Photo credit: MidPen Housing

SV@Home was thrilled to attend the recent Wall Raising event for Ira D. Hall Square at 1178 Sonora Court in Sunnyvale. This momentous occasion, which took place on Friday, July 26, marked significant progress in creating 176 affordable units designed to support families and individuals in need. The event featured inspiring remarks and the official wall-raising ceremony, and it celebrated the future of housing for all residents in the Sunnyvale community. 

Ira D. Hall Square will be a cornerstone of affordable living, offering a total of 176 units at a diverse range of income levels. The unit distribution includes 27 units at 30% AMI, 28 units at 40% AMI, 55 units at 50% AMI, 44 units at 60% AMI, 20 units at 70% AMI, and 2 staff units. Notably, 45 of these units are reserved for homeless individuals referred through the Santa Clara Coordinated Entry system. Future residents will also benefit from various amenities at the property, including a community room, central laundry facilities, and a playground, ensuring a supportive and comfortable environment for all. 

The naming of Ira D. Hall Square is a heartfelt tribute to one of MidPen’s co-founders, Ira D. Hall, who was a passionate advocate for social justice and racial equity. As MidPen’s first staff member, Hall led the organization with a vision of inclusivity and community service until 1976. His unwavering dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging has had a profound impact on both the organization and the communities it serves. Hall’s legacy of creating safe, stable, and affordable housing is embodied in this project and the countless others he worked on, ensuring his mission will continue to benefit future generations.

Sunnyvale, like many Bay Area cities, faces a critical need for affordable housing. The city plans to add 11,966 new homes by 2031, with roughly half reserved for low-income residents. This effort is part of a broader regional goal to build over 441,000 new homes, increasing the Bay Area’s total housing stock by 15%. Projects like Ira D. Hall Square are crucial to meeting these ambitious targets and addressing the housing crisis.

In addition to these local efforts, voters will have the opportunity to support affordable housing through regional measure four (RM4), which is now on the November ballot. If passed, RM4 will provide significant funding to develop more affordable housing units across the Bay Area, further aiding cities like Sunnyvale in their mission to create safe, stable homes.