Santa Clara’s Agrihood Shift: What 44 Townhomes Mean for Buyers and Renters
Published November 13, 2026
A vacant parcel near Valley Fair and Santana Row could become one of Santa Clara’s next places to buy a newly built townhome. Under the plan the City Council tentatively backed on November 10, the remaining Agrihood parcel at 1816 Worthington Circle would have 44 for-sale townhomes in place of 160 previously approved rental apartments.
That change gives some buyers a new path to ownership. It also takes a planned 160 rental homes out of the proposal for this site, including 16 affordable apartments. Here’s what the numbers mean if you’re looking for a place to live in Santa Clara. City staff report · Council vote coverage
On the remaining Agrihood parcel | Previously approved plan | Revised plan |
|---|---|---|
Total homes | 160 | 44 |
Rental apartments | 160 | 0 |
For-sale townhomes | 0 | 44 |
On-site homes affordable to moderate-income households | 16 rentals | 6 for-sale homes |
The revised plan would yield 116 fewer homes overall and 10 fewer on-site affordable homes. The developer would also pay a fee to cover a fractional affordable housing obligation. City staff report
What Santa Clara gains in homeownership
For buyers who want more space than an apartment and are considering attached housing, the plan would add 44 ownership options near the Santa Clara–San Jose border. The city’s project description calls for three-story townhomes with two-car garages. Six homes would be designated affordable for eligible moderate-income buyers, giving those households a chance to purchase and build equity over time. City project description · City staff report
For households interested in those six homes, the practical details are the purchase price, income qualifications, application process and ongoing ownership costs. A useful comparison with other townhomes will include the full monthly cost of ownership, including any HOA dues, alongside the asking price. Buyers following the project should watch for those details as the plan moves forward.
What Santa Clara gives up in rental housing
The original plan would have added 144 apartments outside the moderate-income set-aside and 16 apartments reserved for moderate-income renters. The parcel is vacant, so the impact is on future supply. Households that need to rent, want flexibility or haven’t saved a down payment would lose a planned option in this location. The six affordable townhomes would serve eligible households in a position to buy. City staff report
The developer said the apartment plan was no longer financially feasible. City staff recommended denial of the change, pointing to the reduction in housing and affordability and inconsistencies with city housing and land-use policies. That leaves a practical question for Santa Clara. If the original plan was unlikely to get built under current conditions, what would it take to deliver more rental homes at this site or elsewhere in the city? City staff report · Santa Clara News Online
What to watch next
The council’s November 10 action was preliminary. Local reporting says the item is expected to return to the council for a consent-calendar vote. After that, the details to watch are construction timing, market-rate pricing and how eligible households will apply for the affordable homes. Council meeting record · Council vote coverage
If you’re comparing Santa Clara townhomes or deciding whether to keep renting, reach out to The Moles Group for recent comparable sales and help weighing the monthly costs in the neighborhoods you’re considering.