Sunnyvale Boosts Affordable Housing

Sunnyvale has adopted a new strategy to boost affordable housing by acquiring land for developers. The City Council recently approved a $12.5 million purchase of a lot at 1171 Sonora Court, where MidPen Housing plans to build 170 affordable units. This will mark the city's sixth fully affordable housing project with city-owned land, a model that helps ensure lasting affordability because the city will own and control the land. 

To meet the state’s requirement of 11,966 new homes by 2031—6,709 of which must be affordable—Sunnyvale needs to facilitate the construction of 1,496 homes per year, including 839 below-market-rate units.

The city can secure land for affordable housing in various ways: directly purchasing land and partnering with developers, buying land through project agreements, or acquiring parcels as part of broader deals with major companies. Although challenging, this approach makes the process more efficient and affordable for developers.

By actively acquiring land for affordable housing, Sunnyvale safeguards affordability for the future and plans to continue purchasing strategically located sites, especially near transit hubs.