Body of News Release
UPDATE 12/17: The Board of Supervisors approved the recommended funding.
Marin County, CA – On Tuesday, December 17, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider a request to use Affordable Housing Trust Funds to help fund an approved multifamily affordable housing development in the unincorporated Marinwood neighborhood.
The Marinwood Apartments project, submitted in April, involves the construction of four three-story residential buildings at the former Marinwood Plaza shopping center just off Highway 101. The project includes 125 affordable homes consisting of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments. One of the buildings will include a 1,040 square foot ground-floor retail space designated as a cafe. The existing grocery store, Marinwood Market, will remain.
The Marinwood project site was designated as a priority housing site in the County's Housing Element and is the first project to be approved under the County's permitting requirements and development standards specifically developed for housing priority sites. The project was approved and issued a County planning permit on December 6.
At the December 17 meeting, the Community Development Agency (CDA) will seek the Supervisors’ approval of a $6.25 million loan from the Marin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the project applicant, Marinwood Propco, L.P., to cover site acquisition and construction costs.
In an effort to incorporate community feedback, CDA has prioritized public engagement about the project. An open house was held in October at which nearly 140 visitors attended to learn about project details. Since the project was first announced in April, CDA staff has received correspondence about the project and created a frequently asked questions document to address common questions.
Over the years, the Board of Supervisors has cited the need for the creation and preservation of affordable housing as a top priority based largely on feedback and survey results from community members. The Marinwood Plaza development would help address a chronic shortage of affordable homes. Marin has some of the highest housing costs in the nation, forcing many workers to commute from other counties, which worsens traffic, increases greenhouse gas emissions, and reduces quality of life.
The homes will be built by Impact Residential Development and Pacific Housing and will be available to households earning between 30% to 70% of the area median income, or $52,890 to $123,410 for a family of three. This income rate includes local workers such as paraeducator at the Marin County Office of Education, a teacher at Miller Creek Middle School, or a Marin County emergency dispatcher.
Learn more about the project on the CDA Current Planning Division website.
For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-6358 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail the CDA Planning Department at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.