North Fair Oaks Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing Project
Development has officially commenced on a significant affordable housing project, dubbed Middlefield Junction, located in North Fair Oaks, California. This unincorporated neighborhood sits just south of Redwood City and is soon to see a significant upgrade to its housing landscape.
Situated at 2700 Middlefield Road on a parcel of land previously owned by the county and located behind the Fair Oaks Health Center, the project represents an innovative use of what was once a vacant lot, home to a recycling facility. The Middlefield Junction project aims to transform this space into a thriving residential area, complete with a range of modern amenities.
The project will consist of 179 affordable housing units, with a range of apartment sizes from one to three bedrooms, designed to accommodate various family structures. Apart from residential spaces, the project also includes plans for a child care center and a community open space, making it a comprehensive and community-oriented development.
The apartments will be allocated to households earning between 15% and 80% of the area’s median income, thus addressing the acute need for affordable housing in the area. Furthermore, twenty of these units will be exclusively reserved for the homeless, who will receive care management and supportive services from San Mateo County Health. Also included in the plan are two dedicated units for onsite managers.
Middlefield Junction is the product of a collaborative effort between the county, the state, Mercy Housing California (a nonprofit developer), and private investors. This ambitious project, estimated to cost around $155 million, is being partially funded by $78 million from the California Housing Accelerator Fund. This fund, managed by California’s Department of Housing and Community Development, is being utilized for the first time in this county for such a project.
Additional financial backing for this development is being provided through several avenues. These include $30.5 million in loans from the county and the Housing Authority of San Mateo County, close to $13 million sourced from the American Rescue Plan Act, and $6.78 million from the Measure K half-cent sales tax initiative, which is designed to generate local funds for local needs.
Further funds to cover the project costs are expected to come from state grants and private investment, reinforcing the collaborative and multi-pronged approach to funding this significant endeavor.
Interested individuals will be able to apply for residence at Middlefield Junction in the future. Information regarding the application process will be shared on the San Mateo County Housing Portal website at smc.housingbayarea.org/listings in due course. This project represents a significant stride in addressing the need for affordable housing in the region, and it’s expected to greatly benefit the North Fair Oaks community.
