Construction to begin on 55-over housing in Rocklin

USA Properties Fund and Riverside Charitable Corporations have started construction on an affordable 180-unit apartment community for residents 55 and older near Sierra College in Rocklin. The Steven, located at 4930 Rocklin Road, is part of College Park, a 180-acre development of apartments, condominiums and single-family homes surrounded by trails, parks, open space and shopping expected to be completed in early 2028. "Sierra College is excited to see College Park move forward from vision to reality," said Willy Duncan, Sierra College president. "After years of thoughtful planning and community dialogue, the College Park plan takes a balanced approach to providing housing options, shopping, recreation and natural conservation, all designed to leverage connections with the Sierra College campus. The Steven will help provide much-needed affordable housing for seniors in our community, showcasing one of the important needs College Park will address." The apartment community will offer easy access to neighborhood shops. Major shopping centers such as Target, Walmart and Costco are two miles away alongside dozens of restaurants, while Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health hospitals and the Westfield Galleria at Roseville, the largest mall in the Sacramento region, are a short drive away in Roseville. "It's a fast-growing area in a hard-to-beat location," said Geoff Brown, president of USA Properties Fund. "The College Park development, from the housing to the parks and trails, will truly elevate the neighborhood around Sierra College and the entire community." The Steven is named in honor of Steven Gall, a longtime executive vice president of development and acquisitions for USA Properties Fund and an affordable housing advocate. Gall was instrumental in developing many of the company's 90 affordable apartment communities throughout the region before his retirement and passing in early 2025. "The Steven is a very appropriate and fitting way to honor Steve," commented Brown, a close friend and longtime colleague. "Steve was always a champion for affordable housing and committed to ensuring quality homes for low-income residents. Developing affordable housing was so much more than his career, it was Steve's passion, and this was one of the last projects that he worked on." The Steven will include an outdoor plaque and indoor art wall detailing Gall's optimistic outlook and his many contributions to the company and community. "We mark a profound milestone as we break ground on this affordable housing development, dedicated to the memory of Steven Gall," said Recinda Shafer, deputy executive director of Riverside Charitable Corporation. The Steven is one of the first developments in College Park, a partnership between Sierra College, Evergreen Sierra LLC and Cresleigh Homes in Placer County. "We are pleased to see continued investments in housing options that support residents at every stage of life," said Rocklin Mayor David Bass. "The Steven will provide quality housing for older adults in a location that offers convenient access to shopping, services, transportation and community amenities, helping strengthen connections and enhance the quality of life for Rocklin seniors." The $39.8 million apartment community will help address the critical shortage of affordable housing in south Placer County, where several thousand more apartments are needed for low-income residents, according to the California Housing Partnership. Many low-income renters, especially seniors, cannot find affordable housing in the community, forcing them to commute to work from outside the area or live in market-rate apartment communities and pay much higher rent, creating an ongoing financial hardship. More than half of the renters are considered cost-burdened, spending at least 30 percent of their income on housing in Placer County, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. The Steven is available to households earning 30 percent to 70 percent of the area median income for Placer County, about $27,600 for one person at the 30-percent income level to almost $92,000 for a four-person household at the 70-percent mark. Rent will range from about $739 for a one-bedroom apartment to a maximum of $2,070 for a two-bedroom unit, significantly less than nearby market-rate properties. Income limits and rent will likely increase slightly before leasing starts late next year. Apartments will include energy-efficient applications, low-flow sinks, showers and toilets, vinyl plank flooring in living areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The Steven will have 116 one-bedroom apartments and 64 two-bedroom units. The Steven will be the second affordable apartment community for USA Properties in Rocklin after completing Terracina at Whitney Ranch in late 2024. A third affordable apartment community will start construction in the next few months near Highway 65 and Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin. The company started 410 affordable units in 2025, with hundreds more slated this year, including The Steven. "I've had the chance to attend dozens of groundbreakings and grand openings with Steven, and he was always the friendliest and happiest person there," said Gregory Hand, senior vice president of investor relations for WNC. The Steven is the 27th project for WNC with USA Properties Fund. "I know that Steve will be with us in spirit when we pose for photos for The Steven, shovel in hand and with an even bigger smile than usual as his dedication and legacy carry on."