Under the welcoming skies of Daly City, Midway Village has hit a milestone with the completion of 147 affordable housing units. Officials gathered to cut the ribbon for the inaugural phase in a day that combined fanfare with a groundbreaking. They set the stage for constructing 113 additional homes, according to an announcement on the San Mateo County government's website.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa explained the significance of the project, which has turned around a struggling neighborhood, Midway Village I features homes for families with incomes ranging from 30 to 80 percent of the area median income, and the ongoing construction of Midway Village 2 is set to add on to the positive momentum, but not just by adding more units but by enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents.
Nathan Smith, a young adult who recently transitioned out of foster care, shared his victory with the crowd. "I am no stranger to financial burdens and homelessness," Smith conveyed during the ceremony. After receiving the keys to his new apartment, he remarked, per the County of San Mateo, "It felt so surreal. I could not describe that feeling I had when I realized I had that this was my chance, this was my place to be." With a stable residence, Smith is advancing his education in the College of San Mateo's pre-nursing program.
Embracing the need for modern living spaces, each unit is equipped with contemporary conveniences such as fully-fledged kitchens, in-unit laundry machines access to community amenities like rooms for gatherings, learning centers, and art shared areas, facilities are made possible through the collaborative effort of the County and MidPen Housing, and with the whole Midway Village redevelopment expected to wrap up by 2027, residents of the original housing will resettle into the contemporary homes as they materialize phase by phase.
Financing for the project was sourced from an eclectic mix of stakeholders, including local and state loans, project-based vouchers, and support from various financial institutions and community services. The eventual completion of Midway Village 2 is slated to provide a trove of two to four-bedroom units, addressing the critical need for affordable family housing. It will boast a new child care center, which will serve 109 children, including those from low-income backgrounds.
