Completed Housing Projects

To access information on a completed housing project please click on the project title, listed below in alphabetical order or you may scroll down to view them all. 

Above The Line

Arroyo Verde Project

Beachcomber Mobile Home Park

Brommer Street Transitional Housing

Casa Linda

Cliffwood Estates Mobile Home Park

East Cliff Village Townhouses/VOA Elderly Housing

The Farm

Foster Care Transitional Housing

Habitat for Humanity (3 projects)

Jardines del Valle

Lagoon Beach Cooperative Apartments

Merrill Road Apartments

Osocales Community Mobile Home Park

Pacific Family Mobile Home Park

San Andreas Farm Labor Camp

Sorrento Oaks Mobile Home Park

Stepping Out

Villa Del Paraiso

Vista Verde Townhouses

Willowbrook Residential Care Home

Woodland Heights Senior Apartments

ABOVE THE LINE / FREEDOM BOULEVARD COTTAGES

This transitional housing and multi-purpose facility serves girls ages 13 through 17, who are in the foster system. It includes an on-site classroom, computer room and recreation room. A spacious backyard, piano and art hung on the walls contribute to the family setting. Access to medical care, substance abuse counseling and other programs address special needs. Residents attend school, participate in community service activities and job training programs. 

This site also contains 7 cottages that are rented to very low income households with disabling conditions.

Location:  2716 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville

Property Management:  Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center
                                 195 Harvey West Boulevard, Santa Cruz
                                 (831) 469-1700

Number of Units:  7 detached cottages, 1 residential care building and
                          1 detached office/classroom building.

Project Completion:  February 2006

Financing:  $220,000 SCCCU permanent loan; $651,927 Agency 
                conditional grant; $333,150 HUD Grant; $120,000 AHP Grant; $272,000 ATL private
                funds/donations

ARROYO VERDE PROJECT

This subdivision for low and moderate income housing units was originally approved in 1980 and completely occupied by July, 1994. Over the years, the Housing Authority overcame a number of obstacles related to the planning, construction and marketing of the Arroyo Verde project. Through various actions, the Board of Supervisors, the Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors and the Freedom District Sanitation Board provided assistance to the project to help ensure the project remain 100% affordable and that the Housing Authority maximize the number of low income households able to afford an Arroyo Verde home. The Arroyo Verde project stands as a model affordable housing project for working, low and moderate income families. Today, Arroyo Verde functions as a bustling, family neighborhood, home to 101 working families who truly represent a cross section of the larger Santa Cruz community.

Location:  Green Valley Road, Watsonville, California

Property Management:  These privately-owned single family residences remain 
                                 under Measure J affordability restrictions.

Number of Units:  101 single family homes

Project Completion:  Spring, 1994

Financing:  $753,000 Red Cross grant; $200,000 Affordable Housing Credits; 
                $241,600 Agency loan; $123,000 Public Works; revenue from sales 
                of homes; $300,000 Agency silent third and equity appreciation 
                loans to individual home buyers

BEACHCOMBER MOBILE HOME PARK

The resident purchase of mobile home parks can be a complex and costly venture. While some residents may be able to purchase their park with conventional financing, others require technical and financial assistance to facilitate the resident purchase. The Agency and Santa Cruz Community Housing Corporation worked with the resident association to form a cooperative to purchase this park. While the mobile homes are privately owned, the land was purchased by the Cooperative in which each of the 73 residents own one share. Mobile home purchase and membership in the cooperative is restricted to low income qualified buyers.

Location: 2627 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz, California

Property Manager: Beachcomber Mobile Home Park Board of Directors

Number of Units: 73 owner - occupied mobile homes

Financing: $236,500 Watsonville Federal S & L loan; $733,499 Mobile Home 
               Park Resident Ownership Program (MPROP) loan; $395,749 
               Watsonville Federal AHP grant; $73,100 resident cash equity; 
               $276,000 Agency grant; the Agency also provided short term 
               loans to individuals for cash equity buy-ins.

BROMMER STREET TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

Many homeless families are unable to move directly from the streets or emergency shelters to permanent housing. Transitional housing, in which residents generally stay for 6 to 24 months, has become an important component of homeless services around the nation. The Brommer Street Housing project represents a coordinated County effort to attract available federal funds, and provide a small-scale, yet critically needed, transitional housing facility to low or very low income homeless families. To qualify for the program, families need to have income from AFDC or employment. Supportive services will be provided by the Human Resources Agency’s  GAIN, and Child Care programs, and by other appropriate agencies and programs. At the end of each family’s stay in the transitional housing program, they are provided with assistance in finding permanent housing.

