The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Department of General Services (DGS) today celebrated the grand opening of the Reedley affordable housing development, Guardian Village.

The departments also released a video (below) highlighting the late 2024 groundbreaking for a new Sacramento affordable housing community at 440 Arden Way that will provide 124 affordable apartment homes.

Both developments—located on former armory sites—are part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s effort to increase housing availability under the Excess Land for Affordable Housing Executive Order N-06-19. Under the order, the two departments identified and prioritized excess state-owned properties for sustainable, innovative, and cost-effective housing projects.

“We celebrate not just the opening of doors for those in need of affordable housing but also our commitment to maximizing the use of excess land to create vibrant communities,” said DGS Director Ana Lasso.

“Governor Newsom’s excess sites order has inspired the creative reuse of properties like these former armories to help meet California’s critical housing need,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “As cities and counties follow the state’s example and identify their usable surplus land, opportunities to develop affordable housing multiply, furthering our mission to ensure safe, quality housing for Californians at all income levels.” 

The Guardian Village development celebrated today was built on the former Reedley Armory at 601 East 11th Street in Fresno County. The site had been identified as excess to the needs of the California Military Department and was selected as suitable for the development of affordable housing.

The 48-unit, 60,581-square foot project sits on a two-acre site and was developed by Self-Help Enterprises comprising two- and three-story residential apartment buildings. Features include energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and washer/dryer hookups, plus a community gathering building, playground, dog park, and picnic area.

The state provided nearly $5 million in loans and grants, through HCD. DGS also provided a 99-year ground lease to Self-Help Enterprises for $1 per year for the two-acre parcel for the development, valued at $700,000.

The project on Arden Way in Sacramento is an exemplary model of the state and city working together to ensure housing for all Californians, as the site comprises a 1.25-acre shuttered military armory and a quarter-acre site donated by the City of Sacramento. The homes will range from one to three bedrooms, and 31 of the units will be reserved for individuals and families at risk of homelessness.