Marin County's affordable housing landscape could be in for a notable expansion as the Marin County Supervisors gear up to consider a grant of nearly $9.5 million to a development in Point Reyes Station. The former U.S. Coast Guard housing site at 100 Commodore Webster Drive is set to transform into 54 affordable housing units, according to a recent report by Marin County's news releases. The vote, scheduled for next Tuesday, may determine the project's future, aimed at easing the housing squeeze for low-income residents.
Deserted since 2014, when the Coast Guard marked it as surplus, the Point Reyes location has been under consideration as a community asset for affordable housing for over a decade. Acquired by the County in 2019, this 33-acre site is key to the collaborative efforts of nonprofit developers Eden Housing and the Community Land Trust of West Marin (CLAM). The money, if approved, will provide housing for extremely low and low-income households, earning between 30% ($58,740 for a household of four) and 60% ($117,480) of the area median income for Marin County, the report details.
The cost of bringing this project to life is estimated at $55.4 million, with the completion horizon set for 2027. Behind the 36 townhomes and a 24-room barracks lies a vision of providing affordable living spaces to seniors, families, and local workers, including agriculture workers. Despite being the largest project of its kind in West Marin thus far, it faces hurdles in construction quality, conditions of existing buildings, and the significant absence of wastewater infrastructure.
Marin's Community Development Agency (CDA) has backed the loan of $9,483,635, recognizing the developer's track record, project readiness, and strong commitment to sustainable and community-centric development. Of the funding components, $4,493,635 would come from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $4,990,000 from Measure W transient occupancy tax revenue.
