A city-owned parking lot is being transformed into a 120-unit affordable housing development in Mountain View, California.
Officials recently celebrated the groundbreaking for Corso, which will provide studio to three-bedroom homes for low- and very low-income families earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
Twenty apartments will be set aside for households transitioning out of homelessness, and 10 apartments are designed for families in need of permanent supportive housing. Fifteen apartments will be home to individuals with intellectual or development disabilities.
“At a time when affordability challenges are pushing too many people out of the communities they love, developments like this show what is possible when we use public land creatively and work in partnership to deliver permanently affordable housing,” said mayor Emily Ann Ramos. “This development will help keep Mountain View economically diverse, connected, and welcoming for future generations.”
The community is being developed by Related California and Alta Housing.
Located within walking distance of multiple bus lines and the Mountain View Transit Center, the development provides residents with convenient access to jobs, services, and amenities across the city. On-site amenities will include multipurpose community rooms, a teen lounge, a central courtyard, and a bicycle lounge. Alta will deliver comprehensive on-site resident programming, complemented by supportive services from Santa Clara County and Housing Choices.
"Corso will provide high- quality affordable housing in an ideal location in Mountain View,” said Ann Silverberg, president and CEO of Related California Affordable. “This groundbreaking is a significant step forward in addressing Mountain View’s affordable housing needs and has been made possible by the true collaboration of many development and funding partners. "
The development is supported by a $23.5 million loan from the city, which includes federal and state grant money, and nearly $20 million in loans from Santa Clara County. The city also contributed the land for the project.
Designed by BDE Architects along with Seidel Architects, Corso is on track to achieve LEED Gold certification. Other partners include Destination: Home, Santa Clara County Housing Authority, Stanford Affordable Housing Fund, California Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, and Wells Fargo.