Santa Monica Debuts First Modular Affordable Housing Project

Berkeley Station provides 13 units for low-income families and young adults.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:52am

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A highly stylized, isometric 3D digital illustration depicting a miniature model of the Berkeley Station affordable housing development, with its modular apartment units, rooftop deck, and lush landscaping, rendered in a clean, modern aesthetic with bold colors and soft lighting.A conceptual 3D illustration of Santa Monica's first modular affordable housing development, Berkeley Station, showcasing its innovative design and community-focused amenities.Los Angeles Today

The Community Corporation of Santa Monica, along with the city and St. Joseph Center, have opened Berkeley Station, Santa Monica's first-ever modular affordable housing development. The project includes 13 apartments for low-income families and young adults facing housing insecurity, with on-site supportive services provided by St. Joseph Center.

Why it matters

California is facing a severe affordable housing shortage, with a deficit of 1 million units statewide. Modular construction is seen as a way to quickly and efficiently add more affordable homes, and Berkeley Station represents Santa Monica's effort to tackle this crisis with innovative solutions.

The details

The $11.3 million project was funded by a city Housing Trust Fund loan and 13 housing vouchers. The apartments were designed by Brooks + Scarpa and fabricated off-site by Plant Prefab before being installed on the lot in just three days. Berkeley Station includes a garden, laundry facilities, and a rooftop deck, and is an all-electric development with solar panels.

  • The ribbon cutting ceremony for Berkeley Station took place on April 14, 2026.
  • Brooks + Scarpa won a $1 million grant from the L.A. County Housing Innovation Challenge in 2019 for its NEST Toolkit, which was used in this project.

The players

Community Corporation of Santa Monica

The owner and developer of the Berkeley Station affordable housing project.

St. Joseph Center

A nonprofit organization that will provide on-site case management and supportive services for residents at Berkeley Station.

Brooks + Scarpa

The architecture firm that designed the Berkeley Station apartments and won a grant for its NEST Toolkit, which was used in the project.

Plant Prefab

The company that fabricated the Berkeley Station apartments off-site at its factory in Tejon Ranch before installing them on the lot in just three days.

Caroline Torosis

The Mayor of Santa Monica, who praised Berkeley Station as proof that the city is taking on the housing crisis with urgency and embracing new approaches like modular construction.

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What they’re saying

“This building has been such an exciting innovation for us. What started as our first-ever modular development is now 13 real homes for low-income families and young adults in need of support. Cutting this ribbon today means Santa Monica has a new model for what efficient and smarter affordable housing can look like.”

— Tara Barauskas, Executive Director, Community Corporation of Santa Monica

“Berkeley Station shows how we can deliver high-quality, affordable homes more quickly and efficiently for those who need them most. We're especially proud to support the young adults who will call Berkeley Station home through our Santa Monica Youth Resource Team program, providing the services needed to not only secure housing, but to sustain it and build long-term pathways to economic mobility.”

— Ryan J. Smith, President and Chief Executive, St. Joseph Center

“Berkeley Station is proof that Santa Monica can take on the housing crisis with urgency and results. We are cutting through delays and embracing new approaches like modular construction to deliver affordable homes faster and more efficiently. For the young adults and families moving in, this means stability, opportunity and the ability to stay rooted in the community they call home. This is the work of making sure Santa Monica remains a city where working people can build a future.”

— Caroline Torosis, Mayor of Santa Monica

What’s next

The city of Santa Monica plans to continue exploring modular construction as a way to quickly and efficiently add more affordable housing units to address the ongoing housing crisis.

The takeaway

Berkeley Station represents a new model for affordable housing development in Santa Monica, leveraging modular construction to deliver high-quality homes faster and more efficiently. This project demonstrates how cities can embrace innovative solutions to tackle the affordable housing shortage and ensure working families can remain rooted in their communities.