The development, known as Berkeley Station, includes 13 apartments for low-income families and young adults, shared amenities such as a community garden, laundry facilities and common areas.
A new affordable housing development built using modular construction opened Friday in Santa Monica, with city officials and nonprofit partners marking the project as part of ongoing efforts to address housing shortages.
The development, known as Berkeley Station, includes 13 apartments intended for low-income families and young adults experiencing housing insecurity. The project was developed by the Community Corporation of Santa Monica in partnership with the city and St. Joseph Center, which will provide on-site support services for some residents.
City officials said the project received more than $11 million in financing through Santa Monica’s Housing Trust Fund, along with housing vouchers administered by the local housing authority.
The building was constructed using prefabricated units assembled off-site and installed over several days, a method that state officials have promoted as a way to speed up housing production and reduce costs amid California’s ongoing housing crisis.
Berkeley Station includes shared amenities such as a community garden, laundry facilities and common areas. The building is all-electric and incorporates energy-efficient features, according to project partners.
Support services at the site will focus in part on young adults enrolled in a local program that provides case management and assistance with education and employment.
The opening comes as cities across California explore alternative construction methods and funding strategies to expand affordable housing supply. Local officials described the project as a test case for modular housing in Santa Monica, though it remains unclear how widely similar developments will be adopted in the future.
