Sonoma, CA — October 2, 2025 — The City of Sonoma announced today that the purchase of two affordable housing properties has officially closed, securing the long-term preservation of 18 affordable housing units in the community. This milestone was made possible through a landmark partnership with Burbank Housing, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund.
The purchase of two properties — Setzer Senior Affordable Apartments (673 First Street West, 8 units) and Maysonnave Apartments (270 First Street East, 10 units), ensures these homes remain affordable for at least 55 years, protecting critical housing for low-income seniors and families in the City of Sonoma.
For the families and seniors living in these apartments, this isn’t just about preserving buildings, it’s about protecting their homes and providing peace of mind,” said Mayor Patricia Farrar-Rivas. “Affordable housing is essential to maintaining Sonoma’s character and sense of community. By preserving these 18 homes, we’re helping ensure that longtime residents can continue to live in the community they know and contribute to, with greater stability and security.
Partnership & Funding
To make the acquisition possible, the City of Sonoma committed $250,000 from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund, with BAHFA contributing $4.5 million through its Housing Preservation Loan Pilot Program, and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund providing additional loan financing. Burbank Housing, the North Bay’s largest nonprofit housing developer, will oversee ownership, rehabilitation, and long-term affordability management.
“Housing affordability remains one of the City of Sonoma’s greatest challenges,” said City Manager David Guhin. “By leveraging the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, we were able to maximize outside funding and secure a tremendous return for our community.”
Somaya Abdelgany, Preservation Program Manager for BAHFA, added: “Preservation is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect communities. Through our Housing Preservation Loan Pilot, we’re able to partner with local governments and mission-driven developers to keep residents in their homes, extend the life of these properties, and guarantee affordability for generations to come. Sonoma’s leadership shows what’s possible when we act quickly and collaboratively.”
Preserving Homes and Preventing Displacement
With Burbank Housing now stepping in as the long-term steward of the properties, tenants will pay, on average, rents not exceeding 30% of 80% of the Sonoma County area median income, adjusted for household size. This ensures the apartments will remain accessible to low-income residents, a central commitment of the deal.”
“We are proud to partner with the City and regional finance agencies to preserve these homes,” said Rich Wallach, Senior Director of Housing Finance & Business Development at Burbank Housing. “This acquisition prevents displacement and provides stability for seniors and other residents who call Sonoma home.”
Rebecca Foster, founding CEO of the Housing Accelerator Fund, emphasized the urgency of the effort: “Through this innovative public-private partnership we were able to move at the speed of the market to preserve affordability and opportunity. That’s what we did here, and the result is 18 units that will remain accessible to Sonoma residents long into the future.”
Long-Term Commitment
As part of the agreement, the properties will remain affordable for a minimum of 55 years. Tenants will be able to stay in their homes even if their incomes improve modestly, ensuring stability while maintaining the overall affordability of the properties.
“Preserving affordability is not just about numbers — it’s about protecting the people who are the heart of our community,” added Mayor Farrar-Rivas.
Learn More
To learn more about affordable housing in the City of Sonoma and to sign up to receive notifications when affordable housing units become available please visit: www.sonomacity.org/affordable-housing-program/
About the Partners
- Burbank Housing: A nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to providing quality affordable housing in the North Bay since 1980. Learn more at: burbankhousing.org
- Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA): Established by the state legislature in 2019, BAHFA is the first regional housing finance authority in California. BAHFA is jointly governed by the Association of Bay Area Governments’ Executive Board and by the BAHFA Board, which is comprised of the same membership as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Learn more at: mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/authorities/bay-area-housing-finance-authority-bahfa
- San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund: A public-private partnership delivering flexible financing to preserve and produce affordable housing across the Bay Area. Learn more at: www.sfhaf.org
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Media Contacts
- City of Sonoma: Sarah Tracy, Public Information Officer – stracy@sonomacity.org | (707) 338-3759
- Burbank Housing: Stefanie Bagala, Director of PR & Communications –sbagala@burbankhousing.org | (707) 526-9782
- Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA): John Goodwin, Assistant Director of Communications, Metropolitan Transportation Commission – jgoodwin@bayareametro.gov | (415) 778-5262
- San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund: Max Szabo, max@szaboandassociates.com | 415-828-6158