Eight Affordable Homes for Menlo Park

Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco to Build Eight Affordable Homes for Low-Income Families in Menlo Park

Community meeting highlights new homeownership opportunities and local partnerships in Belle Haven

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif, (December 4, 2025) – Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco (Habitat Greater San Francisco) is thrilled to announce Laurel Landing, a new project bringing much-needed affordable homeownership opportunities to Belle Haven, a historically underserved neighborhood in Menlo Park. Last month, we hosted a neighborhood meeting to introduce the project to local residents, share plans, and invite feedback and participation as part of a collaborative effort to strengthen community together.

We will build eight affordable homes at 335 Pierce Road, including three two-bedrooms, three three-bedrooms, and two four-bedrooms. The homes will be designed for low-income, first-time homeowner families.

Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach in Menlo Park, where the average home costs $2.7 million and the cost of living is more than double the national average. In Belle Haven specifically—a historically underserved, diverse neighborhood—homes average $1.1 million, pricing out many longtime residents, especially families of color. Laurel Landing represents a meaningful step toward keeping families rooted in their communities and ensuring Menlo Park remains a place where people of all backgrounds can live and thrive.

“This type of project is exactly what we need in Belle Haven,” said Cecilia Taylor, City of Menlo Park councilmember and head of the local community organization Belle Haven Action. “We need high-quality affordable homeownership opportunities throughout our city, and particularly here in this neighborhood. It is inspiring to see organizations and civic leaders coming together to make that happen. Our entire community benefits when more families from all walks of life can afford to live in the area.”

The City of Menlo Park and Santa Clara County are key partners in supporting the Laurel Landing development. The Menlo Park City Council voted unanimously in April to provide local housing funds toward site acquisition and pre-development costs, and Santa Clara County allocated additional support from its Stanford Affordable Housing Fund. Habitat Greater San Francisco will continue pursuing public and private funding to bring the project to completion.

“Expanding access to affordable homeownership is essential to maintaining strong, inclusive, and economically diverse communities,” said Mayor Drew Combs, City of Menlo Park. “Laurel Landing represents our shared commitment to ensuring that families who have long contributed to Menlo Park can continue to live, work, and grow here. With these eight new homes, we’re strengthening neighborhood stability, supporting future generations, and investing in a Menlo Park where everyone has the chance to thrive. I’m grateful to Habitat for Humanity and our community partners for helping make this vision a reality.”

Homeownership helps families put down roots and thrive. It’s linked to greater financial stability, stronger school outcomes for children, and deeper civic and community engagement. When families can afford to stay in their neighborhoods, entire communities benefit.

“Our community meeting in Belle Haven showed how deeply people care about preserving opportunities for families to stay and build better lives here,” said Maureen Sedonaen, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco. “We’re honored to work alongside the City of Menlo Park, Santa Clara County, and local residents to create lasting, affordable homeownership. Projects like Laurel Landing demonstrate what’s possible when we come together—building not just homes, but community, belonging, and brighter futures.”

The homes will have an average of 1,255 square feet and the project will include an attached garage with EV charging. The project is currently in the entitlement phase and construction is expected to begin late next year.