INTRODUCTION

Started in 1996, WHY NOT? Community Housing Corporation is a California non-profit corporation established under section 501©3 of the Internal Revenue Code. After years of work in the Sacramento area, WHY NOT? Community Housing Corporation recently became aware of the community of South Oroville in Butte County. This is a particularly distressed area of Oroville and WHY NOT? plans on devoting much attention to this community.

The need for safe, decent, affordable housing in this area is great. There are vacant lots, distressed travel trailers, dilapidated old homes and streets without curbs and gutters. However, there are also signs of change.  In a few places, new homes have been built.  In others, several old homes have been rehabilitated. The City of Oroville has improved streets in some areas.

Through contact with owners of distressed properties, we acquire the worst of the worst properties where the effect of rehabilitation will make the largest impact on the community. These properties frequently have code violations and are dangerous housing, many of which are boarded and vacant. Through volunteer effort and donations of properties, materials and grants, we keep the costs as low as possible so that a quality product can be produced at an affordable price. We create decent, safe, affordable housing; and, as a consequence, produce safe, healthy neighborhoods and eliminate blight.

As a non-profit organization, our interest is in creating a lasting product rather than short-term profits from cosmetic repairs. WHY NOT? replaces each component on the home that does not have an adequate remaining useful life including roofing, siding, plumbing and electrical systems and fixtures, drywall, and flooring.  We frequently replace old wood single pane windows with new dual pane vinyl windows and install central heat and air conditioning.  All work is completed in accordance with FHA inspections, City building inspections and Design Review guidelines and approvals.  We will be building new homes on vacant lots using manufactured housing.

Board of Directors

Eric J. Almquist - President

Bryan Wurth - Executive Director

Directors

Judy Almquist - Secretary/Treasurer

Alan Almquist - Director

Andre Simic - Director

Ross MacCarty-Director

George Tripp-Director 

Resume

Eric J. Almquist

 

Educational Information

 

1991 – 1993      Law student, Northwestern University

                        School of Law

1970 – 1973      California State University at Sacramento  

                        Master’s Degree in Economics

1968 – 1970      Sacramento State College

                        Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics with a minor

                        In Business Finance

1965 – 1968      Modesto Junior College

                        Associate of Arts Degree

 

Over 135 hours of real estate continuing education, including Hazardous Substances, Real Estate Agreements, Real Estate Loans, agency, Real Estate Law, Finance, Appraisal, Practice, Syndication, Practical Aspects of Syndication, advanced Real Estate Syndication, Ethics and Professional Conduct.

 

Professional Experience

 

2001-2004        Vice President

                        Executive Director

                        Rancho Cordova Economic & Community Development Corporation

 

Established and operates a non-profit economic and community development corporation.  Acquire, rehabilitate and operate workforce housing projects.  Develop infill commercial real estate projects in the low-income areas of Rancho Cordova.  Write grants for project funding operate the general affairs of the corporation under the direction of the President of the Board of Directions.

 

1995 – 2001      Community Planner

                        Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency

 

Conduct planning, research and evaluation projects in Sacramento Redevelopment areas.  Plan and design projects, work with community groups.  Promote business; implement projects to revitalize distressed areas.    Supervise the development and implementation of housing programs.  Make presentations of projects to loan committee and redevelopment commission.

 

1995 – Present 

            Director

            WHY NOT? Community Housing Corporation

 

Improve housing and community conditions for disadvantaged persons and families.  Eliminate blighted conditions in distressed areas.  Improve housing and neighborhoods by charitable means through grants and volunteer assistance.

 

1992 – Present 

            Commercial Real Estate Broker

            General Building Contractor

            Principal, Associated Property Consultants

 

Commercial real estate sales in income and investment properties.  Purchase and rehabilitation of distressed properties and multi-family housing.   Property management and general building contracting.  Supervision of maintenance for multiple sites and projects.  Served on Committee for Redevelopment of Mather Air Force Base.  Studied environmental impacts, mitigation proposals, made recommendations to Board of Supervisors.

 

1993 – 1995      Real Estate Broker and Property Manager

                        M & M Property Services and Management

 

Real estate sales, property management, rehabilitation of distressed properties and general building contracting.  Court appointed Receiver bonded in excess of $100,000.

 

1986 – 1992      President and Broker, Real Property Enterprises

 

Direct the activities of a small multi-faceted real estate company involved with commercial brokerage, property management, development and rehabilitation, and appraisal and consultation services.  Experience in every aspect of the government permit procedures, use permits, environmental impact statements and mitigation measures, project design, cost and economics, leasing, property management, law, risk assessment, and financing as well as general business skills of planning, budgeting and personnel supervision.

 

1977 – 1986      Commercial Real Estate Broker

 

Supervised a commercial real estate brokerage company including a sales manager and as many as 15 sales agents with annual sales volume exceeding $12,000,000.  Transactions ranged from houses to apartment complexes in excess of 100 units, and office and industrial properties.  Developed property requiring compliances with the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Developed mitigation measures for endangered species, water quality, and subterranean gas tank contamination.

 

1976 – 1977      Montalvo-Broughton Associates

 

Commercial real estate sales and recognition as consistent million dollar sales producer.  In 1976, sales production as a part-time agent exceeded $2.3 million.

 

1971 – 1976      Crocker National Bank. Bank – Management Training Program

 

References

 

Curt Haven, Director of Economic Development for the City of Rancho Cordova

Linda Budge, Former Mayor and City Council Member for the City of Rancho Cordova

John Nahra, Real Estate Broker, California Pacific Properties

Andre Simic’, Professor of Anthropology, University of Southern California