Sausalito readies donated residence for leasing
Sausalito is nearing the finish line on a multiyear project to convert a city-owned home into low-income housing.
The City Council unanimously approved a lease template for two new apartments at the deed-restricted house, which was donated to the city in 2019. Renovations are expected to wrap up in two months. Rent is set at $750 per month, according to the lease template.
“We’re close to getting someone in those units and that’ll be a good day for Sausalito, and a good day for the people that will become housed and become, one a city employee, and one a new city employee,” City Manager Chris Zapata said.
The property at 429 ½ Johnson St. was donated to the city by the late Dorothy Gibson. The one-bedroom, one-bath, 1,200-square-foot home must serve as low- or moderate-income housing for at least one full-time city employee, including first responders.
The building was converted into two apartments. Renovations included bringing the downstairs apartment into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Construction began in July and is expected to be finished at the end of February, according to a staff report.
The city received $500,000 in homelessness grant funding through Sen. Mike McGuire. Last March, the county approved an additional $500,000 to complete the renovation.
Councilmember Jill Hoffman said the project, which has been in the works for around four years, has changed in concept several times.
“I’m delighted that we’re finally at the finish,” Hoffman said. “I think that we’re going to have a great program.”
Zapata said the city is developing a program, in collaboration with Homeward Bound of Marin, to rent one of the apartments to a homeless person and provide entry-level job training. He said the state funding requires the tenant to be unhoused.
“I’m delighted to know that we’re going to move innovatively into an unhoused versus housed,” said resident Babette McDougal. “I can imagine we’re moving in the right direction here and Dorothy would be pleased.”
Zapata said the city has an employee who was living on a boat but has since given it up. He said the employee would be a “logical tenant” for one of the apartments.
Mayor Joan Cox asked that a copy of the leases be provided on the consent calendar at the next City Council meeting.
Gibson, an author and social worker, died in 2019 at the age of 95.
“I wish I could have known Dorothy Gibson,” Zapata said. “What a generous person.”