Development team chosen for affordable housing project on Capitol Mall in Sacramento

Conversion of vacant office buildings to affordable housing moves forward

California Construction News staff writer

McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. has been selected as lead developer to convert three state office buildings along Capitol Mall in Sacramento into affordable housing.

“We need to build more housing, faster,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Projects like these are reimagining what our cities look like – creating more housing near transit, work, and shops – all while increasing affordability and fighting climate change.”

The three Sacramento buildings could transform into upwards of 400 new homes with a range of affordability. This will not only add much-needed housing to the area, but shows how cities can reimagine what downtown neighborhoods and communities can be for their residents.

The award will explore the adaptive reuse potential of some of those properties and could serve as a model for projects across the state. Uniquely located steps from the State Capitol where there is already high frequency light rail and bus service, walkability to jobs, services, and amenities—this climate-smart community could serve as an example of infill infrastructure investments that build more housing faster and help more people be less reliant on cars to get where they need to go.

The sites are 800 Capitol Mall, the EDD Solar Building at 751 N St., and the State Personnel Board Building at 801 Capitol Mall, all located in downtown Sacramento. The guidelines set a priority for project visions that had adaptive reuse but allowed for alternative development scenarios.

“These three state buildings along Capitol Mall show the great potential of the Governor’s Executive Order to transform underutilized state properties in partnership with local governments,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “These buildings are in downtown Sacramento, in a walkable neighborhood, close to light rail and bus lines and near jobs, shopping and health care. We look forward to the development team’s concepts and working closely with the city of Sacramento.”