everything stays on schedule, safety standards are upheld, and design continues, as planned. Although rare, there may be shifts or unforeseen events that occur midway through construction, requiring a change of plans or an innovative solution to resolve an issue.

“We have lots of ongoing communication, documents and dialogues,” says Nicholas. “One of the biggest strengths CHOC’s Real Estate Development team has is communicating when unforeseen things happen…and working through them together, dialoguing and respecting each other’s opinions along the way.”

Above: Recent construction photos by Noé Montes, featuring the extraordinary accomplishment of our construction partner and general contractor davisREED.

How does CHOC partner with other organizations?

CHOC successfully teams with institutional partners to develop housing for working families, child development centers, long-term care and senior assisted living, and other continuum of care projects. In addition to the direct impact CHOC makes on the lives of working families and individuals within a community, CHOC assists smaller housing nonprofits through sponsorship, deal team assembly, and feasibility modeling. We also assist and joint venture with market rate developers to achieve affordability.

“CHOC often teams up with organizations that might have land available, but need help with the process of developing a new community,” says Nicholas. “We find the different layers of financing that come together, to get total project cost and feasibility modeling.”

Furthermore, CHOC successfully serves institutional entities with complex real estate needs. Examples of these entities include multi-campus university and college systems, health care systems, and religious congregations and orders.

Any new or exciting advancements in affordable housing?

New innovations in building technology are appearing, creating exciting new possibilities for constructing affordable housing communities. “3D printing is happening in construction,” says Nicholas. “CHOC is at the forefront of all sorts of new technologies.”

Aside from 3D printing, this division is also working with utility companies to bring fiber internet to our communities. “The technology gap became so obvious during the COVID pandemic. We want all of our residents to have access to high-speed internet,” says Nicholas. “We’re one of the first in the Coachella Valley to offer high-speed, fiber internet in our affordable, multifamily apartments.”

Additionally, CHOC is bringing solar power to offset residents’ electricity bills, electric vehicle chargers installed onsite, and no gas — aligned with California’s climate strategy and goal to reduce greenhouse gasses by 48% by 2030.

Working with the CHOC Real Estate Development team

Dykes has been a Project Coordinator for over a year, a valued team member. “I’ve always worked in the private sector, corporate space,” says Dykes, “Now, working with a non profit affordable housing group is very exciting. It’s quite fulfilling to be working towards a greater (community) mission.”

“It’s such a spectacular group of people working toward the same goal,” says Dykes. “Seeing the passion everyone has for the work is beyond inspirational, building my own passion for CHOC’s mission.”

Learn more about CHOC Real Estate Development. Visit CHOC on Instagram & Facebook for latest news and updates.

How CHOC’s Real Estate Development Team Works To Serve California Communities

28 Multifamily Affordable Housing Communities & More On the Way