California Construction News staff writer
An affordable housing development under construction in downtown Stockton is a milestone in the state’s plan to convert surplus government land into housing for low-income residents.
The 94-unit project, known as La Passeggiata, will be built on a nearly one-acre site at 622 East Lindsey Street that was formerly owned by the state. The land was made available through Executive Order N-06-19, issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019, which directs state agencies to identify and repurpose underutilized state-owned properties for affordable housing.
“Once again, the Excess Sites program is helping transform state-owned land into something more: hope and stability for our state’s residents,” Newsom said at the groundbreaking. “California continues to lead by example in addressing the nation’s affordable housing crisis.”
La Passeggiata will include two energy-efficient residential buildings—five and six stories tall—connected by a breezeway. The project will offer a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and seniors. Amenities will include rooftop gardens, solar energy systems, and energy-efficient appliances.
The development is being led by Visionary Home Builders of California and is part of the state’s Excess Sites program, a collaboration between the California Department of General Services (DGS) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The initiative identifies surplus state land suitable for housing and leases it long-term to affordable housing developers.
“Thanks to the Governor’s executive order, nearly an acre of land sitting unused in the heart of Stockton—blocks from the Civic Center and waterfront—will be transformed into critically needed affordable housing,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.
Since the program launched, nearly 50 state-owned properties across California have been approved for development, with hundreds of affordable homes already built or underway in cities such as Sacramento, San Francisco, Riverside and Truckee.
Officials say the initiative not only provides housing but supports environmental goals. “This energy-efficient project will reduce the community’s carbon footprint and breathe new life into Downtown Stockton with housing and services for families and seniors,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Construction of La Passeggiata is expected to help revitalize downtown Stockton and provide long-term housing stability in an area with growing demand for affordable homes.