Location:  Brommer Street, Santa Cruz

Property Management:  Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
                                 (831) 454-9455

Number of Units:  6 - 2 BR apartments

Project Completion:  Fall, 1992

Financing:  $393,750 HUD McKinney grant award; $196,875 Housing Authority
                grant; and $196,875 Redevelopment Agency grant.

CASA LINDA

This project created twenty-one new units of affordable rental housing for very low income, chronically mentally disabled adults - - a population identified as under-served and in desperate need of additional affordable housing. This housing project provides studio apartment/single occupancy living arrangements for persons who are capable of independent living. All units are totally accessible for persons with disabilities. There is an activity center on site for residents and transportation services to assist with vocational and education rehabilitation needs.

Location:  1840 Maciel Lane, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  1 - unrestricted manager’s unit and 20-units restricted to 
                          very low income chronically mentally disabled adults.

Project Completion:  Spring, 1992

Financing:  $1,999,100 HUD Section 202 loan, $273,160 CDBG loan; 
                $725,970 Agency grants.

CLIFFWOOD ESTATES MOBILE HOME PARK SHARE PURCHASE

Resident-owned mobile home parks help stabilize housing costs and provide for a hedge against a potentially fluctuating and volatile real estate market. For this project the Agency’s subsidy was structured as individual, deferred loans to residents who would otherwise be unable to afford to participate in the park purchase. While most of the Cliffwood Estates residents had resources available to provide an equity contribution for their share of the Cooperative purchase, some residents were unable to make an initial down payment or to afford any increase in their housing costs. In accordance with the Agency Individual Loan program, loans of up to $10,000 were made to nine residents.

Location:  3200 Cliffwood Drive, Soquel

Number of Units:  60 owner occupied mobile homes

Project Completion:  September, 1996

Financing:  $90,000 Agency funds; balance privately funded by park residents 
                and private lenders

EAST CLIFF VILLAGE TOWNHOUSES / VOA ELDERLY HOUSING

This Volunteers of America facility, which is restricted to low income seniors, had been recently constructed when funding limitations and higher than anticipated costs kept the organization from completing the necessary public and private improvements. The Redevelopment Agency financed the improvements which most directly affected the broader community needs - - the 17^th Avenue sidewalk and bus stop improvements and the landscape and lighting improvements along 17^th and Tremont Avenues. The new landscaping effectively screened the large three story building from the adjacent street frontages and residences, while the additional street lighting addressed safety concerns of a number of local residents.

Location:  1635 Tremont Ave, Apartments 10 - 86, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  75 restricted rental units for elderly and handicapped persons
                         and families; 1 unrestricted manager’s unit

Project Completion:  January, 1991

Financing:  HUD loan; State CDBG loan; private funds; $82,000 Agency grant

THE FARM

The Farm is a good example of how a project, through unique design and good planning, can become an integral part of the community. By incorporating wood siding and framing similar to that of the original farmhouse, the area’s rural character was maintained. The units, which feature large porches, clapboard siding, and gabled roofs, are highly energy efficient. This award winning design (Urban Design Award, California Council, The American Institute of Architects) serves low and very low income families in a neighborhood setting that also includes a child care center. The almost 5 ½ acres of adjacent land west of Cunnison Lane are owned by the County for future development as a park.

Location:  3060 Cunnison Lane, Soquel

Property Management:  Mid-Peninsula Housing Management Corp
                                (415) 299-8050

Number of Units:  1 - 1BR, 16 - 2 BR and 22 - 3 BR units and two moderately
                          priced single family homes. One child care center.

Project Completion:  July, 1993

Financing:  $1,757,127 California State Rental Housing Construction Program
                loan; $58,000 Agency predevelopment loan; $1,046,000 Agency
                construction grant; $3,300,000 Federal tax credit investment

FOSTER CARE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING

State funding for foster children ends at the age of 18, leaving these young adults without any economic support. Services applied during the period directly after foster care may determine whether these young people become an asset or liability to society. The Agency subsidizes three apartments to be used by clients at two Agency-owned locations.  A counselor visits weekly to provide direction and support.  This program is an interim use on these sites and will likely be relocated  when the properties are developed.

