Smart, sustainable growth means building the housing our communities need in places that protect both people and our environment—which is why Greenbelt Alliance is proud to endorse Measure Q in Half Moon Bay.
Measure Q asks voters to approve a 99-year ground lease and related agreements between the City of Half Moon Bay and affordable homebuilder Mercy Housing. This approval is the final key to unlocking a transformational 40-unit affordable housing community specifically designed for senior farmworkers at 555 Kelly Avenue.
Why It Matters
This project represents the very best kind of infill development. Located in the heart of downtown Half Moon Bay, 555 Kelly sits just steps away from vital daily services, grocery stores, local retail, and community spaces. By placing deeply affordable housing in a walkable, central location, it’s possible to reduce reliance on personal vehicles, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and connect some of the city’s most vulnerable residents directly to their town’s core.
Equally important is climate resilience. As the coast faces increasing climate threats, this downtown site ensures senior farmworkers, the very people who have nourished our region for decades, have dignified, safe, and affordable housing in a location protected from severe climate hazards. It honors their lifelong contributions by offering a secure, comfortable space to age in place with dignity.
While a “Yes” vote affirms the City Council’s approval of the ground lease, allowing Mercy Housing California to move forward seamlessly with construction, a “No” vote blocks the ground lease and brings this long-awaited project to a screeching halt. If that were the case, it would also leave Half Moon Bay’s Housing Element in a continued state of non-compliance, exposing the city to escalating legal penalties, substantial state fines, the potential loss of critical state grant funding, and the Builder’s Remedy.
Yes on Q is the right choice for housing affordability, for climate resilience, and for the Half Moon Bay community. Vote YES on Measure Q.
Photo credit: Visit Half Moon Bay, Facebook Page.
