Why on Mary Avenue?
The Mary Avenue site has a long history of community interest and public purpose.
More than 15 years ago, the Rotary Club of Cupertino studied how other Rotary Clubs had successfully partnered on affordable senior housing developments. Based on that research, the Club proposed creating an affordable senior housing project along Mary Avenue.
At the time, Mary Avenue had been envisioned as an arterial roadway with potential vehicle access across Highway 280. When those plans shifted and the Don Burnett Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge was constructed instead, the City was left with an unused portion of land. This City-owned parcel was recognized as a potential opportunity to support community needs—particularly affordable housing—given its public ownership and proximity to amenities, transit, and parks.
Although the original senior housing proposal did not advance due to concerns raised by the City Council, the idea of developing affordable housing on the site remained of interest. The land was later identified in Cupertino’s Housing Element as a housing opportunity site, confirming its suitability for future residential use.
In 2018, during the community discussions around the Vallco Mall redevelopment, many residents expressed support for including affordable housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Although that version of the Vallco project did not move forward, the Mayor’s 2019 State of the City address reaffirmed the City’s commitment to addressing this housing gap and encouraged the use of City-owned land to help make such a project possible.
The Rotary Club of Cupertino responded to this call by revisiting its earlier concept for Mary Avenue and adapting it to meet current community needs. In partnership with affordable housing developers and local nonprofit organizations, the Rotary Club helped advance what is now known as Mary Avenue Villas—a 40-unit, 100% affordable community that includes 19 apartments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 20 for other households with very low and extremely low incomes.
The Mary Avenue Villas project represents the culmination of years of community visioning, collaboration, and persistence. The site’s history reflects Cupertino’s ongoing commitment to inclusive and affordable housing, transforming an underutilized piece of public land into homes that strengthen the fabric of the community.
