Two Sacramento Housing Developments open
Building images © Lara Swimmer/Esto
We’re pleased to announce that two of our major developments in Sacramento, Cornerstone, and Mutual on the Boulevard, have completed construction, allowing more than 200 households to move into the apartments and enjoy the safety and stability of a home.
We recently spent two days onsite at these locations with photographer Lara Swimmer. One of the best parts of this job is seeing the result of our collective work, and we’re excited to share more about Cornerstone and MotB!
These spaces had a vibrancy, energy, and a sense of community that was apparent even in the short time we spent there. And just as we imagined while we were in the thick of the design process, life was happening within. Children were playing on the playgrounds. Neighbors were starting their mornings on their balconies with a cup of coffee. Resident services coordinators worked to set up the community room with cleaning supplies– this month’s offering to residents to help make ends meet. We saw folks chatting with each other as the day went on, the kind of easy conversations that formed the foundation of communities. We watched as new residents moved in, eager to set up a new bed in a place they’ll call home– and we watched future residents meet with the community managers, completing the last paperwork standing between them and their set of keys.
The residents we met feel safe. They feel proud of where they live.
We were invited into an apartment at each location. The residents' sense of pride in their living space was clear—they wanted to share their stories of what life was like before getting connected with whichever service enabled them to access this affordable housing. We met their dogs and their kids. They talked about having their grandchildren over to play and how easy it is to walk out of their patio and onto the playground.
The buildings feel vibrant and alive. Though we were there on a rare day with little sunshine, the buildings' yellows, oranges, and blues felt cheerful and welcoming.
We especially want to acknowledge the work that Mutual Housing California is doing to foster community and provide support to residents. Making the transition from homelessness to home is a difficult one to navigate, and we heard from several residents how Mutual has helped them. We’re honored to have designed the buildings that serve as a foundation for this impactful change.
About Cornerstone:
Cornerstone is a mixed-income affordable housing development supported by Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency funds. The master plan is centered around three new public streets that reconnect the neighborhood fabric and features a pedestrian greenway that weaves between stacked flat apartment buildings with private patios, community gardens, and play spaces. The buildings provide a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with fifty percent of the units serving extremely low-income residents. At the north end, there is a community building with a manager’s office, community development office, case manager’s office, and community room that functions as the neighborhood gateway and opens onto a shaded patio. A Habitat for Humanity portion of the site provides a mix of three and four-bedroom homes with large backyards.
About Mutual on the Boulevard:
Mutual on the Boulevard is inspired by the sun, water, and movement to create a unique mixed-use, affordable, supportive housing community serving the diverse needs of South Sacramento. The master plan features an internal neighborhood street with an apartment building, townhomes, and walk-up stacked flats buildings that maximize density and the opportunity for solar PV installations. The buildings, clad in cementitious siding and metal panels, provide a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with fifty percent of the units serving extremely low-income residents. Supportive services and community areas are clustered along Stockton Blvd. The Community Design process consisted of a series of design discussions with Mutual Housing's residents, homeless women at a Loaves & Fishes daytime shelter, and allied organizations. The input was incredibly insightful, helping us program and design outdoor spaces spread throughout the development.