By Affordable housing project underway

Cupertino broke ground last week on a 24-unit affordable housing complex that Los Altos helped fund.

The $7 million, 22,000-square-foot project, called Hearts of Cupertino, will add to the city the final units needed for Cupertino to reach its state goal for affordable housing when completed in October 2002.

The Los Altos City Council agreed earlier this year to throw in nearly $300,000 in federal block grants needed to finish the affordable housing project.

Santa Clara County each year allocates Community Development Block Grants from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to cities within the county to address local housing needs. Federal guidelines mandate that each city spend the money within 18 months or give it back. Since Los Altos had no affordable projects at the time, the council opted to spend the money on the Cupertino project rather than return the money to the county.

Cupertino Community Services is the non-profit organization developing the project. In addition to the Los Altos grant, the project was funded by Santa Clara County, the cities of Cupertino, Saratoga, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, and private donations.

Los Altos

Land use Workshop

Los Altos

Los Altos is seeking public input on draft land-use and circulation alternatives for its updated General Plan. A public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Nov. 7, at the Hillview Community Center Multi-purpose Room, 97 Hillview Ave. This is the second of three interactive community workshops. For more information, call the planning department at 948-2790.

-Town Crier Staff Report