California Construction News staff writer
Santa Clara County and Eden Housing have broken ground on a 68-unit affordable housing development for seniors in San Jose.
East Santa Clara Senior will include 47 rental units for low-income households earning up to 60% of the area median income, 20 permanent supportive housing units for seniors who have experienced homelessness and one manager’s unit.
The county is providing the land and $8.3 million in funding, including $6.3 million secured through California’s Local Housing Trust Fund Program and $2 million from the $950 million Measure A Affordable Housing Bond approved by county voters in 2016.
The project has also received $5.9 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“East Santa Clara Senior will provide much-needed affordable and supportive housing at a time when too many older Californians are struggling with rising housing costs and homelessness,” Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis said. “This development demonstrates what can be accomplished when communities come together around a shared commitment to housing our most vulnerable residents.”
The development will be built at the intersection of East Santa Clara and 17th streets on a portion of a 12-acre site purchased by the county in 2010.
The county later constructed Valley Health Center Downtown San Jose on part of the property and sold 6 acres to the Santa Clara County Housing Authority. A master plan for the site calls for as many as nine affordable housing developments.
The Housing Authority plans to develop up to six projects on its portion of the property. Trillium Senior Apartments and Hawthorn Senior Apartments are already under construction.
The county plans to work with development partners on three affordable housing projects on its 6 acres, beginning with East Santa Clara Senior. Eden Housing, in partnership with The Core Companies, is the master developer of a 3-acre portion of the site.
County Chief Operating Officer Greta Hansen said the project demonstrates how public land and government funding can be combined with development partners to increase the supply of affordable housing.
“As the housing affordability crisis continues to impact our region, the county remains committed to expanding affordable housing supply and creating lasting pathways out of homelessness for our most vulnerable residents,” Hansen said.
The project also includes plans to preserve and restore a historic building on the site as a common space for residents and the public.
The building, known as Building 800, was originally constructed in 1918 as part of Temple Laundry. It was expanded twice during the 1920s before IBM took over the building in 1943 and converted it into the company’s first West Coast manufacturing plant.
IBM used the facility to process punch cards, an early form of data storage. The building has been vacant since 1960.
The original portion of Building 800, excluding later additions, will be restored with guidance from the Preservation Action Council of San Jose. Plans were developed following community engagement focused in part on preserving the historic structure.
“East Santa Clara Senior will provide seniors, including those exiting homelessness, with the stability, security and dignity that come with having a safe and affordable place to call home,” said Linda Mandolini, president and CEO of Eden Housing.
The project is part of the county’s broader investment in affordable housing. Over the past decade, the county has allocated $715 million from the 2016 Measure A Affordable Housing Bond to 64 projects in 11 cities.
“The fact that this project creates 68 homes for our most vulnerable seniors is part of why I’m excited about this project,” said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.
