Sacramento steps up production of affordable housing

California Construction News staff writer

More than 600 units of affordable housing will be under construction this summer in Sacramento, in neighborhoods all over the city. The number reflects the city’s decision to waive fees, speed permitting and set aside more budget funding in the Housing Trust Fund.

As a result, Sacramento has created more than 2,000 units of low and moderately priced housing in each of the past two years, a dramatic increase from 481 units a year in 2019.

According to a progress report recently presented to city council, a total of 2,482 units received building permits in 2021 and 2020, a more than 10 times the number issued in 2018 and 2019.

Officials held a ground-breaking on the Wong Center this month, a senior housing development in The Railyard north of downtown. Lavender Courtyard, the city’s first affordable housing complex focused on serving LGBTQ seniors, opened in May at 16th and F streets in midtown.

On the corner of 16th and F Streets in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights district is a new housing complex called “Lavender Courtyard by Mutual Housing.” The 53-unit community focuses on serving low-income LGBTQ seniors. Residents started moving into the apartments in May, and organizers say there is already a waitlist. Twenty-four of the units are reserved for seniors coming out of homelessness, in partnership with Sacramento County.