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County Approves Plan to Save Buena Vista - City and Housing Authority to vote next week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JOSE – The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors today approved a partnership with the City of Palo Alto and the Housing Authority of Santa Clara County to acquire and improve the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in Palo Alto. The motion, which was approved unanimously, was put forward by County Supervisor Joe Simitian, and seconded by Board President Dave Cortese.

Simitian said he was “pleased by the Board’s continued and unanimous support. I think it bodes well for the coming votes at the City and the Housing Authority.”

The proposed partnership entails:

  • A $14.5 million contribution of affordable housing fees from the County;
  • A $14.5 million contribution of affordable housing fees from the City;
  • A financial contribution from the Housing Authority, if necessary (in an amount to be determined), sufficient, along with County and City funding, to fund the cost of purchasing the property; and,
  • Pending a feasibility study, acquisition and ownership of the property by the Housing Authority, with the Park to be maintained, improved, and operated by a non-profit entity.

The Palo Alto City Council is scheduled to vote on the partnership on June 27th, followed by the the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners on June 28th. Following these votes (if successful), the Housing Authority will pursue next steps to fund, acquire and improve the Park, starting with an appraisal of the property.

Simitian said, “The Housing Authority is the one governmental entity in Santa Clara County that is actually responsible for creating and providing affordable housing. And they can use all the tools and resources at their disposal to move forward with funding, acquiring, improving, and preserving the Park as affordable housing in perpetuity.”

“It is crucial that we avoid displacement of our residents and that we seize on every opportunity to preserve our existing affordable housing,” said Board President Dave Cortese. “The Buena Vista Mobile Home Park is one of the few affordable housing enclaves in the region.”

The Buena Vista Mobile Home Park is home to approximately 117 mostly low-income Latino families, about 400 people in total. The owner announced plans to close the Park in 2012; and the Park’s closure was approved in May of 2015. The Park’s closure would displace these families and force them out of Palo Alto.

“Our goal continues to be what it always has been,” said Simitian, “to keep the residents of the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park in their homes, and to preserve the Park as affordable housing for generations to come. This new partnership will move us closer to achieving that goal.”