Former nursery site bought to maintain farmworker housing in Pescadero

The organization formed a new subsidiary, Puente Housing Solutions LLC, to acquire the property for $2.9 million, with funding support from Bay Area nonprofits like the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. 

Delving into the South Coast’s housing crisis has been a long-term goal for Puente, Interim Executive Director Arlae Alston said, and one that was implemented into the organization’s long-term strategic plan after continued feedback from staff, community members and funders.

“What are the ways in which Puente can do housing?” she said. “After two years now, this opportunity came out and it felt like we had the funds to do it, we had the support of the community to do it. This is the time to do it — to do housing.” 

Buildings on the property, once the Pescadero High School, have been apartment and dorm-style farmworker housing since the 1980s. Under Puente’s ownership, the shared kitchen and bathroom will be renovated, the roof replaced and water systems updated, according to a July 23 press release. 

“The priority is health and safety, and so we’re going to go very basic, from making sure smoke detectors are working [to changing] all the locks,” she said. “We met with the tenants to find out what the priorities are here. It’s going to be an expensive project.” 

For the 28 tenants on the property, some of whom live in apartments and others in dorm-style shared rooms, parking has been one major priority they’ll aim to address, Alston said. 

Puente is still finalizing construction priorities, and the main residential building will undergo major renovations as well, in a collaborative process with residents that reflects the nonprofit’s approach to purchasing the site — extensive dialogue and communication with stakeholders. 

The organization is still looking for an architectural design firm to lead the process, but has selected Coastside Realty and Management to oversee day-to-day operations. 

“We’re going to have the community engaged,” Alston said. “‘Would you like to use that space if the kitchen is where it is now? Should we change it?’”

Above all else, the goal of the acquisition is to provide farmworkers with affordable rents. 

“Our commitment is to make sure people have sustainable housing at a price that is affordable to them. This is not a business for us,” Alston said. “Housing should be a right.” 

Current tenants won’t be required to provide a deposit and some individual’s rents will be lowered to create more equitable price points, she said. 

Although current focus remains on the renovation and preservation of existing housing facilities on the property, the 13.5-acre site is large, providing potential opportunity for growth further down the line. 

“I don’t know what the future might hold. The sky’s the limit. For now, that will be our focus,” Alston said. “We’re super excited, we have the right people to do this — but be patient with this. We’re just starting this long, longtime dream.”