Location: 1965 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz
              Heart of Soquel, 4740 Santa Cruz Drive, Soquel

Number of Units:  Four bedroom house and one 1 - BR apartment

Project Completion:  February, 2001

Financing:  $13,500 yearly maximum rent subsidy

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

The Santa Cruz County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a national volunteer non-profit group directed to the development of very low income housing, receives donations in money, labor and materials. Selected recipients are required to invest a determined number of hours in the construction of their and/or another Habitat house. They are also required to make a minimal down payment when construction begins. Owners are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the house, as well as the payment of taxes and insurance. When completed, a final mortgage is drawn and regular, no-interest payments to Habitat are required. After completion, the property remains under restriction by Habitat for Humanity with an option to re-purchase and is restricted by the Agency to low income buyers.

17^th AVENUE

Location: 1767 Del Mar Court, Santa Cruz

Property Management: Private ownership

Number of Units: One owner-occupied 3 BR single family residence

Project Completion: November, 1995

Financing: $59,999 Agency grant for acquisition of property; $42,000 in Habitat
               funds; volunteer labor and donated materials.

JUAN PABLO LANE
Location: 2342 and 2346 Juan Pablo Lane, Santa Cruz

Property Management: Private Ownership

Number of Units: Two owner-occupied 4 BR single family residences

Project Completion: November, 1992

Financing: $120,000 Agency grant for acquisition of property; $160,000 in
                Habitat funds; volunteer labor and donated materials

SOQUEL

Location: 2716, 2718, 2720 Lafayette St, Soquel

Property Management: Private Ownership

Number of Units: Three owner-occupied townhouses; 2 - 3 BR and 1 - 2 BR

Project Completed: August, 1989

Financing: County Affordable Housing Program Transfer of Credit; private labor
               and material donations; owner’s sweat equity; $7,800 Agency grant

JARDINES DEL VALLE/ MURPHY’S CROSSING FARM LABOR CAMP

In 1995, as a last resort measure to avoid displacing families due to serious health and safety code violations at this dilapidated farm labor camp, the Redevelopment Agency was asked to become involved in its rehabilitation. Neglected and overcrowded, many units did not have fire exits, many rooms had no windows, bathroom and kitchen facilities were substandard and units were accessed off long, poorly lit, graffiti defaced hallways. In addition, severe site drainage problems caused water to flow through the units during the winter.

Now each family has an individual, outside entrance identified by hand-painted, tile address markers. At each entrance there is a garden area used by the residents to grow vegetables and flowers. Inside, airy, light filled rooms are accented by colors chosen by the residents. Modest, but modern kitchen areas are located in the main living/dining room. A community room has been created out of the old common shower/bath building. The bare dirt areas around the camp have been transformed with paved walkways, play areas for younger children and basketball and volleyball courts for teens and adults.

The physical change has been accompanied by site management and programs such as English instruction, computer classes, homework assistance and counseling. A new sense of community is being fostered at Jardines.

Location:  76 Murphy’s Crossing Road, Watsonville

Number of Units:  1 unrestricted manager’s unit and 17 units restricted to
                         very low income households (2 - 2 BR, 12 - 3 BR and 4 - 4BR)

Project Completion:  August, 1997

Financing:  $800,000 federal Tax Credit investment; $620,000 California Housing
                Rehabilitation Program - Rental component (CHRP-R) loan; $475,783 
                Agency loan

LAGOON BEACH COOPERATIVE APARTMENTS

In 1991, with special technical services and assistance from the Santa Cruz Community Housing Corporation, the Lagoon Beach apartment complex was purchased and converted into a resident-owned limited equity cooperative serving low income households. The rehabilitation of this project provided desperately needed physical improvements and added recreation space. It reduced overcrowded conditions and a high rate of turnover, stabilizing housing costs and establishing a steady resident population while permanently preserving these units as affordable housing.

Location:  540 13^th Avenue, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  13 studio, 2 - 1 BR, 13 - 2 BR and 3 - 3 BR

Project Completion:  June, 1992

Financing: $482,926 San Francisco Federal S & L AHP loan; $400,000 FEMA
                grant funds; $1,954,396 CHRP loan; $322,000 Agency loan/grants

MERRILL ROAD

In 1990 the Agency located and initiated negotiations to purchase the property at 3201 Merrill Road for the purpose of constructing an apartment project for low to very low income families. The Housing Authority expressed an interest in taking on this project and, prior to closing, took over the Agency’s option to purchase the property. After obtaining additional financing and receiving permits, the construction of this fifteen unit affordable housing complex was completed in the summer of 1997. This project is an excellent example of using quality design and architecture to integrate housing into an existing neighborhood and respect unique on-site natural amenities.

