Developer proposes 601‑unit Moonlight project in Santa Clara with about 27% affordable units

Toll Brothers and partner USA Properties on Tuesday presented plans to replace the Moonlight Shopping Center at 2610 El Camino Real in Santa Clara with a 601‑unit mixed‑use development that the applicants say would set aside about 27% of units as affordable housing.

The proposal calls for two 6–7‑story market‑rate condominium podiums fronting El Camino Real, a 166‑unit affordable rental building at the Kylie/El Camino corner, and three‑story townhomes along the southern edge of the 14.3‑acre site. The team also described roughly 15,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space organized around a central plaza and below‑grade or private garage parking for residents.

Why it matters: The developers said the project would deliver deeper affordability than is typically required in Santa Clara, and the affordable building would be managed by USA Properties, which the presenter said operates development, construction and in‑house property management. Neighbors raised concerns about traffic, parking, trees, construction impacts and how the retail component will be sized and phased.

Project details and timeline Rob Connolly, a presenter for Toll Brothers, said the project site is roughly 14.3 acres and that the team expects the development to “create a newer and vibrant neighborhood.” The applicants described…