Marcos Street just finished a housing story that started back when dial-up internet was still a thing.

Villa Serena II is now open in San Marcos.

And yes, that sounds like a routine affordable-housing announcement.

It is not.

This is the final piece of a nearly 30-year rebuild in Richmar, where an aging 1970s apartment complex has been remade into 148 affordable homes for San Marcos residents.

The new phase adds 63 apartments at 339 Marcos Street for residents earning at or below 60% of the area median income. National CORE, the City of San Marcos and the County of San Diego celebrated the opening Thursday, Sept. 10.

That is the official version.

The local version is simpler: San Marcos kept affordable housing in the neighborhood instead of watching it disappear.

The Old Complex Got a Real Reset

The original Villa Serena had 136 apartments.

It also had cramped units, limited parking and the unmistakable feel of a property built for another era.

The rebuilt Villa Serena is not some giant tower dropped into Richmar. It is a three-story affordable apartment community with 148 homes, a community center, new parking and more room for families.

That last part matters.

Across both phases, Villa Serena now includes 47 three-bedroom apartments. Phase II alone includes 12 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units and 21 three-bedroom units, plus a manager’s apartment.

In housing-speak, that is “unit mix.”

In real life, it means fewer families trying to squeeze too much life into too little space.

Location Is Doing Some Heavy Lifting

Villa Serena sits near the San Marcos Civic Center Station, grocery shopping, a park, the library, a medical clinic and city services.

That is not brochure filler.

For a family on a tight budget, shaving down car trips matters. Being closer to appointments matters. Having a park, transit and groceries nearby matters.

Affordable housing is not only about rent.

It is also about whether daily life works once the lease is signed.

Who This Helps

Villa Serena II is for low-income residents earning no more than 60% of the area median income.

Five apartments are reserved through the No Place Like Home program for residents with special needs who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.

The support system is part of the design.

County Behavioral Health Services is tied into the project, along with National CORE’s property management and service partners. Hope through Housing Foundation provides onsite services for children, teens, family financial stability and resident wellness.

The project-based voucher waitlist for Villa Serena II opened earlier this year.

That waitlist is now closed.

National CORE says applicants selected through the lottery are being contacted in lottery order, so this is not an “apply today” story.

Why Richmar Should Care

Housing announcements love big numbers, oversized scissors and words like “transformational.”

Fine.

Here is the part that actually lands.

An older affordable complex in San Marcos got rebuilt, modernized and kept affordable. The project added more family-sized apartments. It stayed in a neighborhood where residents can reach transit, services and daily basics.

Villa Serena II will not fix North County’s housing crisis by itself.

Sixty-three apartments cannot do that kind of magic trick.

But on Marcos Street, it finishes something real.

A promise made long ago finally has walls, doors, parking spaces and families moving in.

Questions You May Have About Villa Serena II

Where is Villa Serena II?

Villa Serena II is at 339 Marcos Street in San Marcos, in the Richmar neighborhood.

How many homes did Phase II add?

Phase II added 63 affordable apartments. Together, Villa Serena now has 148 affordable homes.

Can people still join the waitlist?

No. The Villa Serena II waitlist is currently closed, and selected lottery applicants are being contacted in order.