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168 Pacific is a 9-unit apartment complex in the City of Pacifica. MidPen acquired the property in 2016 in order help preserve naturally occurring affordable rents in San Mateo County, an otherwise high-rent market. The property will undergo both immediate repairs and moderate future renovations, including safety as well as interior and exterior upgrades. A portion of the funding for this property comes from the San Mateo County Department of Housing’s Demonstration Program for Multi-Family Acquisition and Rehabilitation.

Avance provides 44 units of affordable housing for adult with developmental disabilities. Avance is the result of thoughtful planning and close coordination with the City of Livermore, the County of Alameda, the Regional Center of the East Bay, and community members. Careful consideration was given to the site’s design and unit design to ensure they best meet the needs of the residents and respect the character of the existing historic home.

Carroll Inn provides single-room occupancy mini-studios. All units have a toilet, a shower or tub, and efficiency kitchen facilities consisting of a half-size refrigerator, microwave and sink. The units are fully furnished, and the monthly rent includes utilities. Each floor has a common lounge and full kitchen available for group meetings or use by residents. Laundry facilities are located on each floor. An office for supportive services is located on the ground floor. Outside, there are two landscaped courtyards. The Carroll Inn is ideally located near jobs, shopping and services, as well as public transportation.

Located in Fetters Hot Springs, the heart of Sonoma Valley, Celestina Garden Apartments will provide 40 affordable rental homes for seniors, including eight apartments prioritized for formerly homeless residents and residents displaced by the 2017 Sonoma County wildfires. Celestina will complete the final phase of a master-planned, intergenerational community where people of all ages can live, work, attend school, shop, and easily access transportation. Celestina started construction in September 2018 and will welcome residents in November 2019.

Cynara Court represents the realization of a longtime vision to transform previously underutilized land into a vibrant community and provides much needed affordable housing to agricultural workers and other hard working low-income residents in Castroville. Located on two separate sites that are five blocks apart, Cynara Court includes onsite services and programs as well as spacious indoor and outdoor community areas. This is the first housing development being built under the Castroville Community Plan, and the 750 square feet of street front retail space on the Cynara Court site area is consistent with the Plan’s goal to create a more walkable, pedestrian-oriented downtown in Castroville.

MidPen Housing purchased Dent Commons from Housing for Independent People in 1997 and rehabilitated the community to preserve its affordability. Designed for families and individual residents, Dent Commons provides convenient access to a community kitchen, shared living space for relaxation, and a laundry facility. It also shares a community facility with neighboring MidPen community Vivente II, which includes a computer lab and laundry facility. The community is near many schools and within walking distance of a park, large mall, and a VTA Bus stop with direct access to VTA Light Rail and CalTrain stations.

Donner Lofts is a mixed-use development that combines workforce efficiency studios and 1-bedroom apartments with ground-floor commercial retail space in downtown San Jose. Twenty units are reserved for the formerly homeless who receive extensive supportive services. Donner Lofts started construction in late 2014 and welcomed residents in summer 2016. Donner Lofts transforms a blighted corner lot near City Hall into high-quality housing and retail shops that enhance the neighborhood. The community’s well-appointed apartments provide stable homes that are affordable to its residents – many of whom hold jobs that are critically important to a thriving downtown community. Residents of Donner Lofts receive a full suite of on site amenities as well as robust services and programs, coordinated by MidPen Services in collaboration with the Santa Clara County Department of Behavioral Health Services.

Located in Fetters Hot Springs, the heart of Sonoma Valley, Fetters Apartments provides 60 hardworking low-income families with affordable rental apartments. Fetters is the first phase of a planned neighborhood hub which will include two intergenerational affordable housing communities, shopping and other commercial space, community gardens, bicycle and pedestrian trails, a retrofitted shared-use playground for nearby Sonoma Charter School and community residents, and neighborhood improvements. Fetters Apartments started construction in summer 2015 and welcomed residents in 2017.

Geil Street Apartments is an 11-unit garden style family community located in Castroville. MidPen acquired the property in 2015 in order to preserve its affordability in the long-run. With plans for future renovations, Geil Street Apartments underwent initial improvements, including safety upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom interiors, as well as a new roof on the building.

Hillsdale Townhouses was developed in response to the need for high-quality, affordable, workforce housing in San Jose. In 2007 MidPen Housing purchased the dilapidated site formerly known as the Hillsdale House Townhomes, which was in tremendous need of repairs. The Hillsdale Townhouses renovation completely transformed and modernized the interiors and exteriors of the complex, originally built in 1965, while keeping rents at levels that existing tenants could still afford. Insulation was added, the original windows were replaced with energy efficient windows, heating systems were upgraded, and cooling systems were added to enhance the livability of the homes. ENERGY STAR appliances and light fixtures were also placed in each unit, and the former manager’s unit was turned into a community room and computer lab to be enjoyed by all residents.

