3CE Contributes $130,000 to New All-Electric Affordable Housing in Watsonville

May 3, 2024

Tabasa Gardens’ 53 units now open to residents

On May 3, representatives from Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) joined project developers, sponsors and community leaders to celebrate the grand opening of Tabasa Gardens, a new 53-unit affordable housing development in Watsonville. The new homes feature all-electric appliances funded in part by a rebate of more than $130,000 from 3CE. All units are reserved for low-income residents, with half set aside for farmworker families and six reserved for families exiting homelessness.

The building features a three-story mosaic portrait of Rosita Tabasa, a community leader and restaurant owner who immigrated to the US from the Philippines in 1933 and whose Watsonville restaurant, Philippine Gardens, created a refuge for the local Filipino community. The new housing complex’s amenities include a community room, a barbecue area and playground, a computer learning center, and charging spaces for electric vehicles. Residents will also have access to health, employment and financial services.

Speaking at the event, 3CE Director of Communications & Outreach Dawn Mathes-Park presented a check to Linda Mandolini, president of nonprofit developer Eden Housing. “In addition to providing renewable energy, we offer financial support for all-electric housing, like the new homes we’re celebrating today,” Mathes-Park said. “We’re so pleased to be a part of the network of Tabasa Gardens supporters who collectively made this project possible.”

Communities throughout the Central Coast face enormous challenges in meeting housing needs. Equipping these new homes with all-electric appliances reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves indoor air quality. Installing all-electric, energy-efficient appliances also saves money on monthly utility bills and prevents the need for costly retrofits later. Tabasa Gardens will make a lasting contribution to the Watsonville community and improve the quality of life for its residents.