User:SandSculptr/Affordable housing in Silicon Valley

San Jose
San Jose plans to build over 6,000 rental units in 2019, a 283% increase from the number of units built last year. The city has also recently passed a bill to subsidize the production of high rise buildings in the downtown area, although it is a controversial move that critics say will benefit developers but harm workers.

The city's first ever affordable housing complex for previously homeless residents, Second Street Studios, opened in August 2019.

San Jose was one of few cities in America to have rent control laws, which were adopted by the city in 1979. A statewide rent control bill was signed into law by governor Gavin Newsom in October 2019.

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With the growth of Silicon Valley, the City of San Jose has been tasked by the California Department of Housing and Urban Development to build 23,775 units of low-income housing by 2031. Of those 23,775 units, 15,088 will be designated for extremely low-income and very low-income households. The remaining 8,687 units will be designated for low-income households.

In Spring of 2020, the San Jose City Council approved the McEvoy and Dupont Apartments to be built in downtown San Jose. Combined, the McEvoy and Dupont will have 365 affordable units designated for working individuals and families. Both towers will receive a LEED Platinum rating and built using mass timber, an innovative sustainability technique.

On May 18, 2023, the San Jose City Council approved a plan to issue approximately $120 million in housing revenue bonds. These bonds will be used to finance two projects: the Charles and Tamien Station. The Charles is a 97-unit apartment complex for households earning incomes of 30% to 50% of the area median income. Tamien Station will contain 134 units for households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income.

To improve the approval process for developers, the City of San Jose plans to launch a streamline permitting process to reduce the time needed to secure permitting approval. In many surrounding cities, permitting may take several years, while San Jose projects may potentially be permitted in as few as six months.