Planning Commission: Yes to Church-Nonprofit Partnership to House Aged-Out Foster Youth

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a project Thursday that will create housing for foster youth and struggling families through a partnership between Olive Crest and Crest Community Church. The development includes 11 dwelling units, a 3,100-square-foot multipurpose room and outdoor amenities on church property.

The project, to be called Crest Cottages, is expected to break ground this summer. Final construction drawings are anticipated by late April, according to Fitzsimmons.

The project will be built on a 3.37-acre parcel on Mount Vernon Avenue that currently houses the 4,200-square-foot Crest Community Church. The site, surrounded by single-family homes and the Santa Fe Railroad track, will maintain the existing church building.

The partnership began when former Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey connected the two organizations through his "Love Your Neighbor" initiative.

"For years, Crest had been longing to put the unused portion of our property to use for the good of our neighbors," Dixon said. "When Tracy and I first walked Crest's property, we were stunned that our visions were so aligned."

"Housing stability is vital to helping children and families heal and helping them find their purpose," said Fitzsimmons. "This is not growth for the sake of growth."

The development features 10 two-bedroom residential units and one three-bedroom staff unit. A full-time staff member will live on-site to provide after-hours and weekend support, with up to eight employees working weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Olive Crest, founded 51 years ago with a mission to prevent child abuse by strengthening families in crisis, provides housing and support services for young adults and families transitioning to independence. Participants will agree to maintain employment, pursue education, build savings, maintain a healthy living environment and engage with support services.

Pastor John Dixon of Crest Community Church said the partnership represents "two nonprofits coming together for the good of the city."

Dixon explained that the housing crisis is fundamentally a "crisis of community" or a "poverty of relationships."

"We believe that at the core of our housing crisis really is a crisis of community," Dixon said. "Our goal is not just to put people in homes, it's to invite them into true community."

He identified specific ways the congregation will contribute: "We imagine afterschool tutoring, childcare when parents go to work, carpooling, community classes in the multipurpose building."

The agreement includes a 20-year ground lease with five extended periods of five years each, potentially lasting 45 years total.

The site’s design intentionally fosters community interaction, with features like front porches and homes arranged around communal spaces. A multipurpose building will serve as a bridge between residents, congregation and surrounding neighborhood, housing meeting rooms, a gym, office space and kitchen facilities. While the church will use it on Sundays, the space will primarily serve residents throughout the week.

Security features include cameras, on-site management and ample lighting. The modern bungalow-style units feature horizontal wood panels, metal accents and a light blue color palette. Landscaping incorporates native and edible plants, including a community garden area.

Representatives from The Grove Community Church, which operates a similar program called Grove Village, testified about their positive experience.

"We've been operating since December 2018 with tremendous success," said Andy Gibeault, Community Impact Pastor at The Grove Community Church. "We have not encountered problems with drugs, vagrancy, squatters, trash or abandoned vehicles."

Nicholas Adcock, president and CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, told commissioners the project addresses crucial community needs.

"We are in drastic need of more services to help those most vulnerable in our communities," Adcock said. "It's great to see two local partners committed to making that happen."

Several neighbors endorsed the project, including Noriko Shimoji Cuaron, a 40-year resident of the University neighborhood. Cuaron said she believes the development will benefit not only "vulnerable youth" but also the "vast community as well."

"Our commitment to the University neighborhood is to do it well and to do it in such a way that five or ten years from now, people go, 'Oh, thank goodness this is here,'" Dixon said. "This is about creating a place where people can heal, find their purpose, and be surrounded by a community that cares."