The Town of Truckee continues to show impressive leadership in regional affordable housing construction. Currently under construction, Truckee Artist Lofts is a mixed-use, affordable housing community for artists and local workforce, located within the Truckee Railyard Project in downtown Truckee. The 4-story project will include 76 income-restricted rental apartments, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, and 3,735 SF of ground floor commercial/retail space.
Intended as a place for creative individuals and households to live, work, learn and collaborate with one another, the building and units include features specifically designed for Truckee-area artists. The common areas include an Art Room, Band Room, and outdoor common terrace with a BBQ picnic area overlooking views of the Truckee mountains. On-Site parking, Laundry Facilities, and the unique mix of ground floor commercial/retail space will make Truckee Artist Lofts a unique live/work/play environment. The units will target a range of incomes, with the least expensive at $400 monthly and the largest three-bedroom for about $1,500.
The proximity to downtown will help extend Truckee’s sense of community and contribute to the overall vibrancy and utility of the broader Truckee Railyard site. As a critical component of The Truckee Railyard redevelopment plan, the project anchors the Phase 1 Downtown Extension of the master plan which calls for housing, recreation, and civic uses combined in a mixed-use, dense, and walkable place. Growth in the full-time population and local economy has created immense unmet demand for workforce housing, live/workspace, office space, and multiple use community spaces. Building upon the sense of community and attraction of the tourist economy, The Artist Lofts project is placed at the Gateway to the Tahoe region.
The Project was approved by the Town in May 2016. The Town contributed $1,650,000 to the project. Currently, Truckee Artist Lofts is under construction and is set to begin leasing in April 2021.
Sustainability Benefits
Located on an infill site in easy walking distance to downtown businesses and public transit, this project is an example of strategically positioning higher density housing near downtown and public transit. When residents can do errands or commute without a private vehicle, the result can be a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Truckee Artist Loft is on track to reach the Gold level certification with the Green Point Rated (https://greenpointrated.com/ ) green building program, “creating a better environment from the inside out” by implementing a variety of green features including:
- Exceed energy code by 10%
- Job site construction waste diversion
- Green roof with resource efficient landscape
- Insulation with recycled content and no fire retardants
- Water efficient fixtures
- Solar Thermal hot water
- Environmentally preferred flooring
- Energy Star Appliances
- High efficacy lighting
- Universal Design Principals
Truckee Artist Lofts was envisioned and conceptualized by the late Ali Youssefi, a prominent Sacramento area developer credited with dynamic impact on Sacramento’s downtown revitalization. CFY Development, Egis Group, and Holliday Development are committed to ensuring his vision to bring affordable, workforce housing to the Town of Truckee, is realized. Lowney Architecture based in Oakland is project architect. In addition to the $28 million loft complex, the developer has invested $30 million in new infrastructure. The project, expected to open in April, is being built with modular units from Factory OS on Mare Island in Vallejo and trucked over the Donner Pass.
