The 55th Avenue Motel was a major source of illicit activities and contributed to crime in the adjoining neighborhoods of central East Oakland. In 1998, Mr. Kashani closed on the acquisition of the property and hired the motel’s only maid to be his resident manager in an apartment community in Berkeley. In 2001, after securing a $6 million grant from HUD and a residual receipt loan from the City of Oakland, Kashani completed construction of a 62 unit senior housing project at the 1.5 acre site.