Large affordable housing community planned for major Sacramento business corridor

A plot of land in south Sacramento that was the site of the former San Juan Motel – and for years after that a homeless camp – will be converted into a large affordable housing community.

Mutual Housing was chosen by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency to develop the affordable housing community on Stockton Boulevard, just south of Fruitridge Road. The land has been empty for more than a decade along one of south Sacramento’s busiest commercial corridors. Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy, who represents the area, said it “will be a welcome and positive addition to the boulevard.”

Mutual Housing initially proposed building 116 units of affordable housing on the site, but increased its proposal to 150 units.

“In order to meet the demand for housing we were asked to increase the number of units,” said Mutual Housing CEO Roberto Jiménez.

The apartments will be split among several buildings, along with a child care facility and commercial space that will likely be operated by a nonprofit organization “that provides added services and benefit to the community,” Jiménez said. The community will also have “child-oriented open space,” according to a project description filed with the city of Sacramento.

That section of Stockton Boulevard is the core of the Little Saigon commercial district. Restaurants, shops and other businesses line the thoroughfare, but many blocks are vacant. The San Juan Motel site is surrounded by a black wrought iron fence; a large homeless camp that had existed there for years was cleared by authorities in 2019.

“Development of the former San Juan Motel site is an incredible opportunity for Sacramento County and the Stockton Boulevard corridor,” Kennedy said. “It will provide affordable housing for low-income families and supportive housing for formerly homeless residents, open space, community space and child care.”

The development of the Aggie Square research campus at the UC Davis Medical Center a mile north will likely further transform Stockton Boulevard.

“Its an up-and-coming area, particularly related to Aggie Square, so there are real housing demands starting to occur there,” Jiménez said.

The income requirements for the apartments have not been finalized, but will likely range from 30% to 60% of the area’s median income.

The land is split between the city and county of Sacramento, presenting a challenge to its development. Kennedy said the city, county and SHRA “made this project happen under a timeline that many said was not possible.”