By Cecil Egbele | Contributing Writer | California Local News Fellow
For Rita McArn, moving to Bakersfield from Kansas City was an act of faith. She came to be close to her family and for the weather. Today, she is one of the first residents of the newly opened 610 4th Street Apartments, a 16‑unit senior affordable housing development quietly transforming a corner of southeast Bakersfield.
Photo credit: Cecil Egbele
“I feel like I am so blessed to be here,” she said, standing in her neatly arranged one‑bedroom unit, family photos lining every wall. “I have an attitude of gratitude.”
Her story is one of sixteen now unfolding at the new development, and it reflects something larger: a city beginning to keep its promises to its seniors.
The Fourth Street Apartments, located adjacent to the Bakersfield Senior Center, represent the first completed housing project under the City’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Initiative – a state‑backed program through California’s Strategic Growth Council that targets historically underserved neighborhoods for comprehensive revitalization. The City of Bakersfield was awarded $22 million to fund roughly 15 TCC projects across the southeast region, and this development is among the first to reach completion.
Photo credit: Cecil Egbele
“What’s special about this is that it is affordable housing for seniors,” said Lilli J. Parker, Executive Director of the Bakersfield Senior Center, who saw the project through from concept to ribbon‑cutting. “At the same time, it will help continue the transformation of this community, which is long overdue.”
The 16 one‑bedroom units, each approximately 500 square feet, are available to residents aged 62 and older. Rent is income‑based through the Housing Authority of Kern County, with Section 8 vouchers accepted and a sliding‑scale structure designed to support seniors living on Social Security or fixed retirement incomes. Units start at $673 per month, though individual costs depend on income and voucher status. McArn, who carried a Section 8 voucher from Kansas City, puts it plainly: “The units start at $673. Mine is around $775, but I only pay $375 because I have a voucher.” For Parker, that kind of affordability is essential. “Seniors are living longer nowadays. You may only have Social Security, so they don’t have to be worried about evictions. Living in affordable housing based on your income is vital.”
The project was made possible through a collaboration of partners, including the Kern Council of Governments, Tri‑City Bank, and the Housing Authority of Kern County. The Bakersfield Senior Center donated the land, transferring ownership to the Housing Authority to ensure the project could move forward.
Sustainability is built into the development. Each unit is equipped with solar panels and energy‑efficient water heaters, significantly reducing utility costs. In Kern County – where summer temperatures often exceed 100 degrees – the savings are not just financial, but critical to residents’ health and safety.
More development is already underway. Within the next 18 to 24 months, a companion facility at 530 4th Street is expected to rise – a four‑story building featuring 36 additional senior housing units above an expanded senior center. Planned amenities include a community garden for resident‑grown produce, electric vehicles for transportation, ride‑sharing access, and expanded green landscaping.
Housing is just one of the many services the Bakersfield Senior Center provides. Every weekday, seniors gather for a free nutritional lunch from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., sponsored by Kern County Aging and Adult Services. Afternoons are filled with activities including bingo, cardio and enhanced fitness classes, Bible study, arts and crafts, sewing, and game days. No senior is turned away for an inability to contribute to the meal.
“We make sure they’re busy,” Parker said.
For McArn, who learned about the housing opportunity through word‑of‑mouth, the experience has exceeded all expectations. After joining the Senior Center’s group last year, she has since formed friendships with neighbors from Latino, Black, and white backgrounds and built a community she proudly calls home.
“I asked God to order my steps way before I moved here and to put me where He would want me to be. I like living around seniors – people my age,” she said. “I have an attitude of gratitude. It is well with my soul.”
Seniors interested in the upcoming 530 4th Street development may contact the Housing Authority of Kern County to place their applications on file. Applications are typically accepted 90 days before construction completion. The Senior Center will also advertise openings through social media and local publications. Construction is expected to begin on June 1.
