38th Ave Apartments
Entitlements / New Construction / Affordable Family Apartments / Community Engagement
Knowing Capitola’s challenges meeting affordable housing needs in the past decade, our team was excited by the opportunity to support a project that will help keep residents in the towns they grew up in and work in, which further enriches the community's health. Nestled in the heart of Capitola, 38th Ave Apartments celebrates the culture and connections to nature that beachy Capitola has to offer, while carefully considering the needs of families and children who will call the community home. Our team began by taking a deep dive into the local context for design inspiration, and reaching out to the project neighbors with a community outreach workshop to hear their values and design preferences.
Project Details
UNITS
52 family apartments and townhomes
(studios, 1BRs, 2BRs, and 3BRs)
SIZE
61,215 SF
STATUS
Design In-progress
Designing for families to easily connect to community and place
The project goal is to create 52 units of 100% affordable and inclusive housing for large families that supports the City of Capitola. The two- and three-story buildings take note of Capitola's quirky, fun beach town style, integrating color and architectural style from its neighbors. Across the four residential buildings are a mix of flats and townhomes, and step down to blend with its residential street and neighbors. Within the site, a variety of multi-age, multi-use "yards" are activated with activities such as family-style dining and patio zones, community gardens, play areas, ping-pong tables, and more, creating a vibrant, welcoming space for families to spend their time.
The project takes note of the rich neighborhood amenities and active transportation connections, celebrating the active lifestyles of beach town living. Extra room for families to store their bikes acknowledges the connection to the adjacent rail trail, which will potentially connect the site through to the 41st commercial corridor. The site promotes equitable access to nature by protecting space for low-income families in a nature-rich environment including parks, beaches, and direct access to trails. On site, restored habitat with culturally-sensitive indigenous species selection, as well as community garden beds promote a connection to nature close-to-home.
In the buildings, water- and energy-smart fixtures will be provided in addition to durable, healthy materials.
Site Context
Transit Amenity Map
Site plan - Landscape design Courtesy of BASE Landscape Architecture
Massing diagram
Community Engagement
In partnership with the project developer, MidPen Housing, we invited the community to an early design phase workshop to share their thoughts, ideas, and preferences for the project. Design activities ranged from color schemes, the look and feel of different spaces, and overall site plan reactions. Afterward, our team integrated what we heard into the design. For example, community input favored a range of coastal blue and green accent colors, over a more vibrant color scheme, reserving pops of orange for the doors.
