Peninsula Habitat Home Map Timeline of Projects Green Building Land Aquisition Current Projects: Lincoln Ave, Redwood City Future Projects: Daly City Resale Homes: Gloria Way, Redwood City Completed Projects: Commercial Ave, So. SF    - Dedication Feb 2008    - Kick off Sept 2006 San Bruno Ave, Brisbane Glen Parkway, Brisbane Plumas Ave, Brisbane Brisbane Projects: Historical Perspective De Long Street, Daly City Habitat Way, Daly City Rolison Rd, Redwood City Hope Court, Redwood City Gloria Way, East Palo Alto Single Family Homes    - (East Palo Alto)    - (Redwood City &      Menlo Park) Home Completed Projects Commercial Avenue, South San Francisco Peninsula Habitat Kicks Off Construction of Four Homes in South San Francisco On September 28, 2006, about 100 people from Peninsula Habitat, the City of South San Francisco and the community gathered to break ground on a new four-home project at 440 Commercial Avenue. "It was so exciting to see such a tremendous outpouring of support from the community," said Mary Boughton, Executive Director of Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. "The number of city, county and state officials and representatives who joined us for the groundbreaking was a reflection of our community's steadfast commitment to providing affordable housing for local low-income families." Begun in late August, the four-home development is part of a collaborative effort between Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and South San Francisco to meet residents' needs for affordable, ownership housing and improve the quality of their lives. Peninsula Habitat first met with South San Francisco officials in 2002 to find sites for homes. The City's Redevelopment Agency had recently purchased a piece of property on Commercial Avenue that seemed perfect for a small infill project. "The timing was perfect," said Norma Fragoso, South San Francisco Redevelopment Manager. "We'd been talking about working with Peninsula Habitat, and the pieces just fell into place for this project." Peninsula Habitat submitted a proposal to build four three-story, three-bedroom, two-bathroom single family homes. "The Housing Subcommittee reviewed it first," said Karyl Matsumoto, South San Francisco Councilmember. "We discussed whether or not the proposal had merit and was viable before sending the proposal to the Council with a recommendation that they move forward with the project." Once the house designs and plans for the project were approved, Peninsula Habitat purchased the property from South San Francisco for one dollar. The City also provided a $33,000 loan to subsidize the building of the homes that will be forgiven once Habitat sells the homes to eligible families. "The Council has always been strong supporter of Peninsula Habitat for Humanity," said Matsumoto. "Habitat has a wonderful reputation and a national track record. That was the greatest factor in deciding to work with you - you're well known." Several government officials including Marilyn Wacks, representing Congressman Tom Lantos; Sarah Phelps, representing California State Assembly member Gene Mullin; San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, and South San Francisco city officials, staff and council members attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Also in attendance were representatives from Bay Area sponsoring companies and community organizations such as Prudential Realty, Hathaway Dinwiddie and the South San Francisco Conference Center Catering Department as well as several families applying to purchase the homes. Attendees ceremonially broke ground with golden shovels and tossed bird seed into the air, and Peninsula Habitat officially broke ground the next day with a back hoe. Currently, construction on the homes is making great progress, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2008.