The big-box Office Depot on El Monte Avenue may be living out its final days as a place to stock up on paper and printer ink. The one-story retail building is slated to be redeveloped into a roughly 120-unit affordable housing community after the site reportedly changed hands, with plans to swap out the single-story footprint for subsidized rental homes aimed at lower-income Mountain View households. City approvals and financing still have to fall into place before any demolition or construction can start.
According to CoStar, Community Revitalization and Development Corp. (CRDC) is listed as the project sponsor, with The Danco Group named as the development and construction partner. CoStar's initial report pegs the plan at roughly 120 affordable units for the site.
Site details
Public commercial listings show the parcel at 910 El Monte Ave (APN 170-06-007) includes about 20,400 square feet of retail on approximately 1.24 acres, a one-story building long occupied by Office Depot. LoopNet lists the building and lot measurements, while property-tax and title records identify Barber Fam Properties LLC as the recorded owner. PropertyShark provides the ownership and tax details.
Who’s building it
The Danco Group’s portfolio highlights a steady stream of affordable and workforce housing projects across the Bay Area, consistent with its role as the proposed builder on this Mountain View site. Danco Group lists Mountain View-area projects on its website, while state housing finance and agency documents point to CRDC’s experience acting as managing general partner on tax-credit and bond-financed affordable communities. CalHFA/CTCAC records document CRDC’s track record on similar California developments.
Why it matters for Mountain View
Mountain View is grappling with an acute shortage of below-market rentals and has adopted a certified 2023–2031 Housing Element that calls for new housing and rezoning tools to hit regional production targets. Turning underused commercial parcels into subsidized housing has become one of the more practical ways to add deeply affordable units near transit and everyday services. The city’s housing documents and planning materials outline rezoning programs and public-private partnerships that make proposals like this a key piece of Mountain View’s broader housing strategy. City of Mountain View housing documents lay out that policy framework in detail.
CoStar did not list a purchase price or construction timeline in its initial write-up, noting only that the property has been sold and is slated for redevelopment. The proposal still needs city entitlements, financing commitments, and permits before crews can move in. As developers submit formal applications, Mountain View’s public agendas and staff reports will spell out the next steps and opportunities for public comment. Residents can track hearings and decisions through Mountain View meeting records.
