Leer en español

North Fair Oaks -On a warm summer morning, local officials celebrated the groundbreaking for Monarch at Redwood, a six-story apartment complex that will provide 86 affordable homes, including apartments reserved for residents with special needs.

Located just off the busy Middlefield Road corridor in North Fair Oaks, Monarch will offer studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Residents will live within easy reach of transit, shopping, services and jobs.

The name Monarch, chosen to reflect change, resilience and hope, underscores the project's purpose: turning a dusty lot into homes for families priced out of the market and residents who need extra support to live independently.

"I'm so proud that Monarch at Redwood is in my district and in my backyard," San Mateo County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier said Friday to a crowd of housing advocates, North Fair Oaks community members and local civic leaders.

"In a region where affordability is becoming increasingly rare," Gauthier said, "this project shows what's possible when the County, community and development partners come together with shared values and purpose."

At Monarch, that vision translates into homes for residents with different needs: Thirty-nine of the building's studio and one-bedroom apartments are reserved for people with mental or physical health challenges with support services from San Mateo County Health.

As permanent supportive housing, these units reflect a model shown in a UCSF study to help people remain stably housed.

Forty-six units are reserved for households that meet income eligibility requirements with a share of income going toward rent. One unit is reserved for an on-site manager.

"Our goal with Monarch is to strengthen North Fair Oaks by providing housing and support that allow residents to stay close to friends, schools, and the local businesses, keeping the heart of the community vibrant and inclusive," said Jimmy Silverwood, president at Affirmed Housing. "This project will create homes where people can truly put down roots. We're grateful to all our partners who share this vision and help make it possible."

All residents will have access to job training, career development and health and wellness programs, while those facing medical or mental health challenges will be supported by on-site service coordinators from the Mental Health Association of San Mateo County, among other providers.

The $70.4 million project is backed by major contributions from the County of San Mateo. In addition to 24 project-based vouchers from the San Mateo County Housing Authority - subsidies tied to specific apartments so that when one tenant moves out, the next continues to receive the support - the County has committed nearly $21 million in housing loans through its Affordable Housing Fund, drawing on sources that include the Measure K half-cent sales tax, federal pandemic recovery dollars, the Mental Health Services Act and the state's Housing for a Healthy California program.

With a massive earth mover as a backdrop, Supervisor Gauthier summed up the feeling of the event.

"To everyone who will one day call Monarch at Redwood home, welcome to the community. We're so glad you're here."

Project Highlights

Location: Entry on San Mateo Avenue, between Douglas and MacArthur avenues, North Fair Oaks.

Amenities: Landscaped courtyard, community room, laundry facilities, secure bike storage, lobby and mail room; parking garage.

Sustainable Design: All-electric building with rooftop solar panels; targeting GreenPoint Rated Platinum certification.

Design: Warm stucco materials, bright accent tile and brick base reflect the history of the site and neighborhood.

Completion and Leasing: Rental applications are expected to be available four to six months in advance of the April 2027 target date for construction completion.

Effie Milionis Verducci
Interim Director of Strategic Communications
650-407-4915
[email protected]