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Downtown Fresno Master Plan: Mogavero Architects’ Vision for Affordable Housing with the Fresno Housing Authority

Mogavero Architects is excited to collaborate with the Fresno Housing Authority, one of California’s most proactive developers, on a transformative project aimed at revitalizing downtown Fresno. The Housing Authority has taken the important first step in aggregating a series of parcels adjacent to its offices, which includes four lots (A, B, C, D), with Lot D receiving dedicated infrastructure funding for parking. This strategic location is central to the city’s ongoing zoning initiatives, which seek to rejuvenate Fulton Street with a mix of uses and vibrant streetscapes. Our team has developed two distinct options for the Master Plan, each designed to enhance affordable housing in the area: Option 1: Balanced Density Projects: 6 Housing Units: 379 Parking Spaces: 194-250 Option 2: Increased Density Projects: 4 Housing Units: 442 Parking Spaces: 269-325 These plans prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency, featuring building orientations optimized for southern exposure to maximize natural light. The Fresno Housing Authority has shown particular interest in initiating the first phase of development on the site of the old CVS building, leveraging infrastructure dollars in a manner unprecedented in California’s current housing landscape. Meet the Team Behind the Project Leading this significant effort is Lisa Halpin, the Project Manager, alongside Craig Stradley, the Principal in Charge. Lisa will be sharing insights on this project at the upcoming San Joaquin Valley Housing Conference in Visalia on September 12th. She will moderate a panel titled “Bridging the Gap: Infilling Downtown with Affordable Housing Partnerships,” where the Fresno Housing Authority Master Plan will be a key topic of discussion. Joining Lisa on the panel will be: Michael Duarte, Director, Real Estate Development and Property Management, Fresno Housing Authority Kristin Ainley, Senior Project Manager, Self-Help Enterprises Dan Zack, President and Principal Urban Planner, Zack Urban Solutions Additionally, the panel will explore the success of The Lofts at Fort Visalia, another infill development by Mogavero Architects, demonstrating the impact of innovative urban planning in the San Joaquin Valley. Stay tuned as we continue to work towards bringing these visionary plans to life, ensuring that downtown Fresno thrives with affordable housing opportunities.

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70 Affordable Housing Units Coming to Chico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw9JcKCzaP4 Located at the intersection of Bar Triangle Street and Robaily Drive in Chico, CA, Bar Triangle Apartments is a forthcoming multi-family residential community designed to provide affordable housing for low-income families. This project is a collaborative effort between the Housing Authority of the County of Butte and the City of Chico.  Developed by the Affordable Housing Development Corporation (AHDC), designed by Mogavero Architects and constructed by Sunseri Construction, we are excited to see this important new development come to life.  The development will feature 70 units, including one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, with one unit designated for an on-site manager. All units are reserved for individuals earning between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), ensuring these homes remain accessible to those in need. A 2,802-square-foot community building is also part of the project, featuring a multipurpose room with television and video capabilities, a kitchen, restroom facilities, and office space for management. The site will include a centrally located recreational area with walkways, barbecue/picnic spots, a tot lot, and open spaces designed for outdoor enjoyment. Bar Triangle Apartments received all necessary entitlements, including a Site Plan Review Amendment and a Density Bonus from the City of Chico in early 2022. The City of Chico has committed over $14 million through a CDBG-DR Loan, and the project secured low-income housing tax credits in Spring 2024. Construction began in May 2024, with the affordable apartments set to be available in Winter 2025. Drone footage of the construction progress, provided by Sunseri Construction, beautifully captures the scale and progress of this impactful project.

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Celebrating 40 Years of Design: A timeline of Mogavero Architects

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Mogavero Architects Announces New President

As local community leaders in sustainable design, and innovative architectural solutions, we are proud to announce the appointment of Renner Johnston as the new President of our organization. For more than two decades, Renner has been integral to our practice, leading design teams from concept to construction, managing internal operations, and driving business development. In his new role, Renner will work together with the other leaders our firm to strategically position the company for future growth and innovation. “Every day, I collaborate with incredibly talented people to tackle one of California’s most pressing challenges: creating more sustainable housing. I love working with clients to bring beautiful concepts to life, where families and students create their own communities,” Renner stated. Founded 40 years ago by David Mogavero, our firm has always been rooted in the core values of creating sustainable, human-centered design. “We achieve this by embracing fresh perspectives that drive innovation and elevate the quality of our work,” David said. David has been an invaluable leader and will continue to contribute to the architectural design aspect of our business. “Bringing innovative design and the community together is more important than ever—and that’s what we do best,” David remarked. Here at Mogavero Architects we pride ourselves on having a diverse team united by a shared passion for improving communities through design. This diversity fosters a wealth of ideas and perspectives that enhance the firm’s ability to create inclusive and innovative solutions. Official Press Release here. For a timeline of Mogavero Milestones over the past 40 years click here!

