A new housing project has been approved for construction at 231 Grant Avenue in Mayfield District, Palo Alto. The project proposal includes building 110 apartments for teachers and staff members at Santa Clara and San Mateo County schools. The project is sponsored by the County of Santa Clara, Facebook, the City of Palo Alto, and participating school districts in Santa Clara County.
Mercy Housing California and Abode Communities are managing the development. Van Meter Williams Pollack LLC is responsible for the designs.
231 Grant Avenue elevation, rendering courtesy VMWP
The project site is a parcel spanning an area of 1.5 acres. Palo Alto Unified’s school board has formally approved plans to participate in a subsidized teacher and staff housing project bringing 110 into a four-story building. The proposed project would demolish the existing 6,800-square-foot office building and would construct a new four-story facility, totaling approximately 112,000 square feet. Approximately 2,000 square feet of community space, including a lounge, activity room, and laundry, would be provided for resident-use and management offices and about 1,200 square feet of “flex space,” which could be utilized as a café other retail or commercial use.
At a cost of $50,000 per unit, the school district won’t be purchasing the apartments themselves, but rather buying the right for their employees to access them. School district staff would apply to rent the units and get selected through a lottery system. They would then pay rent to Mercy Housing, one of the nonprofit developers that the county is working with.
231 Grant Avenue corner view, rendering courtesy VMWP
At a cost of $50,000 per unit, the school district won’t be purchasing the apartments themselves, but rather buying the right for their employees to access them. School district staff would apply to rent the units and get selected through a lottery system. They would then pay rent to Mercy Housing, one of the nonprofit developers that the county is working with.
The project is an attempt to offer a more affordable housing option to educators, who often have trouble living near the schools where they teach, supporters have said. The Los Altos School District and Foothill-De Anza Community College District have each approved paying for 12 units, Supervisor Simitian’s office confirmed. The Mountain View Whisman and Mountain View Los Altos Union High school districts have yet to take a formal vote. Through a partnership with Meta, 32 units are being reserved for employees of south San Mateo County school districts, including Ravenswood City School District.
231 Grant Avenue view from nearby parking, rendering courtesy VMWP
The project site is a few blocks away from a Caltrain station and currently houses a 6,000 square-foot office building. The project site is approximately 1.4 acres, bounded by Park Boulevard, Grant Avenue, and Birch Street.
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