Stephanie Lam, San Jose Spotlight, July 22, 2021
“A first-of-its-kind [housing project featuring a large urban farm], Agrihood will span 5.8 acres of land and include 160 mixed-income apartments, 165 homes for low-income seniors and veterans, and 36 townhomes. The complex, located at N. Winchester Blvd across from Westfield Valley Fair, will feature a 1.5-acre urban farm where residents can grow produce.
“ ‘The economic fallout from the pandemic has created more affordable housing problems for seniors in one of most expensive areas in the entire nation,’ said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez …
“Agrihood accounts for roughly 10 percent of Santa Clara’s low-income housing target, according to previous estimates from Vince Cantore, vice president of [the project’s real estate development and construction firm, The Core Companies].
“Construction for Agrihood is funded by $23.5 million in county Measure A funds, an affordable housing bond passed by Santa Clara County voters in 2016, $15.7 million from the city, and a grant of $50 million in tax-exempt bonds from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee.
“Lara Hermanson, co-owner of Farmscape, said Agrihood’s urban farm has the potential to grow up to 20,000 pounds of produce. The food can be sold at produce stands around Agrihood for residents to buy.”
Read the full article here. (~3 min.)