Santa Rosa Creates 354 New Affordable Homes

Faced with high housing costs compounded by housing shortages after the devastating Tubbs Fire of 2017, the Prohousing City of Santa Rosa advanced its commitment to ensuring housing for all by launching several transformative projects. Through a strong partnership with HCD, the city has celebrated the grand opening of 354 new affordable homes in the last year, with more to come. 

Mahonia Glen 

The new Mahonia Glen affordable housing community provides 99 homes for low-income families, with 43 reserved for farmworker households. Developed by MidPen Housing, Mahonia Glen is supported by $65 million from HCD’s Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant and California Housing Accelerator (Accelerator) programs. The complex includes indoor and outdoor community spaces and is near transit, schools, and essential services. 

The Stewart Cannery 

Santa Rosa’s Historic Railroad District welcomed residents to The Stewart Cannery, a landmark project that transformed the former Del Monte Cannery into 129 affordable homes, including 33 homes reserved for families exiting homelessness. This 100-percent affordable housing development received more than $70 million from HCD programs, including the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG), and Accelerator programs. 

South Park Commons

Located in the South Park neighborhood, this housing community provides 62 permanent supportive homes for households earning 15 to 50 percent of the Area Median Income, including 31 supportive homes for people exiting homelessness. Formerly South Park School and later Bennett Valley Senior Center, the site was redeveloped with $23 million from HCD’s Housing for a Healthy California, IIG, and Multifamily Housing programs. 

Burbank Avenue Apartments 

Burbank Avenue Apartments is a 100-percent affordable housing community that brings 64 new homes for low-income families to the region. Once a single-family home on a five-acre lot, the land was redeveloped into higher-density housing. A project of Burbank Housing, the community is supported by more than $30 million from HCD’s CDBG-DR program and the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program jointly administered by HCD and the Strategic Growth Council. The complex includes indoor and outdoor community spaces and is located across the street from a park and elementary school. 

More Homes Coming Soon 

A new development also began construction. Casa Roseland will provide 75 homes for low- and very low-income households and is supported by $10.1 million from the AHSC program. A project of MidPen Housing, Casa Roseland will feature a community room, learning center, and outdoor amenities and is located near a school, businesses and essential services.