Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Mary Ellen Chell, director of Cupertino Community Services, says land behind the Cupertino Fire Station will provide a construction site for much-needed affordable housing.

County approves affordable housing plans

Fire station land slated for low-income apartments

By Jeff Kearns

Santa Clara County officials on Feb. 29 cleared the way for a planned $6 million affordable housing development, approving a long-term lease with the city on a one-acre lot behind the Cupertino Fire Station. Cupertino City Council on Feb. 22 approved the deal between the city and the county.

The parcel, which the county declared as surplus land, won't be needed by the county fire department after the new county fire station on Stevens Creek Boulevard at Vista Drive opens later this year or early next year. Officials expect workers will complete construction of the $4 million station this spring.

Once workers demolish the old Stevens Creek Boulevard station later this year, the city will lease the lot without charge to Cupertino Community Services, which will construct a 24-unit apartment complex for low- and very low- income families and a 6,000- square-foot office space that will be used by CCS.

According to the terms of the deal, the city will pay the county $1.6 million for a 57-year lease on the property. When the lease expires, Michael Rock, county Fire Department Director of Business Services said, the fire department will have access to the land rights.

Because of the complexities of land deals between government agencies, the deal required the participation of five groups: the city, county, CCS, the bank financing the project and Bridge Housing, a San Francisco-based non-profit developer. The County Board of Supervisors, which governs the fire department, held final approval of the deal. Bridge Housing and CCS officials are developing the property and have acquired almost $2 million in federal and state grants and private donations.

"What makes this special is that this is really a collaborative effort," said CCS director Mary Ellen Chell. "Everybody is on-line with this because there's such an incredible need for affordable housing."

County Supervisor Joe Simitian, whose district includes Cupertino, said he became involved in late 1998 when City Councilmember Sandy James approached him about acquiring the land. "My goal with the county was to make this happen if it could," Simitian said. "It really indicates how important it is that folks partner if they want to provide affordable housing.

"Twenty-four units may not sound like much, but the issue is addressed unit by painful unit."

Chell and CCS are working with architects and will hold a series of open meetings with neighbors wanting to give input on the apartment and office designs. CCS will move its entire operation to the new 6,000-square-foot office, including the organization's food and clothing closets, interview rooms and staff offices. The 24 apartments will be one- and two-bedroom units measuring 650 to 750 square feet.

Coordinators will base applicant eligability on family earnings compared to federal Housing and Urban Development income levels by region. For a family of four, very low-income is defined as earning less than $41,300 a year, low-income is defined as earnings less than $53,100 annually.

Stephanie Pearson, a Bridge Housing project manager, said construction will begin early next year, as soon as the fire department hands over title to the land. "This is a real breakthrough for affordable housing in the area because there's so little of it," Pearson said.

CCS has scheduled its first open meeting for neighbors March 21 at 6 p.m. in the Quinlan Community Center.

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