345-apartment community includes a rooftop lounge, pool and spa, and an always-open, state-of-the-art gym
USA Properties Fund will begin accepting applications for The AJ, a much-anticipated mixed-use apartment community that will become the first completed project in The Railyards, the nation’s largest-ever infill development.
The high-profile Railyards district will feature shops and restaurants, offices, a Kaiser Permanente medical campus, and much-needed housing – with The AJ being the first to open.
“As people begin to move into The AJ, we will be realizing what we have been dreaming about for The Railyards,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “This is the next step in transitioning what was vacant land full of opportunities to a bustling urban neighborhood.”
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The AJ, located at 251 6th Street at the intersection of Railyards Boulevard, offers easy access to bus lines, light-rail service, interstates 5 and 80, and a short distance from the Golden 1 Center, Midtown Sacramento and many employers, including state government. The AJ also includes more than 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
“The AJ is an excellent example of what is possible from private-public partnerships and when organizations come together to help meet the housing needs of residents at a range of income levels,” said Geoff Brown, President of USA Properties.
The AJ is a partnership between LDK Ventures, the managing member of Downtown Railyard Venture, and USA Properties Fund. The $130 million project received significant assistance from the City of Sacramento, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Citi Bank Community Capital provided the construction and permanent financing.
“The Railyards is a landmark project that will soon become a vibrant neighborhood,” said Denton Kelley, Managing Principal of LDK Ventures. “The AJ ushers in a new era for The Railyards, and a new chapter for Sacramento.”
The 345-apartment community includes 69 affordable homes. Residents who earn 50% or less of the area median income for Sacramento County – currently $35,500 for a one-person household – are eligible for the affordable apartments at The AJ.
USA Properties Fund will begin accepting applications for the affordable apartments at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, and Wednesday, April 12, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 20 Advantage Court in Sacramento. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and residents must bring documents to verify their income.
Applications for market-rate apartments will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
The first phase of apartments will be available around June 1, with a second phase opening in August.
A COMMUNITY FOR ‘EVERYONE’
All residents, regardless of their income, will enjoy a long list of amenities in their apartments and throughout the community named for A.J. Stevens, a community leader and legendary Southern Pacific Master Mechanic who worked in The Railyards in the 1870s and 1880s.
“The AJ is a home for everyone,” said Brown of USA Properties.
Amenities include an always-open, state-of-the-art gym and a sky lounge with a rooftop observation deck with fire tables, gas grills, TVs and dining areas. The AJ also includes a pool and spa with private cabanas; bike storage with a repair station; a pet spa; flexible workspaces and telephone rooms. A secure parking garage with 16 EV-charging stations is available for residents.
The apartments – studio, one- and two-bedroom homes – will offer energy-efficient, stainless-steel appliances; designer finishes such as two-tone cabinetry; quartz countertops; ceiling fans; rainfall showerheads; full-size washers and dryers; and walk-in closets. Ground-floor apartments will feature stained concrete floors with vinyl wood-plank floors and carpet on the other floors of the five-level building. Apartments will also feature smart lock access (keyless entry) and touchscreen displays will allow residents to see deliveries and visitors.
“The AJ will be a very unique, distinctive community,” Brown said.
Indeed, the apartment community will feature artwork that honors Stevens, who oversaw the building of Southern Pacific’s locomotives and rail cars in The Railyards. Local artist Cheyenne Randall is creating a mural of Stevens for The AJ.
“The AJ is a one-of-a-kind community in a first-of-its-kind development,” said Kelley of LDK Ventures. “We’re proud to honor the legacy of a community leader and railroad visionary while bringing new housing and energy to a historic district.”