Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, the town of St. Helena is known for its historic Main Street full of boutiques, farm-to-table restaurants, tasting rooms, and charming inns. Surrounded by sprawling vineyards and sweeping views of the Mayacamas Mountains, it’s a popular stop for tourists making their way through wine country. However, while the town receives many visitors throughout the year, it can be challenging for residents to afford everyday life.

In 2010, as school enrollments declined and retail shops closed, a group of locals recognized the affordable housing issue in St. Helena and founded Our Town St. Helena. The nonprofit facilitates and develops housing opportunities to support the local workforce in St. Helena.

Executive Director Jennifer La Liberte says, “These [workers] are the potential coaches of youth sport teams, leaders who serve on boards and committees, volunteers who support local nonprofits, and customers who frequent local businesses. It is better for the town if the people who work here can also live here.”

Since its founding, Our Town St. Helena has developed or purchased and deed restricted 35 affordable housing units and is in the process of financing 40 more for future construction. The organization continues to seek opportunities to establish rental units, home ownership opportunities, and non-traditional housing options for residents in need.

When one of the organization’s founders, Mary Stephenson, and her husband, Lawrence Papale, decided to sell their 12 rental apartments, they were eager to present the opportunity to Our Town St. Helena for purchase at a discounted price, provided that the units would be affordable long term.

Located on two adjacent properties at 1347 and 1357 Monte Vista, Stephenson and Papale had owned the units since the early 1990s. They intentionally kept rents below market to ensure that working families and seniors could afford to live there. In selling the units, they wanted to ensure that it remained affordable for current and future tenants.

Our Town St. Helena secured a 55-year loan through the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, but they required additional financing to purchase the property. When the organization came to Poppy Bank and asked for a loan, our lending team was honored to come alongside them and provide the additional financing needed.

“We have a great working relationship with Poppy Bank, primarily through Scott Shapiro,” says La Liberte. “He was able to work closely with our other lender to ensure we were able to close within a short time frame. It was a very collaborative experience.”

Current tenants of the Monte Vista properties include an electrician, a welder, hotel maids, housekeepers, winery workers, and several retail, hospitality, and food service employees.

Our Town St. Helena continues to further its mission with exciting plans including the Fountain Street project, which will consist of 40 affordable rental apartments in south St. Helena. The organization has partnered with Burbank Housing on the project, and the next step is securing financing, grants and donations. The Our Town St. Helena board has set a goal of building or preserving 105 affordable housing units by 2035 and is over 70 percent of the way to meeting it.


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