We chatted this week with ROEM Development VP Jonathan Emami, who broke ground Friday on the affordable 819 North Rengstorff Apartments project in Mountain View with Eden Housing. Yes, you heard that right: The same city that houses tech heavyweights is in dire need of cheaper housing options. (Even birdhouses around here are too expensive.) The need for affordable housing in Silicon Valley is so great, in fact, there are nearly 5,000 households on Eden Housing’s waiting lists in the region, said Eden prez Linda Mandolini.

The project is replacing a “tired, old building” of housing and retail space and is shooting for LEED Gold, with features like an extensive solar photovoltaic system, says Jonathan, whose dad started ROEM many years ago. The 49 units are all studios, which makes it more of a workforce housing project for those who live and work in Mountain View. Delivery is slated for spring 2015. It’s ROEM's second project in Mountain View; the first 51-unit project was completed downtown about a year ago.  His firm does about half market rate and half affordable apartment communities, he says. (If you didn't bring enough hard hats for everyone, you shouldn't be allowed to play.)

The three-story building will have about 1,640 SF of commercial space and 41 parking spaces on a surface parking lot with 49 bicycle parking spaces. By going the studio route, the project will meet that need for single individuals; young couples starting out; or single parents with a single child, he notes. ROEM just wrapped up a 290-unit apartment project in San Jose, 103 units in the Japantown area of San Jose, and is building 168 units for third-party client Bay West in Campbell. In San Francisco, ROEM is in the entitlements phase for two projects in Dogpatch with 60 units in each.