Located at 1718, 1724, and 1730 Virginia Avenue in District 5, the Virginian Apartments comprise 18 fully occupied, rent-controlled units. 89% of rents are at or below 40% AMI affordability. The residents, primarily working-class, immigrant, Spanish-speaking, and bilingual Latinx families, have lived on the property for an average of 13 years, with some tenancies exceeding 25 years. The multigenerational residents have built a close-knit community over the past two decades.
For the past two years, South Bay Community Land Trust (SBCLT), with advisory and technical support from MidPen Housing Corporation, has been actively working to acquire and rehabilitate the property. By removing the property from the speculative real estate market, SBCLT will protect tenants from displacement caused by speculation and gentrification – part of San Jose’s affordable housing goals. This project will also enable the rehabilitation of a property suffering from neglect and landlord disinvestment, improving the quality of life for residents. Most importantly, it will establish long-term stewardship, creating opportunities for tenant control and eventual ownership over time
The Virginian Apartments represent an opportunity to protect long-term residents and foster equitable housing solutions for San José. This initiative goes beyond preserving a building—it safeguards a community, ensuring that families can remain rooted in the neighborhood they have called home for decades, while also safeguarding against displacement.
On Tuesday, December 3rd, San Jose City Council will vote to release of $5 million in Measure E funds for the Virginian Apartments (Agenda Item 8.1). This pivotal moment will mark the City of San Jose’s first commitment of such funds for affordable housing preservation – a significant step forward in our collective mission to foster community stability and resilience. Sign on to the community support letter here.
SBCLT has fostered strong relationships with Virginia Avenue residents through ongoing engagement. It has held over 16 group and one-on-one meetings with SBCLT Organizing Co-Directors to support tenant rights and educate on community ownership. Ongoing tenant education will further support residents as they transition into collective tenancy, limited equity cooperatives, or other ownership models.
This collaborative model supports resident input in the design and execution of the rehabilitation, enabling them to shape priorities and ongoing operations in line with their needs and experiences. This resident-centered approach is a cornerstone of the community land trust model, ensuring a sustainable, community-driven housing solution of permanent affordability.
