Jefferson UHSD Workforce Housing—705 Serramonte
QUICK FACTS
LOCATION: 705 Serramonte, Daly City, CA
OWNER: Jefferson Union High School District
DESIGN ARCHITECT: Seidel Architects
DESIGN/BUILD CONTRACTOR: J.H. Fitzmaurice with SVA Architects
OPEN: May 2022
TOTAL COST: $75.5M
FUNDING: Voter-Approved Bond Funds and Loans
PRESS
“We were challenged with what we could offer teachers, and this project provides a great resource to not only retain our staff, but help them with their dreams. We take a lot of pride in that.”
705 Serramonte
Jefferson Union High School District Workforce Housing
Jefferson Union High School District (JUHSD), as with many districts throughout California, was faced with tremendous challenges in recruiting and retaining faculty and staff due to the high cost of housing in the region. Working with the District, the principals of Rivercrest Partners led the transformation of surplus land into 705 Serramonte—a 122-unit workforce housing community offering high-quality, below-market rental apartments exclusively for JUHSD employees.
Principals of Rivercrest Partners, while with Brookwood Group, helped oversee the development process, from concept through completion, including feasibility and financial modeling, design, project approvals, environmental review, and operational start-up. The goal was clear: create housing that matched or exceeded local market standards while directly serving the District’s workforce.
The building includes indoor and outdoor communal spaces designed to bring residents together. Small details like increasing the number of laundry rooms to accommodate synchronized educator schedules reflect thoughtful, resident-centered planning.
The benefits of the project to the District have been tremendous: for the first time in years, JUHSD has been able to successfully fill all open positions and dramatically reduce employee turnover.
JUHSD is proud to be one of the first in the nation to turn this idea into reality. Successfully completed and fully occupied in 2022, the project has since been recognized as a pioneering model for addressing educator housing needs in California and nationally.
This success was made possible through the leadership of a committed school board, a collaborative partnership with labor, community transparency, and a well-defined financing strategy.
Key Outcomes
Fully leased to JUHSD employees and families
Ongoing waitlist demand
Increased staff retention
Classrooms fully staffed across the District
Why did JUHSD build its own housing?
JUHSD is the lowest funded high school district in San Mateo County. Facing an average annual staff turnover rate of 25%, and needing to find ways to retain and recruit staff, the Board began exploring employee housing in 2017.
How was the project funded?
The total project cost was $75.5M. $33M was provided by a voter-approved bond passed in 2018. The remaining $42.5M was borrowed through certificates of participation (COPs).
What was the biggest challenge in building 705 Serramonte?
Districts have a lot of experience building schools, but navigating residential permitting and planning processes required by the local City or County required extensive support from outside experts.
Who lives at 705 Serramonte?
To be eligible, renters must be JUHSD non-management employees who work at least 17.5 hours per week and are not homeowners. Priority is given to full-time workers and those with lower household income. There is also a goal of 60% certificated staff and 40% classified staff, which mirrors the makeup of the District. Presently the housing is fully leased and maintains a waiting list.
“I love it, it’s the best decision I made for myself… Living here was my opportunity to stay in the Bay Area, stay close to my family, and be able to go to work.”
