Local

9 stories that highlight Sacramento region’s housing future

Stories by Sacramento Bee journalists, with AI summarization

Sacramento is facing major shifts in its housing landscape, from pilot programs and new infrastructure to tough challenges building affordable homes. The city's annual housing goal was missed, with only 2,387 new units permitted in 2024—well below targets meant to address the homelessness crisis and long waitlists for shelter. Projects like Habitat for Humanity's sweat equity homes in Oak Park and Roseville's conversion of hotels to permanent apartments for formerly homeless people stand out as positive steps.

Yet, proposals for new apartment complexes encounter resistance and lawsuits, as seen in Carmichael, while infrastructure projects like the Truxel Bridge and I Street Bridge face funding shortfalls and debates over car-free designs. As regional planning efforts look to fast-growing cities like Denver for inspiration, Sacramento's leaders are grappling with how to keep up with growth, prioritize affordability, and meet diverse community needs.

A new apartment complex with 81 units is planned to be built on a vacant parcel along Mission and Whitney avenues in Carmichael. A neighborhood association has sued to block it.

NO. 1: A LAWSUIT COULD STOP NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX FROM BEING BUILT IN SACRAMENTO SUBURB. HERE’S WHY

The lawsuit was filed earlier this month in Sacramento Superior Court. | Published January 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift

NO. 2: SACRAMENTO COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS BEGINS SOON

The ordinance will affect multi-family households in unincorporated parts of Sacramento county, the county’s engineer said. | Published January 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emma Hall

This option for a Truxel Bridge separates pedestrians and cyclists from cars with light rail. Cyclists have dedicated lanes. Personal vehicles also have their own lanes. This is what the Department of Public Works called “alternative 3B.” It is very similar to 3A, and it is the design that city staff recommend the City Council approve. The department estimates this option would cost $227 million.

NO. 3: WHAT WILL SACRAMENTO’S NEW AMERICAN RIVER BRIDGE LOOK LIKE? SEE THE CITY’S RENDERINGS

Sacramento released renderings of a potential Truxel Bridge. | Published February 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ariane Lange

An apartment building for homeless people is opening in a former Hampton Inn & Suites on North Sunrise Boulevard in Roseville.

NO. 4: APARTMENTS FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS PEOPLE TO OPEN IN SACRAMENTO SUBURB. SEE WHERE

The Roseville City Council approved a loan for the project Wednesday. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift

Ahmadullah Safi, 40, was among the people celebrated Saturday morning, Feb. 22, 2025, in Oak Park for recently purchasing a home through a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento program. By Mathew Miranda

NO. 5: SEVEN SACRAMENTO FAMILIES BUILT THEIR FIRST HOMES AND THEN PURCHASED THEM. HERE’S HOW

These families worked 500 hours of “sweat equity” — labor on their home — to qualify for a 30-year, 0% interest-equivalent mortgage.  | Published February 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mathew Miranda

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty talks during the State of Downtown breakfast on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. By HECTOR AMEZCUA

NO. 6: WITH SAC STATE EXPLORING DOWNTOWN PROJECT, ARE 700 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCRAPPED?

The three state buildings were set to become 700 units of affordable housing. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift Annika Merrilees

A construction worker walks Thursday morning, Sept. 5, 2024, on a wall of a rising five-story, mixed-use building on Broadway in Land Park across from Sacramento’s Tower Theatre. A heat wave By Hector Amezcua

NO. 7: SACRAMENTO HAS ANNUAL HOUSING GOALS. DID THE CITY MEET ITS 2024 MARK?

The city has an overall goal of building 45,580 new housing units by 2029. | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Theresa Clift

The Tower Bridge and Sacramento skyline stand behind the recently opened 805 Riverfront apartments in West Sacramento on Dec. 6, 2024. By Hector Amezcua

NO. 8: WHY DENVER MIGHT FORESHADOW HOW THE SACRAMENTO REGION GROWS IN NEXT 25 YEARS

The Sacramento region is expected to grow its population by 600,000 people in the next 25 years | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mathew Miranda

A skyline view of the I Street Bridge reconstruction project

NO. 9: SACRAMENTO HAS PROPOSED A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE, WITH ONLY HALF THE MONEY TO BUILD IT | OPINION

Sacramento leaders have talked about replacing the I Street Bridge over the Sacramento River for about a quarter century. Why there isn’t now action. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Tom Philp

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.