Measure A funding brings more affordable housing to North County
SAN JOSE – The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last week to invest up to $31.4 million in three affordable housing developments in North County, with funding largely drawn from the Measure A Affordable Housing Bond voters approved in 2016.
At the same meeting, the Board also approved the real estate purchase of 1265 Montecito Avenue in Mountain View for the development of Montecito Multifamily Apartments, another Measure A-funded affordable housing development.
“We know that to help people secure long-term housing, we have to have affordable units for them to move into,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian. “Investing in affordable housing helps residents in Mountain View, Palo Alto and throughout the County who are struggling to make ends meet continue to call this place home.”
The first of three local affordable housing developments approved for use of Measure A funding is the El Camino Real Multifamily Project to be located at 3001 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. The Board approved $13 million for the five-story residential building being developed by Charities Housing Development Corporation of Santa Clara County which will have 127 affordable housing units (plus two manager’s units). Thirty units will be for households earning up to 30% Area Median Income (AMI), and 65 units for households earning up to 50% AMI, and an additional 32 will be for formerly unhoused individuals and families.
The second development approved for $10.5 million of Measure A funding is 1020 Terra Bella in Mountain View which will have 106 affordable housing units (plus two manager’s units) and is being developed by Alta Housing. Twenty-seven units will be for households earning up to 30% AMI, 13 units for households earning up to 50% AMI, 39 units for households earning up to 60% AMI, and an additional 27 will be for formerly unhoused individuals and families.
Additionally, 96 West El Camino Family Apartments in Mountain View, being developed by Danco Communities, will receive $7.9 million to build 78 affordable housing units (plus one manager’s unit). The development includes 16 units for households earning up to up to 50% AMI, 38 units for households earning up to 60% AMI, and 24 units for formerly unhoused individuals and families.
The two Mountain View developments (1020 Terra Bella and 96 West El Camino Family Apartments) represent the fifth and sixth projects to receive Measure A funding as a result of the County’s Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Mountain View, designed to bring more of this funding to projects in Mountain View. The developments both anticipate adding larger two- and three-bedroom affordable units that are needed to serve families.
“I’m delighted to see more of these dollars coming to support affordable housing in this part of our County,” said Simitian. “We know the need is there, and these investments mean more folks, and particularly families, will be able to find a safe and stable place.”
At its December 5 Board meeting, the Board also approved the purchase of 1265 Montecito Avenue in Mountain View. The site will be the future location of the Montecito Multifamily Apartments. The Montecito, being developed by Charities Housing, consists of one five-story residential building. Forty-two units will be for households earning up to 50% AMI, an additional 42 units will be for formerly unhoused individuals and families, and one unit will be for an onsite manager. Earlier this year, the Board approved $18 million of Measure A funding to support acquisition and development of the property.