Construction begins on Charities Housing’s new affordable housing properties in San Jose
Groundbreaking ceremonies kicking off construction on the newest Charities Housing developments were held in June. The two new affordable housing properties, located in San Jose at 1860 Alum Rock Avenue and 551 Keyes Street, will add to the existing 1,500 units currently operated by Charities Housing throughout Santa Clara County.
“These new developments will not only address the pressing demand for affordable housing in San Jose but also contribute to the overall strength and vitality of the community,” said Mark Mikl, Executive Director of Charities Housing, which partners with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County to develop and preserve affordable housing in Silicon Valley. Through Catholic Charities, critical services and resources are provided to Charities Housing residents to keep them stably housed. Project partners – representing local government, other community non-profit organizations, and private companies – help create sustainable, high-quality housing developments that align with Charities Housing’s vision of fostering stable, inclusive communities.
The Alum Rock property, when completed, will be a five-story, 60-unit mixed-use development with 100% affordable housing. The ground floor will consist of 3,200 square feet of commercial space, 42 parking spaces, a large community room with a shared kitchen and food pantry, and a property management and resident services office. Amigos de Guadalupe, a local nonprofit, will expand their operations in the ground-floor commercial space. The second through fifth floors will have 60 residential homes, including 10 studios, 19 one-bedrooms, and 16 two-bedrooms. Also, there will be 15 three-bedroom homes to accommodate larger families.
The second floor offers a laundry facility, a large outdoor courtyard, and barbecue grills for residents to enjoy. A rooftop terrace overlooks Alum Rock Avenue. The project will integrate a street-facing mural to enhance its overall vibrancy and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Keyes Street Property will be called “The Charles,” named after the late Dr. Charles Preston who dedicated his life to helping the most vulnerable members of our community. When completed, The Charles will be a seven-story, 99-unit development with 100% affordable housing. It will be located on a 0.9-acre site next to the former location of one of the largest homeless encampments in the history of San Jose. The property will comprise a variety of unit sizes ranging from 30 studios, 18 one-bedrooms, 24 two-bedrooms, and 27 three-bedroom homes. Residents will enjoy access to a community room with a shared kitchen, secure bicycle storage, and laundry facilities.
All units for both the Alum Rock and the Keyes properties will be restricted to households earning between 30% - 50% of the Area Median Income. In addition, 50% of the units will be reserved for Rapid-Rehousing households who will be referred from the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing.
For more information, visit charitieshousing.org
