Co-Living Collaborative

Building Community

The Waterman Village is a historic infill project in Downtown San Luis Obispo that will provide 20 affordable tiny homes surrounding a rehabilitated historic adobe, which will serve as a community space. The land was donated to the city in 1989 by Mary Gail Black in honor of her partner, Mildred Waterman, to benefit the community. While blending past and present, the project will reduce the cost of convenient living, offer supportive community amenities, and address the critical need for affordable housing. Waterman Village also serves as a replicable model for sustainable, community-focused developments.

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Waterman Village Packet

Waterman Village

How will Waterman Village benefit the community?

Foster community connections with shared spaces and a public park
Provide attainable housing for low-income workers and seniors
Promote community resilience through sustainable design, adaptive reuse, and car-free living
Rehabilitate the historic Adobe as a vibrant community hub
Offer a beautiful, centrally located living option for low-income locals seeking community
Serve as a model of sustainability and an educational resource for the region

What is Waterman Village?

20 permanent, below-market-rate homes, built on foundations, each with full bathing, kitchen, and laundry facilities
A group of efficient small homes (220-260 square feet) and a neighborhood park around a restored historic adobe that serves as a gathering center for residents
A cultural heritage center that models sustainable living practices, encourages community interactions through walking and bicycling, and provides residents and the community with a sanctuary.
The all-electric, high-efficiency homes and the adobe will be connected to the City's water, wastewater, and electric infrastructure, just like all other homes on the block, and they will have solar generating capacity added to meet or exceed California codes.

Who will live at Waterman Village?

Older single women on a fixed income, working singles who choose to live car-free, or a working mom or dad with a small child. Residents will need to apply, meet specific income and other requirements, and will then be selected via a housing lottery.

What Waterman Village is NOT:

Temporary homeless shelter
Social services hub
Housing that only the wealthy can afford
Off-grid cabins without adequate utility infrastructure

Who will NOT live at Waterman Village:

Anyone who would like to. All applicants must pass a screening.
People making more than the designated income limits

Who will NOT manage the Waterman Village Property:

An off-site professional property management firm
Smart Share Housing Solutions will have an on-site office to manage the property

What Waterman Village will NOT do to surrounding properties:

Decrease property value: Multiple studies show no negative effect on property values nearby quality affordable housing, e.g. this on National Association of Realtors site.

Help Smart Share construct 20 affordable homes in downtown San Luis Obispo at the Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe!

The Waterman Village is a public-private partnership to rehabilitate the historic adobe at 466 Dana Street and add 20 affordable tiny homes on permanent foundations. The long unused property will be transformed to serve the community, bringing old and new together while preserving as many trees as possible AND meeting needs for local affordable housing and community resilience. Through these efforts, neighborhood safety and vitality will be further enhanced and this project will serve as a replicable community partnership model for other game changing adaptive reuse, community resilience, and affordable housing partnerships ahead.

We asked, and the community generously responded

Thank you to our team of donors, volunteers and contractors

The Waterman Village is Smart Share Housing's first housing development project, and we’ve assembled a stellar team of volunteers, consultants and experts.This project is only made possible with the help of an extended team. Our sincere thanks to all listed and additionally to the hundreds of people participating in the process in various ways, some whose names we'll never know.

Find out more about the team below. If you’re interested in joining the team, click the button below to fill out the contact form and indicate your willingness to volunteer.

Become a WV Volunteer

Public support and donations are a valuable factor toward providing safe, affordable housing in this premier location. Thank you to our many, many donors:

206 private donations and pledges totaling $754,646 make this project a reality by proving public interest. Your additional contributions will help us continue to demonstrate broad community support for small, infill, affordable homes and show that this model is replicable in San Luis Obispo and elsewhere. Private community member contributions will be leveraged with City and County affordable housing funds, private foundation contributions and loan funds, as necessary.

Your pledge of support will influence their investment.

Please donate now! Donate by credit card using the button below or send checks to P.O. Box 15034 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.

Your tax-deductible donation and/or pledge can be cash/check/credit card or:

- appreciated stocks or securities
- real estate or other property
- all or a portion of your required minimum distribution (RMD)
- gift from your DAF (donor advised fund)

Call to talk about which option(s) might be right for you: 805-215-5474.

To donate via credit card, click the button below. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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Donor Packet