Built in 1991 for Housing for Independent People (HIP), Homeport provides an affordable community for adults with developmental disabilities and offers a first step program in basic independent living skills in an adult family environment. Community Options, a community based provider of services to adults with developmental disabilities, provides a live-in manager who oversees training for independent living, including; self-care, cooking, money management, shopping and transportation, and other services. Additionally, the residents attend bi-monthly tenant association meetings where they actively participate in decisions about community improvements such as new paint, furniture, plants and artwork, thereby strengthening their experience of having a voice and enhancing their pride in their home and its appearance.

Jardines del Valle was named by the residents who experienced the transformation of the property site into “Gardens of the Valley.” Before MidPen stepped in to create community improvements and maintain its affordable housing status, Jardines del Valle was Murphy’s Camp, one of California’s oldest and most dilapidated “bracero” camps for farm laborers. With a complete renovation to the property, Jardines del Valle became a vibrant affordable housing community with amenities that include a community room, computer center, children’s playground, barbecues, and a soccer field. MidPen Housing has won two national awards for its turnaround of Jardines del Valle: a Maxwell Award of Excellence from the FannieMae Foundation, and the National Tax Credit Excellence Award from the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition.

Le Beaulieu was originally developed by Cupertino Community Housing in 1984. MidPen Housing assumed ownership of this non-profit owned property in 1998 and subsequently undertook the rehabilitation of the community for individuals with physical disabilities who are able to live independently by replacing siding, repainting, upgrading bathrooms, adding a community room and improving the landscaping. MidPen also built ramps and lifts to bring the property in compliance with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Located on the former Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey County, Manzanita Place provides 66 families with affordable rental housing. Manzanita marks the first housing community on the greater East Garrison master-planned development to be completed, and reflects a smart growth approach to community planning. Constructed on two non-contiguous sites, Manzanita consists of 10 garden-style buildings. Amenities include a community center, computer lab, children’s playground, and several open community areas and outdoor courtyards.

The development of Moon Gate Plaza forges a new and innovative path for permanent supportive housing on a site steeped in the cultural history of the City of Salinas. In 2012, the City and MidPen Housing formed a partnership to revitalize the historic Chinatown neighborhood in order to reinvigorate economic development and house the area’s growing homeless population. Through a groundbreaking collaboration between MidPen Housing and the Central California Alliance for Health, Moon Gate Plaza connects housing and health services for the highest utilizers of the healthcare system, with 20 supportive apartments set aside for that population. Another 20 apartments accepts referrals from Interim, Inc., a leading provider of mental health services and support. The other 50 apartments provide homes for the area’s other low-income residents. Through a collaboration of local nonprofit organizations, the ground floor of Moon Gate provides a vibrant space that incorporates arts, health and wellness, culture, and educational programming to serve all Chinatown neighborhood residents.

The residents of Palo Alto Gardens organized and lobbied their elected officials to have MidPen Housing Corp. acquire the affordable housing community when it was at risk of turning into market rate rental housing in pricey Palo Alto. With assistance from funders, MidPen took over development and management of the community and began rehabilitation. Palo Alto Gardens received updated the interiors of the units and certain structural improvements to the buildings. More parking as well as a maintenance shop was added for resident use. In addition, the community room was expanded.

Paulson Park demonstrates MidPen’s skill in preserving and maximizing a major housing asset over several decades. In 1973, 149 units were built using HUD project-based Section 8 subsidies. In 1998, MidPen purchased the property, preventing its conversion to market-rate housing. To provide more housing, MidPen completed 104 new units on underutilized space. A renovation of the grounds was one of the first to follow environmental guidelines of Santa Clara County, and included drought-tolerant plants and high-efficiency irrigation. Green building measures including solar panels, high-performance windows, and insulated siding were added to all units. Residents also enjoy private patios, community vegetable gardens, a computer lab, fitness center, and several recreation and gathering rooms surrounded in a park-like setting. Paulson Park earned recognition as a Reader’s Choice Finalist from Affordable Housing Finance magazine in 2009.

The winner of a Gold Nugget Award of Merit from the Pacific Coast Builder’s Conference and a Builder’s Choice Award of Merit from Builder Magazine, Riverwood Place provides partially-furnished efficiency studios with a kitchenette, bed and dresser. Residents enjoy many amenities and ample community space for organized activities including meetings and classes, bright reading nooks on each floor, and three private, landscaped courtyards with tables and seating. MidPen Resident Services Corp. provides residents with access to social services and onsite trainings and programs. Riverwood Place is situated with access to local shopping centers, a busy business district, universities, an amusement park and a local park. Bus and light rail service stops directly across the street from the community.

San Andreas represents a remarkable transformation of a dilapidated farm labor camp into a model affordable housing community for farmworker families. The San Andreas labor camp had been deemed uninhabitable by the County of Santa Cruz. MidPen Housing Corp. acquired the property, worked through complicated legal challenges, and provided financial support to a local nonprofit agency that helped relocate the residents while the labor camp was razed and rebuilt. San Andreas, built amid the strawberry fields where many residents work, reopened in June 2001; all of the prior residents who wanted to return were offered spacious townhouses or flats with backyards for private gardens. Additionally, MidPen Resident Services set up partnerships with many community groups to provide ESL classes, summer programs and other services to residents.

