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Mental Health Association proposes 20‑unit supportive housing on F Street; MHA aims to use SB 35
Summary
The Mental Health Association of San Mateo County previewed a proposed 20‑unit permanent supportive housing project at F Street and El Camino Real in San Carlos: 19 studio units and one manager's unit, on a 0.16‑acre county parcel, with on‑site supportive services and an anticipated SB 35 streamlined application later this month.
The Mental Health Association of San Mateo County (MHA) presented plans for a 20‑unit permanent supportive housing development at F Street and El Camino Real, telling the San Carlos City Council the project would include 19 studio units and one manager’s unit with on‑site supportive services.
"It is permanent housing for them," MHA Executive Director Melissa Platt told the council, describing the project as a four‑story building that steps down to the rear, and saying the agency intends to prioritize referrals through San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Platt said the parcel is about 0.16 acres and is currently county‑owned; MHA is working toward an exclusive negotiating agreement to acquire it.
Architect Joanne Wong and development consultant Gabriel Speier walked the council through design and feasibility details, including a ground‑floor program for supportive services and property management, three regular parking spaces plus one van‑accessible space (with shared parking anticipated at the adjacent Belmont Apartments), and unit sizes of roughly 440–498 square feet. The team said the design incorporates a 20‑foot setback on El Camino Real, activated street frontage and shared resources with nearby affordable housing owned by the same developer.
Council members pressed on financing, timeline and tenant selection. Council member Dugan noted a discrepancy in a budget figure and prompted a clarification: MHA’s agency budget figure cited earlier was not the project cost; the project estimate is “upwards of $18,000,000,” according to MHA. MHA told the council it expects to submit a formal application at the end of August and to utilize SB 35 (state streamlining for 100% affordable projects). The development team said they expect to pursue state tax credits, tax‑exempt bonds and multifamily housing programs to assemble financing with a target groundbreaking in summer 2028.
The council and MHA discussed tenant profile and services: the proposal targets single adults experiencing homelessness with serious mental health challenges and would provide case management, occupational therapy, nursing support and peer staff. Council members voiced support for the project’s accessibility measures and its intent to be a neighborhood‑scaled, well‑appointed building. A remote commenter asked why the project stops at four stories; the applicant said the scale reflects an effort to build community and to match service capacity to resident needs.
The study session was informational only; no formal approvals were requested at the meeting. Next steps described by staff and the applicant include formal application submittal, staff review and a planning commission hearing when the application is complete.
