New Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground In North Fair Oaks

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Construction recently began on an affordable housing project years in the making, which will add 179 units in North Fair Oaks, just south of Redwood City. Middlefield Junction is being built on a vacant, county-owned lot behind the Fair Oaks Health Center on Middlefield Road.

The lot where a recycling facility once stood will now serve as a home for hundreds.

The facility will house new apartments, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms, along with a child care center and community space. Each apartment is reserved for households earning between 15 and 80 percent of the area median income, with 20 available to people experiencing homelessness that are receiving care and supportive services from San Mateo County Health.

"This project addresses the most critical issue facing San Mateo County by providing quality new homes that are affordable, said Warren Slocum, the District 4 supervisor. "Here we have a new development that is creating jobs during construction and in the long-term will create affordable homes that are close by many small family-owned shops and restaurants that will also benefit."

The project is thanks to a partnership between the county and Mercy Housing California, supported by state and private investors. The price tag is $155 million, with about half covered by the new California Housing Accelerator Fund. The county is financing another $30 million, American Rescue Plan Act funds will cover $13 million, and funds from Measure K will cover close to $7 million.

As the project nears completion, information will be available online for those interested in applying to live at Middlefield Junction.