Sharmon Palms Lane is a newly renovated affordable housing community for families in Campbell. Originally acquired by MidPen in 1989 as two properties known as The Palms and Sharmon Palms, Sharmon Palms Lane recently became one to more efficiently refinance and renovate them together. Renovation enhancements included: new interior flooring, cabinetry, and bathroom fixtures; new exterior siding; double-pane windows; and energy-efficient features. Located in an award-winning school district, Sharmon Palms Lane helps revitalize and improve the surrounding neighborhood. In 1993, Sharmon Palms received a Maxwell Award of Excellence Honorable Mention from the Fannie Mae Foundation.

Sherwood Oaks Apartments is an 80-unit multifamily property located in Fairfax, Marin County, CA that was acquired by MidPen in April 2023. The property, a former market-rate community, was publicly listed for sale and MidPen purchased and converted the property into permanent affordable housing, with support from the County of Marin. By acquiring Sherwood Oaks, MidPen will prevent the potential displacement of current residents and welcome new residents to affordable housing as apartments become available.

MidPen Housing acquired the historic Saint Matthew Hotel building in downtown San Mateo for redevelopment of studio apartments and retail space, renamed Saint Matthew Apartments. Renovations included adding a steel seismic frame, new plumbing, heating, fire sprinkler systems, elevator and stairway. The resident studios were refurbished to include new bathrooms, efficiency kitchens, and laundry onsite. Additionally, the San Mateo County Mental Health program began to provide services to residents. The commercial portion of the building was earthquake retrofitted with assistance from San Mateo’s Storefront Improvement Program, and the storefronts were revived with new paint colors, vintage-inspired accents, and a walkway beautification plan. The property is listed in the National Historic Register of Historic Places and the community received an award from the California Preservation Foundation for “Excellence in Preservation and Re-use.”

Station Center is at the heart of Union City’s vision to create the Station District, a vibrant city center bustling with attractive store fronts, community parks and high-quality housing. Station Center provides housing in an innovative plan that wraps apartment buildings around common areas to create an open feel. The main open-arch entrance reveals a series of spaces for gathering. There are gardens, playgrounds, a fitness facility, a pool and a community center where programs are offered to residents. The street frontage on the ground floor is for retail shops, restaurants, and businesses. BART and bus lines are also in close proximity, so residents can walk and take public transportation to-and-from this transit-oriented community. Sustainable design is a top priority with Station Center, with a LEED Platinum Certification.

The Sundial is a mixed-use development in South San Francisco consisting of 11 studio apartments above a ground-floor restaurant. Prior to its acquisition and rehabilitation by MidPen Housing Corp., The Sundial was a residential hotel with five double rooms, 15 single rooms, four shared bathrooms and two shared showers. MidPen completely renovated and rehabilitated the hotel and restaurant with financial assistance provided by the County of San Mateo and the City of South San Francisco. The Sundial’s studio apartments now feature kitchenettes and private bathrooms for all apartments. Residents may park their vehicles in the lot adjacent to the building for a nominal monthly fee. Additionally, a vibrant retail neighborhood surrounds this residential community.

MidPen purchased Timberwood, formerly a market-rate complex, and restructured the terms in order to transform it into high-quality affordable rental housing for families. The garden-style units are well designed and feature large walk-in closets, modern kitchens, and newly painted and carpeted interiors. Common areas are landscaped and offer facilities for community gatherings, as well as a large swimming pool and recreation room. Timberwood residents have easy access to the major freeways and a large neighborhood shopping center.

Via del Mar is a key element of an overall downtown revitalization effort in Watsonville. While the local economy is dominated by agriculture, Watsonville’s location in Santa Cruz County and proximity to affluent communities has pushed rents up to levels that are unaffordable to many who work in the fields or service industry. The City of Watsonville leased the Via del Mar site from the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District and then sought MidPen to develop the affordable housing community with designated apartments for farmworker families. Via del Mar includes a child care center for residents and their neighbors, operated by the Head Start Program. It is also within walking distance to downtown and public transportation, shopping, social services, library, schools and other educational facilities and cultural venues.

Vista Meadows was developed by MidPen Housing with developer services provided by South County Housing. Providing 72 homes for low and very low-income seniors, ages 55 or older, the community also includes a community center, community gardens and a trellised barbeque area where seniors can gather. Vista Meadows provides many green measures including solar photovoltaic and solar thermal panels on building and carport roofs. The development has been designed to achieve 125 points by Build It Green standards.

Vivente I is an affordable housing development providing permanent independent living opportunities and services for persons with physical disabilities. The site for Vivente I was provided by and adjacent to Valley Medical Center in San Jose as a way to house person who need fully accessible housing. Valley Medical Center and the Veteran’s Administration offer support to Vivente I residents. The community was co-sponsored by HIP Housing.

Willow Terrace is an affordable housing complex for families and seniors. It was acquired and rehabilitated by MidPen Housing Corp. in 1986, followed by an upgrade in 1995. Additional units were built in 2000.