Affirmed Housing Completes SoCal Affordable Project
This suburban community comprises a variety of unit sizes.
Affordable housing specialist Affirmed Housing has completed Estrella, a 96-unit development in San Marcos, Calif., a suburb of San Diego. The property is for families earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
Estrella consists of four residential buildings with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, each building with its own shared laundry facility. A separate building includes common amenities that encourage resident engagement, such as a kitchenette, computer room, barbecue area and bicycle parking. Four tot lots and a teen recreation areas are also on the site, and there is a total of 171 parking spaces, including eight EV-designated spots.
The community is within walking distance of grocery stores, a pharmacy, a neighborhood library, public parks and access to public transportation. A middle school is adjacent to the complex.
Residents have access to, at no additional charge, on-site services such as computer training and resume-building resources as well as programs focused on health and wellness, financial literacy and parenting. A dedicated service coordinator is in place to plan and organize community-building activities and holiday events.
The completion of Estrella concludes the two-phase redevelopment of a former affordable housing development, Mariposa, which resulted in a net gain of 126 new affordable housing apartments overall.
To increase the city’s housing stock, San Diego-based Affirmed Housing demolished the original single-story, 70-unit Mariposa to make way for Estrella and a sister project, Alora, that it completed in 2023. Besides Estrella’s new 96 apartments, Alora brought another 100 apartments online, also for families and individuals earning between 30 and 80 percent of AMI.
Participating in the development of Estrella were the City of San Marcos, San Diego County, Compass for Affordable Housing, WNC, Banner Bank, Dahlin Group Architecture Planning, Masson and Associates, and form/work Landscape Architecture.
Also in a San Diego suburb, a 142-unit luxury senior housing community recently opened its doors. Casa EstÃlo Senior Living Apartments, catering to residents over the age of 55, is located in Chula Vista, Calif. The six-story building features a swimming pool, outdoor lounges, fitness centers, a putting green, a game room, barbeque stations, fire pits, a pet salon, electric car charging stations and approximately 140 parking spaces.
