San Jose's Affordable Housing Breakthrough: 135 New Homes Near Transit

San Jose Breaks Ground on First Affordable Housing Complex in 25 Years San Jose, CA – May 14, 2025 – A new affordable housing complex is under construction in San Jose, marking a significant development in the city's efforts to address its housing crisis. This is the first affordable housing project built on VTA property in a quarter of a century. Located near the Tamien Station, the 135-unit complex is expected to open by August. The units will range from one to three bedrooms and will be reserved for local families earning 60% or less of the area median income. "Ideally, families who live in this future housing here can come downstairs, drop off their kids in childcare, and then hop right on the train, alleviating traffic," said Josselyn Hazen, VTA's Manager of Transit-Oriented Development. Raymond Valenzuela, a potential tenant, shared his experience trying to qualify for affordable housing. "It's a tough balance trying to qualify for affordable housing and simply affording life in the Bay Area." He points to the income restrictions as a significant hurdle for many. The VTA stated that seven more similar projects are in the works. The long wait for this project highlights the complexities of developing affordable housing in the Bay Area. The project's completion marks a positive step towards providing more housing options for low-income families and promoting transit-oriented development.