{"id":337416,"date":"2026-05-29T12:16:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337416\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T12:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:16:08","slug":"op-ed-we-should-know-village-farms-gives-affordable-housing-its-best-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337416\/","title":{"rendered":"Op-ed | We Should Know: Village Farms Gives Affordable Housing Its Best Chance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Mutual Housing California has spent decades building affordable homes in Davis and the Sacramento region. We are an established part of Davis\u2019 community fabric, operating six \u00a0communities that over 330 households call home. We know what it takes to move housing from a policy or a promise on paper to families with keys in hand \u2014 and which proposals are designed to succeed. Just 20 miles away we handed keys to more than 100 families over Memorial Day weekend at our newest San Juan Apartments community in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

\"\"Adelante (2021), one of six Mutual Housing communities in Davis, reflects continued progress in delivering stable, affordable homes for local residents.<\/p>\n

In Davis, we worked with the Village Farms team for more than two years to analyze the feasibility and capacity of its affordable housing site. If the City of Davis makes this land available, we would welcome the opportunity to compete to build it.\u00a0 More importantly, we are confident that the Village Farms project as proposed before Davis voters gives the community a strong opportunity to deliver the affordable housing it urgently needs. This model works. A proven path to building affordable housing is through a city-held land dedication that improves access to competitive funding. The city then selects an experienced and qualified nonprofit developer to assemble financing and deliver the homes. In just the past three years, Mutual Housing completed two developments on publicly owned land using this approach\u2014including the San Juan community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Village Farms site is exceptional. State funding favors locations near groceries, schools, transit, and parks. This parcel sits across from Oak Tree Plaza, near downtown, and close to schools and services. These advantages contribute to its designation as a \u201chighest opportunity\u201d area, strengthening its competitiveness for scarce state resources.<\/p>\n

Village Farms also makes an unprecedented commitment: 16 acres of shovel-ready land delivered upfront\u2014with streets, sidewalks, and utilities in place\u2014along with $6 million toward construction. In nearly four decades of work in this region, perhaps no Davis proposal has matched this level of readiness and support.<\/p>\n

Village Farms is structured not just to include affordable housing, but to build it.<\/p>\n

\"\"Tremont Green (2004) has provided stable housing for Davis families for more than 20 years\u2014helping some residents transition to first-time homeownership.<\/p>\n

Craig Adelman is CEO of Mutual Housing California<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: Opinions are those of the writer and do not reflect those of The Vanguard or its Editorial Staff.\u00a0 The Vanguard does not endorse political candidates and is committed to publishing all public opinions and maintaining an open forum subject to guidelines related to decency and tone, not content.<\/p>\n

Follow the Vanguard on Social Media \u2013 X<\/a>, Instagram <\/a>and Facebook<\/a>.\u00a0 Subscribe <\/a>the Vanguard News letters.\u00a0 To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit davisvanguard.org\/donate<\/a> or give directly through ActBlue<\/a>.\u00a0 Your support will ensure that the vital work of the Vanguard continues.<\/p>\n

Categories: Breaking News<\/a> City of Davis<\/a> Land Use\/Open Space<\/a> Opinion<\/a>