241-unit Monarch affordable housing project nears full height on Sacramento’s R Street
One of the largest affordable housing projects under construction in Sacramento’s R Street Corridor is now close to reaching its full height.
When we visited the site this week, the five-story structure was largely framed, with crews working on the upper floors as materials were lifted into place by a tower crane.
The project, known as Monarch, is rising on what was once a state-owned storage warehouse site, part of the state’s effort to build housing on excess public land. The structure is approximately 197,934 square feet, and will deliver 241 affordable housing units and 3,428 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.
The unit mix includes 82 studios, 136 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit. Rents will be restricted for households earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income. Twenty units will be set aside for people transitioning out of homelessness or struggling to stay housed.
Aerial video showing the latest construction progress at Monarch, captured Feb. 12, 2026.
The building occupies nearly the entire half-block site between the 8th and 9th streets, with framing wrapping around what will become interior courtyards and outdoor amenity areas. The building includes 16,369 square feet of private and public outdoor space, featuring a resident courtyard, event courtyard, corner plaza, and patio decks for street-level live/work units. The project also provides 36 vehicle parking spaces accessed from Quill Alley, along with up to 264 long-term secured bicycle parking spaces and 40 short-term racks.
Monarch is a partnership between Mutual Housing California and the Capitol Area Community Development Corporation. Mutual Housing California is serving as the developer and will manage the property upon completion. The estimated total development cost is approximately $120 million and includes tax-exempt bond financing and federal and state tax credits.
Construction is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2027. With framing now largely built out, Monarch is the latest addition to the R Street Corridor’s transformation from an industrial warehouse district into a mix of housing, retail, and creative space. Like several neighboring buildings that were once storage or manufacturing sites, the property is being repurposed for residential use while maintaining the corridor’s industrial character.