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Grand Opening of Lowden Lane Apartments

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of Lowden Lane Apartments, an ecologically-minded, accessible housing community designed for residents aged 62 and older. This affordable senior living development features 97 thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom units spread across 4.93 acres. With 83 one-bedroom units and 14 two-bedroom units, including a manager’s residence, Lowden Lane Apartments is set to become a vibrant, supportive community. Located in the southeast quadrant of Redding, California, Lowden Lane Apartments offers easy access to essential amenities such as transit, supermarkets, and pharmacies, ensuring convenience for daily needs. All units are reserved for qualified senior citizens with incomes ranging from 30-60% of the area median income, making it a truly inclusive community. The architectural design of Lowden Lane complements the surrounding neighborhood and natural landscape, preserving existing trees to create a charming “village in the woods” atmosphere. Residents will enjoy a range of on-site amenities, including an exercise room, gathering spaces, and lush surrounding foliage. We are proud to contribute to Redding’s housing landscape with Lowden Lane Apartments, providing affordable, sustainable, and community-oriented living for seniors. Thank you to the Affordable Housing Development Corporation for bringing this much-needed project to life.

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Mogavero Architects Celebrates Permit Approval for San Juan Apartments

Mogavero Architects is thrilled to announce that we have received permits for the highly anticipated San Juan Apartments on Stockton Boulevard in south Sacramento. This milestone brings us closer to realizing a transformative affordable housing project in partnership with Mutual Housing, aimed at serving low-income seniors and families. Funded in part by a $2.5 million Prohousing Incentive Pilot grant from the state and a $22.67 million loan from the City and County of Sacramento, San Juan Apartments will offer 113 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for renters earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. The development will include amenities such as a playground, swimming pool, landscaped courtyards, and a community room with a kitchen, designed to foster a vibrant community atmosphere. Breaking ground in July, with leasing expected to begin in early 2026, this project is a significant step in revitalizing the Stockton Boulevard corridor. Councilmember Eric Guerra, who has championed this project since 2015, and Mayor Darrell Steinberg have both emphasized the importance of this development in providing much-needed affordable housing and rejuvenating a previously blighted area. Mutual Housing, has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. Their dedication to creating inclusive, community-focused housing aligns perfectly with our mission at Mogavero Architects. Sacramento’s proactive approach in earning the state’s first Prohousing designation has been crucial in facilitating this project. The City’s strategies, including fee waivers for affordable housing and streamlined approvals, align with our vision at Mogavero Architects of creating sustainable, inclusive communities. We are proud to contribute to this vital project alongside Mutual Housing and look forward to seeing the positive impact San Juan Apartments will have on the community.

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How the 2024 CEBC Update Enables California Office Conversions 

The COVID-19 pandemic left a crater-sized hole in downtown office markets across the country and yet the reckoning is far from over. Vacancies are up, values are down and many assets inch closer to a painful refinance or possibly foreclosure. Can this market shift create opportunity for buyers and developers? A pending update to the California Existing Building Code looks to move the needle on the feasibility of Office to Residential conversions but will it be enough? Download our White Paper that explains these changes to learn more: Office Conversion White Paper (click to download) For over forty years, Mogavero Architects has designed buildings and communities with the goal to inspire sustainability and create places with meaning. Our award winning architecture, planning and urban design services have been provided to clients throughout California in small towns and intensely urban settings.  As skilled facilitators and outreach consultants, we assist clients in project communications and approvals, gain support for controversial projects, and let community thought inform our designs. Mogavero Architects’ LEED accredited professionals dedication to green, sustainable design has been demonstrated on projects since its inception. For a broad variety of economic, social and environmental reasons the practice focuses on dense urban infill mixed use projects. Our firm’s founders pioneered cutting edge, green building with an emphasis on passive heating and cooling and ventilation systems, daylighting and other natural conservation systems. Mogavero Architects assess the context of the building on the site, position in the neighborhood, contribution to the built environment, and future purpose. Materials, methods, and technologies are continually evaluated with an eye towards enduring value, efficiency and acclaimed design. We thrive on complex projects that involve many product types, financing sources, and stakeholders.

