Santa Clara Cleans Up Contamination, Preserves Historic Structures, and Includes Affordable Housing
The Community Before
This site was the former home of Agnews Hospital West Campus, which was surplused by the state in 1996. The 320-acre site contained 100 acres of historic buildings, a few large storage buildings and vacant space. The redevelopment agency had to remove close to three feet of soil contaminated with arsenic and lead from prior agricultural uses before it could safely use the property.
The Community Now
The Agency was able to preserve the area’s historic buildings an incorporate them into the new vision for the community. Today, the Rivermark Development is a vibrant new community with amenities that serve residents in the surrounding Bayshore North neighborhood.
The Project Involved:
- Building 3400 housing units, including more than 350 affordable units, through partnerships with non-profits and the County Housing Authority
- 51 units for homeless families, 100 units for low-income seniors, and over 200 units for low-income families, along with, 20 units reserved for people who are developmentally disabled
- Building a fire station and branch library on land donated by the developer
- Bringing in new businesses, such as the area’s first grocery
store, a shopping center, new hotel and public facilities