Affordable Housing Accountability

CPUP fights for truly affordable housing, holding developers accountable for the minimum requirements, and advocating for increased numbers of affordable units in project applications. 

801 Fassler 

This project was already in violation of the City's Hillside Preservation Ordinance when it was approved by the planning commission. It also violated a condition of approve for restoration of the parcel's eastern portion to native habitate and constructing a hiking trail (Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, FEIR, September 2017). In March 2025, CPUP visited the open house for the sales of 10 market rate luxury townhomes to discover that no affordable housing units were listed, and reported it to City Staff. City Planner Updegrave issued a notice of violation on March 28th, 2025, and rejected the developer's offer to pay in lieu fees for the affordable units. 4 affordable units were released 3 months later at $328000, $362000, $769000, and $725000 respectively, with $400 monthly HOA fees.  

570 Crespi

In 2024, CPUP learned that the City intended to sell publicly owned land at 570 Crespi to private developers without complying with the California Surplus Land Act. CPUP alerted the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which directed the City to issue a Notice of Availability (NOA) so that nonprofit affordable housing developers would have an opportunity to acquire the site.

CPUP is aware that the City discouraged at least one nonprofit affordable housing developer from pursuing the property. At the conclusion of the NOA process, the City moved forward with the sale to private developers.

The resulting project consists of 19 luxury townhomes that extend into the last remaining wetland remnant of Lake Mathilda. Despite being built on former public land, the development includes only the minimum required affordable housing: three affordable units and a small in-lieu fee payment.

Questions also remain about the City's valuation of the property. The appraisal was not publicly released, and the comparable sales used to establish its value were more than eight years old.

CPUP again notified HCD, arguing that this publicly owned site could have supported more than 20 affordable housing units on its own. At a minimum, the City had an opportunity to leverage the land to secure a substantially higher percentage of affordable housing than what was ultimately approved. HCD has opened an investigation. 

CPUP continues to work on The Safe Parking Program, rent control policies, and supports projects with low-income units in partnership with non-profit developers.