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Erin Reschke Appointed to Planning Commission

Kudos and congratulations to Erin Reschke on being appointed to the City of Sacramento Planning Commission! Erin’s longstanding commitment to fostering positive change within our community is invaluable. She brings a unique breadth of knowledge to the table and joins a prestigious legacy of Mogavero Architects who have had a hand in shaping our great city while in this role: Alix Ogilvie, and the late Michael Notestine who dedicated 21 years to the planning commission. Erin has actively participated in the transformation and growth of our city as an architect and Sacramentan for over 20 years. She has worked with over a dozen planning and development agencies across the state allowing her to work with various zoning codes and people in leadership roles at California cities. Erin’s dedication to sustainability is evident in her personal and professional life. A year-round bicycle commuter and former co-housing resident Erin lives her values. She has spent time in various realms of advocacy in Sacramento including responsible infill development, active transportation, affordable housing, urban agriculture, nature connection and green building in a carbon-constrained future. Erin is eager to bring her unique background and insights to the planning commission. Sacramento has made significant strides to increase affordable housing construction through a ministerial process. This has allowed projects that effectively meet code standards to bypass political interference. Therefore, The planning commission can focus on more varied and pressing matters including local general plan, specific plans, rezonings, use permits and subdivisions. Congrats, Erin!

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Sacramento’s Housing Renaissance: Breaking Down Barriers for Affordable Living

The Mogavero team is back in Sacramento after an inspiring 3 days in Long Beach at the Housing California Annual Conference. We were privileged to be surrounded by California’s most ardent advocates for affordable housing and to connect with our cherished clients and friends. Housing CA provides an impressive array of educational sessions, practical workshops and most importantly a space for hope and new ideas to approach California’s largest crisis. A recurring theme of the week was identifying ways to remove the many barriers to affordable housing throughout the state. Sacramento is leading the way with its proactive and promising approach utilizing a “more of everything” housing strategy. This sentiment was echoed in a recent SF Chronicle article which identified some key changes Sacramento has implemented to streamline the process.  Arguably, the most important change has been removing the politics from the building approval process. Instead, decisions are made by planning staff through a “ministerial” process, meaning if the building complies with code, it’s automatically approved. As a result, Sacramento is experiencing a higher rate of housing construction per capita than any other region in California. Several of our projects are a direct result of this change; 1212 Del Paso, Salvator Apartments on Arden Way, and San Juan Apartments and 4995 Stockton on Stockton Blvd, to name a few. As Sacramento continues to grow, it is heartening to see some of the obstacles to building affordable housing removed. With several projects on the horizon, we are proud to be involved in the Renaissance of Housing happening here in Sacramento. Salvator Apartments San Juan Apartments 1212 Del Paso

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The Lofts at Fort Visalia Grand Opening

Self-Help Enterprises and Mogavero Architect’s new 80-unit multifamily affordable housing complex, The Lofts at Fort Visalia, opened on December 7th. The grand opening celebration included an incredible reception that attracted community members, new residents, artists, historical society members and many stakeholders who had a hand in bringing to life this much-needed affordable housing community to the City of Visalia. The Lofts, located at 340 East Oak Avenue, are situated on the site of the first building in Visalia, the Fort, built by early settlers in the region. The historical significance of the site and the importance of preserving its integrity was essential to both the Visalia Historical Society and the development team. Prior to construction, the site was radar scanned and excavated for potential historic remnants. More Recently, the Arts Consortium of Visalia and My Voice Media Center had been occupying the site, both of which, along with the Historical Society, would be included in the reimagined Lofts at Fort Visalia. While no official artifacts of the early days at the Fort were found, the Mogavero team was motivated to honor the historical influence of the site.  Thus, the design and materials selection were thoughtfully curated to reflect this narrative.  For example, the team paid homage to the Fort by integrating a sculptured log wall at the main entrance.  This log wall is an artistic interpretative piece, retelling the past and mimicking what once stood. Considering the site’s more recent history as an active creative and exhibit space for the Consortium, there was a strong emphasis on maintaining their influence. Artists’ lofts and studio spaces have 11-foot ceilings, to take advantage of natural light.  An art walk along the street with elevated terraces allows for open house events on special occasions. In addition, there are two large murals within the courtyard space that speak to both the artistic and historical significance of the complex. The goal was to create an inclusive community where artists and residents commingle and celebrate the sense of community and belonging. The Historical Society of Visalia was an incredible resource throughout the project. Not only did we strive to encapsulate the Fort’s history within the design, but a museum space was also set up to provide the group with an opportunity to display original tellings of the past. A diorama of the original fort, historic photos of that time and information about the town of Visalia are housed here. The Lofts is a precedent-setting development for Visalia, spanning almost an entire city block and fully immersed in the downtown landscape, pointing a way forward for the whole region. Thank you to Self-Help Enterprises, the Historical Society of Visalia and the Arts Consortium of Visalia for helping us bring our vision to life, it was an honor to be a part of the team.