Mountain View is set to add 108 new affordable housing units with the groundbreaking of the La Bella development, a collaborative effort involving the County of Santa Clara and various partners. The project, located at 1020 Terra Bella Ave., aims to address the region's housing needs by offering a range of housing options for people experiencing homelessness, low-income individuals and families, and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
La Bella will include 27 units designated for Rapid Rehousing for unhoused residents. Additionally, 69 units will serve individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI), while 10 units are reserved for low-income people with disabilities. Two units will be allocated for managers.
The County of Santa Clara is providing significant financial backing for the project, contributing $10.5 million. This funding package includes $8.5 million from the Measure A Affordable Housing Bond, which was approved by voters in 2016. An additional $2 million from the County is specifically dedicated to supporting people with disabilities.
County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, who represents District 5, highlighted the project's origins and current support. She noted her involvement during her time as a Mountain View City Council member, when she worked with developer Alta Housing and Public Storage to maximize the potential for affordable housing on the site. As a Santa Clara County Supervisor, she expressed pride in the Board of Supervisors' action to allocate $10.5 million, including the voter-approved Measure A funds. Supervisor Abe-Koga stated that the project demonstrates what can be achieved when public agencies, private partners, and nonprofit organizations work together with a "shared commitment to expanding affordable housing."
County Executive James R. Williams emphasized the County's ongoing role, noting, “As the cost of housing for families keeps rising across our region, the County continues to play a vital role in investing in affordable housing projects across our community.” He also acknowledged the City of Mountain View as a key partner in expanding affordable housing in the northern part of the county, helping to deliver needed homes and strengthen quality of life for residents.
Mountain View Mayor Emily Ann Ramos remarked on the creative solutions that made La Bella possible. She explained that a land exchange between Alta Housing and neighboring Public Storage, along with a donation from Public Storage, allowed for the assembly of a larger site, effectively doubling the number of affordable homes that could be built. Mayor Ramos expressed gratitude to all local, state, and federal partners who contributed to the project.
La Bella is part of a broader memorandum of understanding between the County and the City of Mountain View to construct 200 units of Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing for unhoused residents in the city. To date, approximately 180 of these units have been funded, with about 100 already built.
Since the passage of the Measure A Affordable Housing Bond in 2016, the Board of Supervisors has approved roughly $747 million for 65 multifamily rental housing developments across 12 cities in Santa Clara County. More than half of these developments are now operational.
In Mountain View specifically, the city has received approximately $67 million in affordable housing bond funds, supporting six developments that will provide more than 540 units. La Bella marks the second project funded by the affordable housing bond to break ground in Mountain View this year.
The development site, located in a former industrial area that is transitioning to high-density residential housing, offers access to public transit, employment centers, shopping, and community amenities. La Bella will also feature a community room, bicycle storage, and rooftop solar panels for its residents.