Location:  3201 Merrill Road, Aptos

Number of Units:  1 - 2 BR; 13 - 3 BR and 1 - 4 BR

Project Completed:  Summer, 1997

Financing:  $1,267,193 Federal Tax Credits (Mission First Financial); 
                $1,195,167 Rental Housing Construction Program (RHCP) loan; 
                $662,853 Housing Authority; $300,000 Agency loan

OSOCALES COMMUNITY/ McINTOSH MOBILE HOME PARK

In December of 1992, the Agency acquired McIntosh Mobile Home Park in Soquel for the purpose of providing overall improvements to the park. In 1996, Mercy Charities Housing received state funds to help undertake this project and the transfer of the property ownership was begun. Mercy provided construction oversight and property management creating nine new mobile home sites, completely replacing the dilapidated infrastructure, adding a new meeting room, and rehabilitating existing coaches and the single family house. Coach owners residing in the park at the time of rehabilitation continue as coach owners, renting their spaces from the park. The balance of the coaches are rental units restricted to low income families.

Location:  4151 Soquel Drive, Soquel

Number of Units:  27 mobile home; one detached single family residence. All
                         units are low income deed restricted except the manager’s 
                         mobile home unit

Project Completion:  April, 2000

Financing:  $1,182,798 Monterey Bay Bank loan; $952,381 HOME loan; 
                $1,637,239 Agency loans and grants

PACIFIC FAMILY MOBILE HOME PARK COOPERATIVE

Formerly known as the Ace High Mobile Home Park, the coach owners formed a limited equity cooperative with the help of the Santa Cruz Community Housing Cooperative and the Agency. The cooperative received a Mobile Home Park Resident Ownership Program loan from the State and with the other financing sources was able to purchase the park. While the coaches are privately owned, the land is held by the Cooperative of which each coach owner is a member. Membership in the Cooperative and the purchase of a mobile home in this park is limited to low income qualified buyers.

Location:  1730 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  31 Mobile Home spaces; two rental apartment units

Project Completion:  April, 1999

Financing:  $519,154 National Cooperative Bank loan; $390,000 State HCD
                MPROP loan; $37,500 from Cooperative membership fees; 
                $87,450 Agency grant

SAN ANDREAS FARM LABOR CAMP

The San Andreas Farm Labor Camp is a 43 unit affordable rental project targeted to very-low income farm workers earning at least 50% of their income from agricultural employment. It includes onsite management and maintenance facilities, laundry facilities, and a community center to accommodate an array of social, recreational, and educational services including an after school homework program, computer center and summer program. Other uses include residential meetings, ESL and job readiness skills classes, Head Start and library programs. Salud Para La Gente and Dientes! provide on site medical and dental education and screening and a Sheriff’s office is maintained at the site. The reconstruction of the San Andreas Farm Labor Camp from a troubled property with severe overcrowding and numerous health and safety violations to a vital housing resource has given farm worker families a safe, stable community with easy access to many important social services.

Location:  295 San Andreas Road, Watsonville

Number of Units:  1 - 1 BR; 4 - 2 BR; 12 - 4 BR; and 1 - 3 BR unrestricted 
                          manager’s unit

Project Completion:  June, 2001

Financing:  $605,404 HOME loan; $252,000 AHP loan; $700,000 Agency 
                loan for acquisition and construction; $694,596 Agency grant 
                for construction; $6,034,300 federal tax credits

SORRENTO OAKS MOBILE HOME PARK SHARE PURCHASE

Historically "seniors only", this lovely park situated on 11 ½ acres belies the fact that it is home to many low income residents. Given the opportunity to purchase it from the owners, the Sorrento Oaks Homeowners Association requested the Agency’s assistance in providing loans to 13 income eligible coach owners, consistent with program guidelines. These 3% simple interest loans increased participation among low income park residents and provided the balance of funding needed for the Association to complete the purchase of the park.

Location:  830 Brommer Street, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  92 privately owned mobile homes

Project Completion:  Spring, 1996

Financing:  $120,000 Agency funds; balance privately funded by park residents
                and private lenders

STEPPING OUT

In April, 1989 the Board of Supervisors entered into a lease with Stepping Out to provide County owned land on their Emeline Avenue complex to construct 18 affordable housing units for very low income chronically mentally disabled adults, providing desperately needed housing for a population with a dire need for a stable and affordable living environment.

