SAN JOSE, CA - Mary Burke is still pinching herself. "This is where I'm going to put a daybed," said Burke, 55, as she surveyed her brand new apartment south of the Rockspring neighborhood in San Jose. "And I'm thinking about a recliner over here." After years of work securing everything from financing to building permits, Saturday was moving day for some of the new tenants of Paseo Senter at Coyote Creek. The brand new 218-unit complex is a project of Charities Housing, a leading affordable housing developer in Santa Clara County. At a time when many low-income homeowners are struggling to avoid foreclosure and many rents remain out of reach, Paseo Senter is a comforting path for the needy through Silicon Valley's notoriously tight housing economy.
The buildings are painted in tropical hues of green, orange and blue. Each of the one, two, and three bedroom apartments have small balconies and large kitchens that open onto living rooms. There's designated parking for bicycles. A fitness center is in the works. A tot-lot with two slides is ready for squealing children. Best of all: There's a swimming pool. "People's vision of affordable housing is an old, boxy, dilapidated building," said Cheryl Serna of Charities Housing. "We really want to show that people can live in housing that is beautiful, art-inspired and aesthetically appealing."
Paseo Senter at Coyote Creek backs onto Coyote Creek, and is a short walk to Kelley Park and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. The vast majority of tenants are Latino and Vietnamese families with children. Some units are reserved for disabled single adults. On Saturday, young children could be seen pushing brand-new mattresses through the hallways while others carried plants and boxes from cars.
Burke struggles with depression, chronic back pain and colon cancer, and her disabilities have rendered her unable to work. Corey, her 25-year-old son, lives nearby, and his 11-month-old daughter, Michayla, is the apple of Burke's eye.
Burke lived in a studio until she found it impossible to keep up with payments. She was homeless for nearly three months, and got by through couch-surfing from friend to friend. A social worker with Mountain View's Community Services Agency let Burke know that new apartments were available at Paseo Senter. "The social workers scooped me up and took me in their arms," said Burke. "I would have lost my mind without them."
Nearly 3,000 people applied for the 218 available units. Word quickly spread among families and friends. Charities Housing held a lottery to determine who would get an apartment and Burke was among the lucky ones. Rent is based on income, so she'll pay just $260 a month. When it came time to pick her unit, Burke headed for the elevator. She wanted a top floor apartment, more peace and quiet that way. From her balcony, she can hear birds and the bubbling of Coyote Creek. She has a view of the east foothills and Mount Hamilton. "I have a beautiful granddaughter," said Burke, as she looked down from her balcony onto the tot playground below. "This is going to be a wonderland for her."
Source: Mercury News