In what may be a first in the U.S., 122 new affordable apartments at 705 Serramonte, Daly City, Calif., were designed for faculty and staff at Jefferson Union High School District. The three-story structure provides 59 one-bedroom, 56 two-bedroom, and seven three-bedroom units.
The Bay Area has one of the worst housing shortages in the country. Many younger teachers on relatively low salaries cannot afford to live near the schools where they teach. Lower-paid staff members – maintenance staff, cafeteria workers, administrative aides, etc. – often find themselves in the same boat.
The design-build team of SVA Architects and J.H. Fitzmaurice recently joined Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD) in Daly City for the district’s Centennial Celebration and Grand Opening of 705 Serramonte, an affordable housing community specifically for district faculty and staff. Helping to bring housing equity to the region, JUHSD is the first K-12 school district to pass a bond exclusively to build an affordable housing community for teachers and staff.
PROPERTY FUNDED IN PART FROM MEASURE J BONDS
The $75 million project received $33 million in bond funds provided by the passage of Measure J in June 2018. The pioneering development unites SVA’s dual strengths of partnering with educational institutions and designing affordable housing communities.
![School district multifamily housing exterior with playground](/sites/default/files/inline-images/JUHSD%20EXT%20w%20playground%202.jpg)
RENTAL RATES SET AT 50% AMI
The Serramonte homes range from 560 to 1,174 sf, with rental rates set at 50% of market rate at the time of occupancy. Homes feature vinyl plank flooring, stainless steel appliances, and generous windows with abundant light. Community spaces include a community lounge, a fitness center, and a central, landscaped courtyard with children’s play structures, BBQ area, and ample seating.
Nathan Herrero, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at SVA Architects, stated, “SVA’s vision was to design homes and community spaces that feel like a market-rate, luxury development. Along with the District, we wanted to honor the critical work of educators by offering comfortable spaces that feel like a haven at the end of the day.”
Mohammad Hakimi, AIA, President & CEO at J.H. Fitzmaurice, Inc., stated, “It’s been our privilege to be a part of this trailblazing project with Jefferson Union High School District and SVA Architects. Many districts around the country are already looking to JUHSD as a model for this type of educator housing in their own communities.”
THE BUILDING TEAM
Owner/developer: Jefferson Union High School District
Architect: SVA Architects
Design architects: Seidel Architects and BDE Architecture
Structural engineers: Ficcadenti Waggoner and Castle, IDA Structural Engineers
Civil engineer: Luk & Associates
MEP engineer: Emerald City Engineers
Landscape design: ANLA Associates, JETT Landscape Architecture + Design
General contractor: J.H. Fitzmaurice
![JUHSD Faculty and Staff Housing at 705 Serramonte, designed by SVA Architects](/sites/default/files/inline-images/JUHSD%20Faculty%20and%20Staff%20Housing%20at%20705%20Serramonte%2C%20designed%20by%20SVA%20Architects%2C%20Inc_%202.jpg)
About J.H. Fitzmaurice, Inc.
Founded in 1922, J.H. Fitzmaurice, Inc. (JHF) has completed numerous projects in the Bay Area, with its headquarters being in the same location in the City of Oakland for the past 100 years. JHF’s primary focus in the past 40 years has been partnering with non-profit housing developers in building affordable housing projects including: teacher & faculty housing; multi-family housing; senior housing; veteran’s housing; and special needs & homeless housing. JHF’s mission and philosophy is to continue to partner with non-profits to help solve the current need and demand for affordable housing. For more information, visit www.jhfitzmaurice.com.
About SVA Architects, Inc.
Founded in 2003, SVA Architects has become one of the Country’s most innovative and respected design and planning organizations. The award-winning firm specializes in urban planning, architecture, and interior design of public, private, and mixed-use projects. Among the firm’s portfolio are civic, educational, residential, commercial and mixed-use developments. SVA Architects values institutional and public environments as the foundation of a community and the backdrop against which we live, learn, work, worship, and play. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana with offices in Oakland, San Diego, Davis, and Honolulu. For more information, visit www.sva-architects.com.
Related Stories
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 21, 2024
Massachusetts launches program to spur office-to-residential conversions statewide
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey recently launched a program to help cities across the state identify underused office buildings that are best suited for residential conversions.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024
Jim Chapman Construction Group completes its second college town BTR community
JCCG's 200-unit Cottages at Lexington, in Athens, Ga., is fully leased.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 19, 2024
Two senior housing properties renovated with 608 replacement windows
Renovation of the two properties, with 200 apartments for seniors, was financed through a special public/private arrangement.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Mar 18, 2024
Luxury apartments in New York restore and renovate a century-old residential building
COOKFOX Architects has completed a luxury apartment building at 378 West End Avenue in New York City. The project restored and renovated the original residence built in 1915, while extending a new structure east on West 78th Street.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 18, 2024
YWCA building in Boston’s Back Bay converted into 210 affordable rental apartments
Renovation of YWCA at 140 Clarendon Street will serve 111 previously unhoused families and individuals.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 15, 2024
San Francisco voters approve tax break for office-to-residential conversions
San Francisco voters recently approved a ballot measure to offer tax breaks to developers who convert commercial buildings to residential use. The tax break applies to conversions of up to 5 million sf of commercial space through 2030.
Apartments | Mar 13, 2024
A landscaped canyon runs through this luxury apartment development in Denver
Set to open in April, One River North is a 16-story, 187-unit luxury apartment building with private, open-air terraces located in Denver’s RiNo arts district. Biophilic design plays a central role throughout the building, allowing residents to connect with nature and providing a distinctive living experience.
Affordable Housing | Mar 12, 2024
An all-electric affordable housing project in Southern California offers 48 apartments plus community spaces
In Santa Monica, Calif., Brunson Terrace is an all-electric, 100% affordable housing project that’s over eight times more energy efficient than similar buildings, according to architect Brooks + Scarpa. Located across the street from Santa Monica College, the net zero building has been certified LEED Platinum.
MFPRO+ News | Mar 12, 2024
Multifamily housing starts and permitting activity drop 10% year-over-year
The past year saw over 1.4 million new homes added to the national housing inventory. Despite the 4% growth in units, both the number of new homes under construction and the number of permits dropped year-over-year.
Affordable Housing | Mar 11, 2024
Los Angeles’s streamlined approval policies leading to boom in affordable housing plans
Since December 2022, Los Angeles’s planning department has received plans for more than 13,770 affordable units. The number of units put in the approval pipeline in roughly one year is just below the total number of affordable units approved in Los Angeles in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.