San Jose, CA ---- Housing proposals that will add nearly 1000 new homes in San Jose, including 200 affordable homes for seniors and teachers, will be considered by the San Jose City Council at its meeting today.

Mayor Ron Gonzales outlined the proposals as part of the City’s continuing commitment to housing solutions that meet critical needs in San Jose and Silicon Valley.

"Even though other headlines have pushed the housing crisis off the front page, we must still work hard for housing solutions," said the Mayor. "Finding a home has reached a crisis level, not only in Silicon Valley but throughout the Bay Area."

Before the Council today is project for 765 market-rate homes in a new urban village proposed by Kaufman & Broad at Communications Hill near Highway 87 and Hillsdale Avenue. The project is close to light rail transit, and it represents the kind of smart-growth infill housing development that makes sense for San Jose.

In addition, the Council will consider two affordable housing projects on six acres of City-owned land on Roberts Avenue. One would create 100 homes for San Jose seniors proposed by Community Homebuilders & Associates, and the other calls for 100 affordable homes to be marketed to San Jose teachers by Bridge Housing Corporation.

"We have already invested nearly $8 million to secure the land and help prepare these two affordable projects for development," said Gonzales. "These projects on city land represent the kind of creative partnerships with affordable home developers that have been successful for creating more homes that San Jose residents can afford."

The mayor noted other recent steps the city has taken to create more housing. Last year San Jose approved building permits for more than 4500 new homes, and construction began on more than 1000 new homes in the downtown area.

In January the San Jose City Council approved the mayor’s recommendations resulting from his Housing Production Team that will lead to new policies to help create more homes in San José. In February, the Council also approved changes to the San Jose General Plan that increased the city’s potential for 7000 more homes that could be built near transit hubs and corridors.

"We are well on track to reach our goal by building 6000 new affordable homes by 2004 using $240 million of redevelopment funds, and we also pledged $10 million for housing to meet the critical needs of families that are earning the least in our community"