MidPen Housing has recently delivered nearly 200 more affordable homes, with the opening of two new communities in California.
Located in Santa Cruz County, Bienestar Plaza Apartments provides 57 homes for families and residents with supportive housing needs, including people who have experienced homelessness. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments are affordable for people earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income (AMI).
In Menlo Park, the nonprofit housing organization has opened the 140-unit Gateway Rising, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for people earning between 30% and 80% of the AMI.
Both are unique developments in their communities.
Bienestar Plaza completes Santa Cruz County’s first affordable housing and health care campus.
The development, located in the Live Oak area, is the final phase of an innovative campus that delivers health and housing in one location, achieved through a partnership of MidPen, Santa Cruz County, Dientes Community Dental Care, and Santa Cruz Community Health. A 20,000 square foot community health center and 11-chair dental clinic, which opened in 2022, provide medical, behavioral health, and specialty care, with a focus on pediatric care for clients at the lowest income levels. The clinics together serve more than 12,000 patients, including MidPen residents, who now have next-door access to low-cost medical and dental care.
Financing for the housing development was provided through both public and private sources including Santa Cruz County, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC), the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Wells Fargo, the California Community Reinvestment Corp., Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Central California Alliance for Health, and Central Coast Community Energy.
“Housing is health care, and the combination of safe, affordable homes and access to high-quality health care services helps people thrive,” said Matthew O. Franklin, president and CEO of MidPen Housing. “We applaud the county and our partners for their vision and commitment to a true community development that serves working families and people with the greatest need.”
Bienestar Plaza’s architect is Wald Ruhnke & Dost Architects, and the general contractor is Bogard Construction.
Gateway Rising marks the final phase in the revitalization of Gateway Apartments, a development built in the 1960s.
MidPen acquired the community in 1987 and invested in a light rehab at that time. It has now redeveloped the entire site in two phases: 90 new affordable homes for seniors at Sequoia Belle Haven, followed by 140 new affordable homes for families at Gateway Rising, for a net increase of 100 apartments across both properties.
“The comprehensive Gateway revitalization is a true win/win for the community, allowing us to rebuild some of the most obsolete housing stock while adding new homes,” Franklin said. “We applaud the city of Menlo Park and San Mateo County for their vision and leadership in committing early and deep support to the redevelopment, and we’re proud to be a partner in bringing safe, high-quality, affordable homes to the Belle Haven neighborhood.”
Of Gateway Rising’s 140 apartments, 81 are occupied by original Gateway residents, who were temporarily relocated with assistance from MidPen and received priority for the new homes, and seven are set aside for households that have experienced homelessness. Resident amenities include a community room with kitchen, after school program classroom, teen center, computer lab, fitness center, and outdoor recreation areas with picnic tables and barbecues. Gateway Rising is professionally managed by MidPen Property Management, and MidPen Services provides free, onsite services such as academically-based after school and summer programs for youth, vocational development, and health and wellness programs.
Financing for the development was provided through both public and private sources including the city of Menlo Park, San Mateo County, the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo, California Housing Finance Agency, CTCAC, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, and Bank of America.
The architect is Mithun, and the general contractor is Devcon Construction.
Founded in 1970, MidPen serves nearly 22,000 residents at more than 130 properties in 12 Northern California counties.
