KING CITY — Construction is underway on a new affordable housing development in King City that will bring 40 two- and three-bedroom apartments to local working families, including 30 units reserved for farmworker households.
CHISPA hosted a groundbreaking ceremony July 15 for Mills Ranch Apartments, a project years in the making that officials said will help address the need for affordable housing in South Monterey County.
“Mills Ranch will provide stable, affordable homes for families while creating lasting benefits for the entire King City community,” said Geoffrey Morgan, CEO of CHISPA. “This project is the result of years of collaboration and commitment from our staff, partners, funders and community leaders.”
The development, located within the Mills Ranch subdivision, will include five parcels with eight two-story buildings and townhome-style units. In addition to housing, the project will include community improvements, including about two miles of bicycle trails and other infrastructure upgrades intended to benefit residents and the surrounding community while supporting greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
King City Mayor Mike LeBarre said the project is the result of collaboration between elected officials and community partners working toward solutions for the area’s housing needs.
“As you can tell here in our county and in our city, we’re very, very fortunate because as we work toward solutions, we have the strong partnership and coordination with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, with Sen. (John) Laird and with (Assembly) Speaker (Robert) Rivas and obviously our great Supervisor Chris Lopez,” LeBarre said. “They’re our team that we lean on when we need to get projects done, and I am very fortunate that you’re all there to help us because this isn’t something that happens everywhere, so we are very, very lucky.”
LeBarre also highlighted the broader impact of affordable housing projects.
“Affordable housing is a lot more than low-cost housing. Affordable housing is an investment into our future,” he said.
The project received support from several funding partners, including the City of King City, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, U.S. Bank, National Equity Fund, Central California Alliance for Health and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
Monterey Bay Economic Partnership also supported the project through the Monterey Bay Housing Trust, which provided a $680,000 predevelopment loan in 2021 to help acquire the property. MBEP also helped secure $11.7 million through the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Grant Program.
“In order for our regional economy to thrive, working families need access to safe, affordable housing,” said Monterey Bay Economic Partnership President and CEO Tahra Goraya. “By jumpstarting high-quality projects, such as Mills Ranch Apartments, the Monterey Bay Housing Trust is creating new opportunities for low-income residents and stability for our agricultural workforce.”
CHISPA said the project will also provide educational opportunities through a partnership with Ranch Cielo, allowing construction students to gain hands-on experience in the building trades while helping build the next generation of affordable housing.
Mills Ranch Apartments is expected to be completed over the next 18 months, with the development opening in early 2028.
