An affordable apartment community on a former military base has a new mission – provide greatly needed housing for hardworking residents.
“Instead of fighting every month to scrape by, we have so much more freedom in our lives,” said Blaine Sutliff, a new resident of Terracina at The Dunes in Marina.
Sutliff was one of several speakers – from city councilmembers to partners on the project – during the grand opening Oct. 10 of Terracina at The Dunes. About 50 people attended the event.
Sutliff and his wife, an instructional aide, had been paying twice as much in rent for half the space in a nearby market-rate apartment community. Every month was a struggle.“It’s always great to be reminded why we go through these efforts,” said Geoff Brown, President of USA Properties Fund. “These projects are very difficult to put together. But they are a conduit to better things and are very impactful.”
Terracina at The Dunes
‘A historic place that means a lot for our community, our economy’
USA Properties Fund is the developer-manager-owner of the 142-apartment community, which has two locations – at Imjin Parkway and 4th Avenue, and 2nd Avenue and 5th Street.
The $71 million apartment community is part of The Dunes, a master-planned development that includes a major shopping center and single-family homes on the former Ford Ord Army Base that closed three decades ago.
Master developer Marina Community Partners – part of Shea Homes – provided an almost $8 million subsidy for Terracina at The Dunes.
The subsidy coupled with a public-private partnership that includes the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), JPMorgan Chase Bank and WNC Inc. made the project possible.
The Dunes replaced “blighted land, abandoned barracks,” said Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado during the grand opening celebration. “This is really a historic place that means a lot for our community, our economy.”
(Post continues after gallery)
All photos by Nik Blaskovich
A ‘stunning development’
Now, the former military base has become much-needed housing in Monterey County, where one of every four renters spends at least 50% on housing.
“It is amazing to see how the former Fort Ord has been transformed into this fabulous community,” said Justin Chen, Executive Director of Community Development Banking for JPMorgan Chase.
Terracina at The Dunes is a “stunning development,” just across the street from million-dollar homes and a short walk from major retailers, said Kevin Brown, Housing Finance Officer for CalHFA.
“It blends in with everything around it, Brown said. “Your tireless efforts have created amazing opportunities for residents.”
Just ask Sutliff, who has a full-time job at the nearby REI store and is returning to college to complete his degree. The couple are also saving money every month, thanks to Terracina at The Dunes.
“The call from Terracina was such a relief,” Sutliff said of when they were approved for the new apartment. “We wouldn’t have made it without Terracina.”