Listen to this note:
The muddy site of a closed car wash in Burlingame will become an 18-apartment complex for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, along with 50 apartments for low-income individuals and families.
The new affordable housing complex in Burlingame called Eucalyptus Grove, will include space for children's games, a social room, an outdoor dining room and more.
“Eucalyptus Grove represents the next phase in our fight to end not only veteran homelessness but all homelessness in San Mateo County,” said Dave Pine, San Mateo County Supervisor who represents to Burlingame. “This is a big step in the right direction, but only one step of many that are needed.”
In San Mateo County, veterans make up 6 percent of the general adult population, but 12 percent of the homeless population.
The eight-story project is led by CRP Affordable Housing & Community Development with project management and on-site support services by Abode Housing Development. Completion is scheduled for January 2026.
“We welcome affordable housing,” said Emily Beach, vice mayor of Burlingame, during the groundbreaking ceremony. ?We are delighted that you are here. Of all the projects we have done, of all those below-market units that we have seen come to fruition, there is no project that has excited me more today than this one?
To help finance the project, the county is providing a nearly $5.7 million loan from Measure K, a countywide voter-approved half-cent sales tax that provides local funding for local needs.
The San Mateo County Housing Authority is also providing 30 vouchers that will limit a qualifying resident's rent to 30 percent of household income.
The site, 1875 California Drive, is close to shopping, medical offices and the Millbrae BART and Caltrain stations, as well as downtown Millbrae. Due to its location near public transportation, planners anticipate the building will have a 22-car garage with space for 36 bicycles.
Units will vary in size. The project includes seven studios, 21 one-bedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom units and 20 three-bedroom homes. One unit is reserved for an on-site manager.
The county detailed that rent will be affordable for households with incomes between 20 and 50 percent of the area median income, and the lowest rents will be reserved for homeless veterans. The area median income is legally defined by the state and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as $175,000 for a family of four.
Potential applicants must register on two separate platforms to receive notifications about this and other housing opportunities: Doorways, an online listing of affordable housing opportunities in the Bay Area, including San Mateo County; and Rent Cafe PHA, an online portal to apply for project-based vouchers.
Both sites will issue alerts when Eucalyptus Grove Apartments, as well as other new and affordable properties, are ready to receive applications.
You may be interested in: California Dream for All: An Opportunity to Build a Housing Legacy
