San Jose, Calif., Nov. 15, 2021 – Blach Construction (Blach), a full-service commercial contractor serving the Greater Bay Area since 1970, recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the Immanuel-Sobrato Community, an affordable housing development that will provide 108 permanent supportive homes for formerly unhoused San Jose residents. The unique public-private partnership between the City of San Jose, MidPen Housing, John A. and Susan Sobrato, the Housing Authority and the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of San Jose is the City’s first redevelopment of a place of worship to include supportive housing.
“As service-minded builders celebrating more than 50 years in the Bay Area, Blach is fully committed to enhancing the communities we serve,” said Blach President Dan Rogers. “It is incredibly gratifying to join with like-minded partners to squarely address the critical issue of housing for the chronically homeless in our native San Jose. We look forward to bringing the Immanuel-Sobrato Community Development to completion and supporting in-need members of our community.”
The 94,000 square foot community comprises a five-story, Greenpoint Rated building that, along with resident studios, will include amenities such as a secured lobby, dog run, 36 parking spaces, large common space, bicycle storage, community room with kitchen, courtyard with outdoor seating, exercise area, computer lab and laundry room. Second floor offices and meeting/collaboration space will accommodate various supportive services and two two-bedroom property manager units will enable around-the-clock staff presence for residents. Designed by HKIT Architects and leveraging prefabricated wood construction to reduce both schedule and impact on the surrounding neighborhood, the development is located near VTA transit, healthcare, parks, a FoodMaxx, and San Jose City College.
“We are beyond thrilled to break ground on Immanuel-Sobrato, which is a powerful example of how the nonprofit, faith and business community led by a highly experienced project team can deliver truly life-changing housing solutions,” said Jan Lindenthal, Chief Real Estate Office of MidPen Housing. “Everyone in our community has the right to live in a safe, healthy, and affordable home. And with these new 108 affordable homes dedicated to those in our community who have been chronically unhoused, San Jose is taking important steps toward meeting the goal of reducing homelessness by 75 percent in three years.”
Firmly committed to playing an integral role in addressing the Bay Area housing crisis, Blach also recently reached structural topping out of The Rollins – 80 new affordable homes, 18 of which will be earmarked for Veterans. The Rollins is part of the firm’s larger transit-oriented development project, Gateway at Millbrae Station, and is slated to open Summer 2022.
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