As part of the state’s multipronged strategy to reach a goal of more than one million affordable homes by 2030, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the California Department of General Services (DGS) today made another five state-owned properties available for housing development and began their search for qualified developers.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s effort to accelerate development under the Excess Land for Affordable Housing Executive Order N-06-19 (PDF) has already sparked 16 partnerships between the state, affordable housing developers and local communities to produce sustainable, innovative and cost-effective housing on state-owned excess sites. Under the order, the two departments have amassed a pipeline of more than 4,400 new homes in various stages of development.

The sites announced today could yield hundreds of homes for low-income Californians and include:

• A former office building of the Department of General Services in Fresno on a major commercial corridor with transit and the potential for providing mixed-use opportunities.
• A former office building of Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Covina within a halfmile of an LA Metrolink station in a high opportunity area.
• A single-story commercial building in Midtown Sacramento that may include the potential to expand and provide affordable options next to new high-end market-rate construction.
• A vacant California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) site in Oceanside that is part of the city’s housing element site inventory and first Caltrans excess site for housing.
• A property near the Atascadero State Hospital on this historic El Camino Real in Atascadero, which will provide more affordable homes for nearby workers and help shorten commute times.

“This state partnership between HCD and DGS leverages properties no longer needed by the state to create new affordable homes and advance California’s housing, health and climate goals,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “The majority of these new homes will be located near transit and other amenities, reducing reliance on cars, decreasing greenhouse gasses and building healthier communities.”

“With our Statewide Housing Plan calling for the creation of at least one million homes affordable to low-income Californians, this administration had to get creative in how it accelerated production and offering up state-owned property is just one of those solutions Governor Newsom rolled out early on,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “In addition to unprecedented state investment and holding local partners accountable to do their fair share, the state will continue to provide land to those ready to partner with us to address the housing crisis.”

Developers selected by HCD and DGS would receive a long-term ground lease from the state to build, own, and manage the housing they develop, subject to oversight from the state. Under the order, the two departments will continue to identify and prioritize state-owned excess sites for sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective housing.

“The identified state sites are widespread, reaching both rural and metropolitan areas,” said DGS Director Ana M. Lasso. “This shows the Administration is focused on addressing this housing emergency by working together to make housing affordable and equitable for all Californians. We’re proud to play a part in this collaboration.”

The Request for Qualifications can be found here.