Breaking Ground: New Construction in Progress
Pope Street Workforce Housing, 10 affordable rental homes: 963 and 951 Pope Street
Construction is now underway at the 10-unit Pope Street Workforce Housing Project, comprised of two projects on separate properties under different ownerships. This phased approach was necessary because the properties were purchased about two years apart and the project designs, approvals and funding strategies were on very different timelines.
The project at 963 Pope Street was approved by the City of St Helena in 2019, and assembling financing started in 2020 and concluded in 2025. Meanwhile, in fall 2021, Our Town St Helena was able to purchase the adjacent property at 951 Pope Street, thanks to a large gift from Stephanie and Jim Gamble. This purchase set wheels in motion to design a new project and modify the approved project so that both were compatible and seamless, allowing us to double the number of units from five to 10.
While the financing for 963 Pope was finally coming together in 2024, some extremely generous community donors together contributed approximately $3 million to the second phase at 951 Pope Street, making it possible to construct the two phases simultaneously which will create economies of scale and cause less disruption in the neighborhood. Local general contractor, Trainor Builders, will lead the construction effort and is generously donating part of their fee to the project.
963 Pope Street (Phase 1) – Owner: 963 Pope Street, LLC (a partnership between Napa Valley Community Housing and Our Town St Helena)
This phase will consist of 4 new two-bedroom, one-bath units for low- and very low-income households, while the existing house, also with two bedrooms and one bathroom, has been preserved at moderate-income rent levels for 55 years.
951 Pope Street (Phase 2) – Owner: Our Town St Helena
This phase will include one studio and one 1-bedroom unit, plus three 2-bedroom units for a total of 5 new rentals for very low-, low- and moderate-income renters.
Together, the 10 units will function as one community and provide homes for a range of people who are vital to the local workforce in support of the St Helena area’s economy. The project is located within close walking distance of public transit, downtown businesses, a grocery store, schools, and parks. The design incorporates water and energy efficient fixtures and features and is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
For more details, click here.
Fountain Street, 40 rental apartments (estimate):
This project is in the early design and planning stage for a 1.75-acre vacant property bounded by Main Street (Highway 29), Mills Lane, Dowdell Lane, and Fountain Street.
To be designed at a scale that fits well in St. Helena and the surrounding area, and at a gateway entrance to the town, the project is anticipated to yield approximately 40 apartments for people earning 60 percent and below of Area Median Income for Napa County.
Our Town St. Helena has partnered with Burbank Housing, a highly experienced affordable housing non-profit with successful projects throughout the North Bay and Napa.
More detailed information will be provided when it becomes available.
New Construction Completed
Brenkle Court, 8 ownership townhomes:
Completed in late 2022, Brenkle Court is comprised of eight townhomes for first-time homeowners with incomes between 40 and 90 percent of Napa County Area Median Income.
The project was completed utilizing the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Mutual Self-Help Homeownership Program. Each homebuyer committed to work 32 hours per week building the homes, in addition to their regular employment. This is an average of 4,000 hours per family group over 160 weekends, with the help of volunteers and skilled subcontractors.
Even with a US government shutdown, three fires, three harvests, the COVID pandemic, and global supply chain challenges, the project was finished on budget. The homeowners have formed a Homeowners’ Association to manage the property.
For more details about the project, click here.
Preservation Completed
Christine Apartments on Hunt Avenue:
OTSH acquired Christine Apartments, 723 Hunt Avenue, at market rate in the summer of 2021. The City of St Helena received Community Development Block Grant funds from the State of California and partnered with OTSH to purchase the property.
In exchange, OTSH placed a 55-year deed restriction on the building, which requires rents not to exceed levels that are affordable to local workers and families for generations to come. Three long-term tenants and one new family are now assured that their rents will stay affordable, something that is a greater challenge as real estate prices continue to soar.
We are interested in purchasing additional local properties so that we can preserve housing that is affordable to those vital to our community.
Preservation in the Pipeline
Our Town St. Helena has been approached by a seller with 12 existing apartments in two side-by-side buildings. The seller has indicated a strong desire to preserve the rents at affordable levels for low- and moderate-income renters.
Our Town St. Helena is seeking a funding source(s) and partner(s) to help acquire the properties using a similar approach to Christine Apartments above. We will provide more details as we make progress and can disclose information.