The State of California has certified the environmental study for Oak Hill Apartments, an affordable housing proposal in San Quentin, Marin County. The decision gives the green light to pursue construction, avoiding the need for local approval from the notoriously anti-housing county staff. Eden Housing and Education Housing Partners are joint developers.
Oak Hill Apartments vehicular entrance, rendering by SVA Architects
Oak Hill Apartments pedestrian view, rendering by SVA Architects
Of the 250 apartments, there will be 135 units for teachers and staff of the local school districts, and 115 units will be for low-income families built in separate structures. Apartment sizes will vary, with 25 studios, 15 junior one-bedrooms, 70 one-bedrooms, 55 two-bedrooms, and 35 three-bedroom units. The two 50-foot tall structures will yield around 421,000 square feet, with 282,000 square feet for housing and 137,000 square feet for the 350-car garage. Parking will be in the two-level underground garage, and additional room will be included for the 210-bicycle parking.
Oak Hill Apartments courtyard, rendering by SVA Architects
SVA Architects is responsible for the design. Across the 8.6-acre parcel, construction will cover 6.7 acres, with the remaining 1.6 acres for open space. The structure will be staggered along the elevated property. Though buildings will always be at most three to five floors above the ground, the project will vary nine stories between the lowest and highest points. RHAA is responsible for the site design.
Oak Hill Apartments aerial view, rendering by SVA Architects
Future residents are located across from Remillard Park and close to the Marin Country Mart. The project is in San Quentin, the unincorporated community of 40 single-family homes, ten units in an apartment complex, and the San Quentin State Prison. The correctional and rehabilitation facility is the oldest in the state, founded in 1852 and plagued with controversy and scandals. It now has a capacity for 3,082 prisoners.
Oak Hill Apartments site, outlined image from the project plans
The project was certified back on July 10th by the California Department of General Services. Reporting by J.K. Dineen for the San Francisco Chronicle states that the team has started applying for financing. Groundbreaking is expected as early as 2025. Construction is expected to last around 27 months from groundbreaking to completion.
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Great location for infill housing. Will make a nice location for transit and views. Hope the units will really be used for the local workforce. This project may be in unincorporated Marin County but it’s not even in eyesight of the prison. The editorial comments about the San Quentin prison from the author were unnecessary and unprofessional. YIMBY editors can do better with their reporting.
V Sargent, San Quentin in the name of the town the prison is in. The land this property will be on is in the town of San Quentin.
There is no such thing as affordable housing in Marin county! What are the cost per unit? The written discripion mentions 3 to 5 floors and the rendering appears to for two different development.