The City of West Sacramento is on the receiving end of a hefty $43.35 million grant from the State of California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, officials announced earlier this month. The funds are earmarked to propel several projects within the city that not only promise to expand affordable housing options but also to complement the city’s infrastructure with sustainable transportation solutions. In a move that exhibits a focused approach on climate-sensitive growth and broadening access to lower-income homes, the city is set to bring about substantial changes to the Grand Gateway area and beyond, according to the City of West Sacramento.
The AHSC grant breaks down into significant allotments where the lion’s share, $28.35 million, is designated for the Grand Gateway Affordable Housing Development. This initiative is poised to erect 114 new affordable housing units, catering to varying income levels based on Area Median Income. Here, a mix of one to three-bedroom dwellings will grow over an 8.6-acre parcel of city-owned land. The sustainable transportation component takes home $14.5 million, funding that will enable the procurement of electric streetcar vehicles and augment existing transit infrastructures, such as bicycle and pedestrian paths, as well as bus stops. In addition, a further $500,000 will back community programs aimed at assisting low-income households with owner-occupied property rehabilitations.
Mayor Martha Guerrero expressed the city’s commitment to its vision of responsible expansion, asserting that “This award represents a generational investment in West Sacramento’s future.” In her remarks, captured by the City of West Sacramento’s press release, Guerrero saw this as the fusion of “With this funding, we are advancing a project that combines deeply affordable housing with modern, sustainable transportation infrastructure. It is exactly the kind of community-building investment that helps our city grow responsibly while improving quality of life for residents.” City Councilmember Quirina Orozco underlined the significance of regional cooperation in this venture, emphasizing that securing the full award amount “Securing the full award amount is a testament to the strength of our regional partnerships and the clarity of our vision.”…