REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Proclamation of May as Affordable Housing Month and Recognition of the Freebird Development Company for the successful Completion of the Monroe Commons Affordable Housing Development
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
Housing affordability continues to be a top concern in Santa Clara and throughout the region. In March 2024, the median price for a single-family home in Santa Clara was $1,950,000 and over 40% of renters in Santa Clara pay more than 30% of their income on housing. In addition, over 375 people were counted in the City as being unsheltered in 2022. Over the next seven years, the City’s regional housing goal is to facilitate the construction of over 2,872 new extremely low and very low-income housing units by 2031.
In recent years, Santa Clara has contributed greatly to increasing housing at all income levels. The City paved the way for a large amount of development through the completion of several specific plans. The City has also been successful at leveraging $86 million of the County’s Measure A Housing Bond to funding 489 units, which is 155% of the Measure A’s funding goal for the City. In addition, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the City of Santa Clara was the 8th largest producer of affordable housing, out of 101 cities, in the nine County Bay Area between 2018-2022.
The City’s current pipeline includes over 650 units of 100% affordable housing and potential for an additional 466 low- and moderate-income rental units and 88 affordable for-sale units from projects that are subject to the City’s Affordable Housing Ordinance.
While the City has done a lot to boost affordable housing production, more is needed. To make meaningful progress, the City will need new sources of funding, new partnerships, and community support for new affordable housing.
Each year communities around the country organize events in recognition of Affordable Housing Month. The purpose of these events is to invite a wide range of stakeholders to discuss housing related needs and solutions. Participants often include neighbors, advocates, renters, homeowners, landlords, people experiencing homelessness, housing developers, lenders, service providers, government agencies, and others. The intention of Affordable Housing month is to raise awareness about housing related issues and solutions and to build support for continued efforts and resources. These events provide information about best practices and generate support to produce affordable housing, the preservation of affordable housing, and for the protection of residents from housing discrimination, and displacement.
DISCUSSION
In Santa Clara County, the nonprofit SV @ Home organizes a calendar with a range of event types hosted by various organizations. This year events included but were not limited to the following:
• Grand openings for new affordable housing projects
• Project tours
• New ways to prevent displacement
• Home repair and safety modification workshops
• Affordable Housing Finance 101
• How Homelessness Impacts Older Adults
• Creating opportunities for a diverse workforce
• Visions sessions for possible new affordable housing projects
• Fair Housing Workshops
• Discussions about how racial equity in affordable housing
• Connections between housing and health services
• Networking events
• First time homeownership workshops
A recent local success to highlight during Affordable Housing Month, was effective public-private partnership to bring to fruition Monroe Commons (2330 Monroe Street), which is a recently completed affordable rental housing project. Following an extensive community outreach process, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of an affordable housing project on a vacant City owned site. Freebird Development Company was selected and worked closely with the City to design a project that addressed community concerns related to privacy, density, and parking.
The project used a combination of funding sources including tax credits, multi-family housing revenue bonds, State Multifamily Housing Program funds, County funds, and debt to leverage the City’s initial gap loan of $6,500,000 and a separate City loan of $5,200,000 associated with the ground lease. The City later increased the gap loan from $6,500,000 to $9,500,000 to fund the construction of an upgraded water main. The resulting project created 64-units of extremely low, very low, and low-income affordable housing with a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments for individuals and families. Monroe Commons is especially unique because it reserved one quarter of the apartments for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
In recognition of Affordable Housing Month and for the completion of Monroe Commons, Mayor Gillmor will present a Proclamation and a Mayoral Certification to Freebird Development Company. Robin Zimbler, President of Freebird Development Company, will receive both ceremonial items.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact other than staff time.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Staff
Reviewed by: Reena Brilliot, Acting Director of Community Development
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Proclamation - Affordable Housing Month 2024
2. Draft Mayoral Certification - Freebird Development Company - Monroe Commons