SAN MARCOS — City leaders and housing officials celebrated the opening of the 96-unit Estrella affordable housing project this week, marking the completion of the two-phase redevelopment of the former Mariposa Apartments.
The County of San Diego partnered with the City of San Marcos and Affirmed Housing to demolish the aging Mariposa complex in the city’s Richmar neighborhood and construct 196 new affordable units split between two projects.
The $51 million Estrella development, which opened on Nov. 20, replaced 30 former Mariposa units with 96 new deed-restricted units for low-income families making up to 80% of the area’s median income. The neighboring 100-unit Alora development, which replaced 71 Mariposa units, opened in 2023.
According to San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, this is the city’s 24th 100% affordable housing development and one of several in the Richmar area. These bring San Marcos’ total number of deed-restricted units to 3,394, equal to around 10% of the city’s housing stock.
Like the Alora project, the units in Estrella are deed-restricted affordable housing for the next 99 years, meaning that they can only be used for low-income tenants during that time.
“These affordable units mean so much more to us than simple numbers. These affordable units mean that more families will have housing security and peace of mind for one less burden, knowing that their housing will remain affordable for years to come as they continue to build lives in our community,” Jones said. “These affordable units bring opportunities for families to grow and thrive, and open new possibilities for them.”
Estrella includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with two of the 96 units set aside for onsite management. Project-based vouchers, or Section 8 vouchers, were dedicated to 24 of the units, providing those residents with rental assistance from the county.
Residents have access to amenities, including a community building with a kitchen, computer room, barbeque area, four tot lots, a teen recreation area and complimentary onsite services from Compass for Affordable Housing.
Funding for Estrella included $10 million from the City of San Marcos and $2.64 million from the county via federal HOME program funds.
“The County is all in on increasing affordable housing across our region,” said David Estrella, director of the County’s Housing and Community Development Services. “Having an affordable place to live in all parts of the region gives families the opportunity to live near their kids’ school and recreation areas, helping these families and North County thrive.”
A few blocks away from Estrella and Alora, a similar redevelopment project is also taking place at the Villa Serena apartment complex. Led by National CORE, the project is replacing the 1970s-era complex along Richmar Avenue with a 148-unit, 100% affordable development. The first phase was completed in 2023, and the second phase began earlier this year.
These redevelopments of already-existing affordable housing also mean that residents are displaced during construction. At Villa Serena, both phases have resulted in an outcry from residents who were displaced from the old Villa Serena site and forced to relocate.
