345-apartment community includes 69 affordable homes and all residents will enjoy a long list of amenities, including a rooftop lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a pool and spa with cabanas
USA Properties Fund has started leasing The A.J., the first mixed-use apartment community in The Railyards, the nation’s largest infill development that will include live entertainment, shops and restaurants – and the much-anticipated Kaiser Permanente medical center and a new soccer stadium for Sacramento Republic FC.
The A.J. – located at 251 6th Street at the intersection of Railyards Boulevard – is close to bus lines, light-rail service, interstates 5 and 80, and a short drive to the Golden 1 Center, Midtown Sacramento and many major employers, including state government offices. The A.J. also includes more than 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
The A.J. is accepting tour appointments and applications at liveattheaj.com.
“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 Roseville-based USA Properties Fund, one of the largest affordable developer-manager-owners in the West.
“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 A.J. Apartments
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Introducing … The A.J.
Public-private partnership made the $130 million development possible
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 (SHRA). Citi Bank Community Capital provided the construction and permanent financing.
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.
“This project allowed SHRA to play its role in administering the city’s affordable housing ordinance, which increases opportunities for individuals and families to be part of Sacramento’s growing, thriving communities,” said Executive Director La Shelle Dozier.
Rent for lower-income residents will range from $1,010 for a studio to $1,340 for a two-bedroom unit.
Applications for the affordable apartments are accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis, and residents must bring documents to verify their income.
The affordable apartments will likely be leased soon, since Sacramento has one of the highest percentages of cost-burdened households for renters in California – and a critical shortage of affordable apartments for lower-income residents, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
USA Properties has also started leasing the 276 market-rate apartments. Market-rate rents start at $1,715 for studios with one-bedroom apartments at $1,839. Two-bedroom homes start at $2,795. Rents for market-place apartments are subject to change.
The first residents of The A.J. could start moving in by the end of April.
Sky lounge includes a rooftop observation deck with fire tables, gas grills, dining areas and TVs
A.J. residents, regardless of their income, will enjoy a long list of amenities, including an always-open, 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; flexible workstation; and a secure parking garage with EV charging stations.
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 will also enjoy smart-lock access (keyless entry), smart thermostats and the ability to check on deliveries and visitors from screens in their home.
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.
“The A.J. is an example of what is possible when public entities and the private sector work together to address housing needs of the community,” Brown said. “We’re proud to be part of the solution – and The Railyards.”