Location:  740 North Plymouth Street, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  16 - 1 BR and 2 - 2 BR

Project Completion:  May, 1992

Financing:  $934,562 HUD-Section 202 loan; $200,000 Red Cross grant; 
                $100,000 United Way grant; $100,000 Greater Santa Cruz 
                Community Foundation grant; $5,000 Stepping Out Housing, 
                Inc. grant; $490,085 Agency grants

Villa Del Paraiso

Location: Formerly Marmo’s RV Park, 324 Amesti Road, at Pinto Lake

This site was formerly a Recreational Vehicle Park, permitted by the County for 51 RV spaces for use by travel trailers and other RV’s for a maximum stay of 30 days. Over the years, through the park violated its permit by allowing more than 51 vehicles and permanent occupancy (over 30 days). 

Mid Peninsula Housing Corporation entered into a purchase agreement for the site in April of 2000 and focused its initial efforts on immediate health and safety issues by reducing the overall occupancy, upgrading the septic system and instituting improved management practices.

Consisting of one- to four-bedroom apartments, this project of 50 modular manufactured units is now completed and occupied.  Additionally, the project has a separate manager's unit, a community room, laundry facilities, children’s play areas, landscaping, substantial restoration of the lake edge vegetation as well as the possibility of a future program for resident farming. The units will be rented at rates affordable to lower income households, with a minimum of 10% of the units currently committed for priority for farmworker households.

Number of Units:  50 one- to four-bedroom apartment and one manager's unit

Project Completion:  Fall 2005

Mid Peninsula Housing Corporation
658 Bair Island Road, Suite 300
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 299-8000

VISTA VERDE TOWNHOUSES

Vista Verde Townhouses, developed in partnership with South County Housing Corporation, is targeted to very low income families. Half of the two bedroom ground floor units are either accessible or adaptable for persons with disabilities. The townhouses are designed with awnings, covered front porches, second floor decks, and wood siding and trim.

The 4.7 acre site includes a spacious community center, laundry facilities, two acres of open space and ample parking for all residents and guests. The site is beautifully landscaped with separate tot and children’s plan areas that are fully equipped, a small turfed soccer field for older children and adults, and interior courtyards within clustered building groups. In addition, each unit has a private outdoor patio area. The community room accommodates an array of social and educational services, including after school homework programs, citizenship, English as a second language and computer classes in the computer center.

Location: 44-59 Stewart Avenue, Freedom

Number of Units: 76 Apartments: 44 - 2BR, 29 - 3BR, 3 - 4BR

Project Completion: March, 2001

Financing: $1,510,000 private loan; $952,380 Federal HOME loan; $47,620 Federal HOME grant; 
               $406,377 AHP loan; $8,404,616 Federal/State tax credits; $100,000 Neighborhood Reinvestment 
               Corporation Grant; $139,371 CHFA Prop 1A grant; $2,230,000 RDA loans and grant; 
               $175,245 contribution by South County Housing.

WILLOWBROOK RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME

This housing resource for seniors and disabled persons was in receivership when it was brought to the attention of the Agency. The loss of such an establishment can mean that County Mental Health intervention can be quickly "undone" and the cycle of illness, hospitalization and homelessness is repeated. This occurs at great cost to the County and the client, both financially and in terms of personal trauma and stress. Acquisition of this facility by a service-provider contract agency was an opportunity to provide stable, long term and less costly housing and services to low income disabled and elderly individuals. The facility required rehabilitation as well as paving for parking and exterior improvements.

Location:  120, 122,126,168,170,172,176,180 and 182 Willowbrook Drive
               Ben Lomond

Number of Units:  5 rental units and 40 residents (beds)

Project Completion:  November, 1999

Financing:  $865,000 California Federal Bank loan; $680,000 Agency loan

WOODLAND HEIGHTS / WOODLAND SENIOR APARTMENTS

Within the Woodland Heights Subdivision, just a half mile south of Dominican Hospital, is the 68 unit Senior Apartments building providing affordable housing for seniors with income levels below 80% of the County median. When informed by the developer that the project’s 10 year income restrictions were due to expire, the Agency explored ways they could help preserve the affordability of this project. In exchange for providing a loan to retire a balloon payment due on an original development loan, the owner agreed to extend affordability restrictions for the 68 units under Agency and Measure J restrictions for an additional 40 years. These units provide housing for low income seniors on a fixed income, who would be ill equipped to afford the rent increases if this project had reverted to market rents.

Location:  3050 Dover Drive, Santa Cruz

Number of Units:  14 studios; 54 - 1 BR

Project Completion:  December, 1992

Financing:  $275,000 Agency loan/grant; balance privately funded