Monterey, CA 108 More Affordable Housing Units Coming To Marina

by Richard Kuehn on 08/13/12

View From A Non-Profit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

I wrote Friday on my blog about 66 affordable housing units being built on the old Fort Ord site.  More good news has arrived for the area.  The Monterey Herald reported that construction may be ready to start at "The Dunes, a major development in Marina adjacent to California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMN).  In additional to 108 affordable housing units, a 10-screen movie theater, retail shops and single-family homes, the developer is talking to the federal government about building a medical facility to treat military personnel and their families.  The developers are hoping that the movie theater and military medical clinic will spur more traffic to the complex, enticing other retailers and perhaps even a hotel to move into the massive parcel which covers 430 acres.  I certainly hope so.  The low income housing was ready to go in 2007 but was halted when the recession started.  Although the developers are ready to build out a portion of the complex, they are still having a difficult time lining up retail tenants so this development will probably be going on for years to come.  The affordable housing units, however, could begin construction in several months and be ready to occupy next year.  That's good news for seniors.  Monterey County is one of the most expensive places to retire in the country, and affordable housing is a big part of the problem.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of HandsTo Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.