Residents are moving into The A.J., the first mixed-income housing community in The Railyards in Sacramento, California.
The Railyards is one of the nation’s largest infill developments, transforming 244 acres with live entertainment, shops, and restaurants along with a much-anticipated Kaiser Permanente medical center and a new soccer stadium for the Sacramento Republic FC.
“The A.J. is the latest step in a decades-long effort to develop a new, thriving urban neighborhood,” said Geoff Brown, president of USA Properties Fund. “As residents move into The A.J, they will become the foundation, the future of The Railyards.”
The A.J. is a partnership between LDK Ventures, the managing member of Downtown Railyard Venture, and USA Properties Fund, a prominent affordable housing developer and owner in the West.
The 345-apartment community—one of the largest in downtown Sacramento—includes 69 affordable homes, available to residents who earn 50% or less of the area median income for Sacramento County, about $51,450 for a two-person household. Rent for lower-income residents will range from $1,010 for a studio to $1,340 for a two-bedroom unit.
The apartments feature high-end design with energy-efficient stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, two-tone cabinets, ceiling fans, rainfall showerheads, and walk-in closets. Ground-floor apartments will have stained concrete floors, with carpet and wood-plank floors on the other four levels of the building.
Residents, regardless of their income, will enjoy a long list of amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center and a sky lounge with a rooftop observation deck with fire tables, gas grills, dining areas, and TVs. The apartment community also includes a pool and spa with private cabanas; bike storage area with a repair station; a pet spa and wash area; a flexible workstation; and a secure parking garage with EV charging stations.
“Our vision for The Railyards has always centered on creating a vibrant, connected community, and The A.J. is a cornerstone of that ambition,” said Denton Kelley, president and CEO of LDK Ventures. “We recognized a clear demand for contemporary, accessible housing options within easy reach of downtown Sacramento’s energy and opportunities. The A.J. directly addresses that need, with a dynamic living experience.”
The $130 million project received significant financial assistance from the city of Sacramento, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Citi Community Capital provided the construction and permanent financing.
The apartment community is named after A.J. Stevens, a community leader and legendary Southern Pacific master mechanic who worked in The Railyards in the 1870s and 1880s. Stevens, known as “The Father of Innovation,” oversaw the building of Southern Pacific’s locomotives and rail cars in The Railyards.
The A.J. is one of about 35 apartment communities that USA Properties Fund manages and owns in the Sacramento region, and more than 90 in California, Nevada and Oregon.