Roseville Sells Downtown Land for Senior Housing

The Roseville City Council voted unanimously to sell downtown land to Eden Housing for $580,000. The nonprofit developer plans to build 58 affordable housing units for seniors on the 1.17-acre site.

Eden Housing, one of California's largest affordable housing nonprofits, will acquire two parcels near the Roseville Public Library and Royer Park. The sale is scheduled to finalize in January 2027. The proposed project, named Creekside Seniors at Royer, would include studio and one-bedroom apartments for seniors earning between 30% and 60% of the area's median income.

Charles Liuzzo, Eden Housing's real estate director, expressed confidence in securing financing. There's going to be trials and tribulations with financing affordable housing, but we feel good about this site and we're going to make it happen as soon as we can, Liuzzo said at the council meeting.

Site History and Development Plans

The main parcel at 505 Royer Street has been vacant for over a decade. It previously housed the Placer County courthouse until 2009. The county sold the property to Roseville in 2014. The city initially considered renovating the building but later deemed upgrades too costly. Roseville demolished the structure in 2019, declaring the land surplus for future private development.

Affordable housing plans for the site have stalled before. The city previously contracted with another developer, but those plans collapsed when funding could not be secured.

The current agreement does not legally bind Eden Housing to build affordable housing. A property covenant will require that at least 15% of units be affordable if ten or more residences are built, in line with state and local law. However, the company could develop a mixed-use project or even sell the land without building anything.

Council Concerns and Next Steps

Councilmember Bruce Houdesheldt supported the sale but voiced concern about past failures. "There was an affordable housing project there that didn't come to fruition," Houdesheldt said. "It's a beautiful site. I would hope that comes to fruition in the future."

After the land purchase is complete, Eden Housing must secure multiple approvals, building permits, and funding sources before construction can begin. The developer's 2025 proposal suggests residential construction could potentially start in 2029. The adjacent parcel at 300 Taylor Street is planned for use as a residential parking lot.

Eden Housing's portfolio primarily serves low- and middle-income households. The organization currently has one affordable housing complex under construction in Sacramento.