A new 142-unit housing community in Marina welcomes residents.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about Terracina at The Dunes, a 142-apartment affordable housing community right off Highway 1 in Marina. It’s a project I’ve seen from start to finish while driving on Imjin Parkway, and I’ve reported extensively about it. 

I recently walked in one of the two properties built by USA Properties Fund, an affordable housing developer from Roseville. The first structure that got my attention was a playground. Families with small children won’t have to travel far to spend time outdoors. 

The property located along Imjin has 92 units—ranging from one to three bedrooms—which are home to residents who work in healthcare, education, hospitality and retail. 

For many who live here, rent is the largest expense. In Monterey County, people need to earn 2.5 times the minimum wage to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to the California Housing Partnership. So paying $650 to $1,688 for a brand-new apartment in Terracina, depending on family income, could feel like a breeze. 

I asked Blaine Sutliff, a REI retail worker, who was labeled on the grand opening program as “a very happy resident,” and his wife Lily Burns Sutliff, an instructional aid at the International School of Monterey, how their life changed after moving here.

They told me they spend more time together and are less stressed about money. 

“That’s a big one,” Blaine says, adding that he doesn’t need to have a second job. 

“It’s a lot nicer to be able to have him home for dinner and be able to cook, see each other on weekends more often, and get to see him be so proud of his schooling and not be so stressed about money,” Lily says.

It’s also given Blaine the opportunity to go back to school. 

“For the past 10 years, I haven't been able to really go back, because I've been focusing exclusively on just getting enough to get by, but I've never managed to actually get any degree under my belt,” Blaine says. 

The apartment complex is near million-dollar homes and a walking distance from Target, Trader Joe’s (coming soon), restaurants, CSU Monterey Bay and MPC. 

David Lepak, the regional manager for USA Properties Fund, gave me a tour, visiting different amenities including a dog park, a pet washing station (a great addition for pet owners), a club house and laundry room. I also went inside a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor with nice views and high ceilings. 

Lepak pointed out a fact: Monterey is a beautiful yet expensive place to live in. Per Zillow, a one-bedroom apartment is $2,111. Lepak said only one apartment on Beacon Drive was still available with four at the other complex. 

People who worked in Marina or lived in Marina, were city employees or worked in education were prioritized in the application process.

It’s mentioned frequently that building affordable housing is expensive and challenging. But as I was able to witness, it’s an opportunity to change lives.