Posted on: September 3, 2025
Full Source: Hoodline San Jose
By Nina Singh-Hudson
Breaking new ground in the battle against the housing crisis, developers have started construction on the Monarch at Redwood housing complex in North Fair Oaks, San Mateo County.
When complete, the $70 million project by Affirmed Housing will provide 86 affordable apartments in an area known for its soaring real estate costs and growing displacement concerns.
Residents earning less than $111,000 a year will be eligible for these new units, a modest income by the standards of a county where the median single-family home price hovers around the $2 million mark.
The celebratory event of the groundbreaking was a notable marker in the struggle for increased affordable housing options in one of California’s high-cost regions.
San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier emphasized the significance of this development, stating to a crowd, “In a region where affordability is becoming increasingly rare,” and added, “this project shows what’s possible when the County, community and development partners come together with shared values and purpose,” as reported by San Mateo County government’s official website. The complex is expected to open by April 2027, with the rental application process starting approximately four to six months in advance.
The ambitious project aims to provide housing and support those in need. Of the total units, thirty-nine studios and one-bedrooms are reserved for individuals with mental or physical health challenges, offering them housing and on-site services from San Mateo County Health. According to the San Francisco Business Times, all residential units will benefit from amenities including landscaped courtyards, laundry facilities, and secure bike storage. An all-electric design and rooftop solar panels also signal the complex’s commitment to sustainability.
Full Source: Hoodline San Jose
More on the Project:
https://www.vmwp.com/projects/north-fair-oaks-apartments/
Monarch at Redwood | San Mateo County, CA
“Monarch at Redwood”, previously named North Fair Oaks, is a proposed six-story multi-family residential building with 86 units of affordable housing replacing a small single story industrial structure and under-utilized site. The main entry faces San Mateo Avenue and is accentuated by a two-story tile canopy that frames the entry, lobby and community room. There are four residential units with walkways and patios on San Mateo Ave and Douglas Avenue creating a residential scale at the ground floor. The garage is concealed by these units and utility spaces, and is accessed from MacArthur Avenue.
The building wraps around a south facing courtyard that creates two wings as seen from Middlefield Road. The building steps down one story on the south side reducing the scale of the building from the approach from Middlefield Road. There are further setbacks at the sixth floor creating shoulders at the corners on San Mateo Avenue helping to reduce the scale of the building. The circulation spaces are articulated with a butterfly roof form that provides visual interest and breaking up the mass further.
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