America’s first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, connecting Truckee to the Bay Area. Truckee was an important lumber resource for the local mining industry and much of California.
While the Truckee area has developed into a world-class resort destination, downtown Truckee has retained the charming architecture of its early history. The Truckee Railyard Project will utilize the old lumber and rail yards to create a blend of modern and historic Truckee architecture.
Truckee Railyard Project
The Truckee Railyard project has taken over 15 years of planning and approval but is finally moving forward. It envisions a community of 600 homes with different retail, artist lofts, and a mix of affordable and market-rate units.
Located at the east end of downtown Truckee, this 38-acre property will utilize the old lumber and rail yards as a canvas for retail, restaurants, movie and performing venues, and housing.
The project consists of modular units constructed in Mare Island in Vallejo and shipped over Donner Pass to Truckee. View the Truckee Railyard Plan.
Affordable Artist Lofts
Like most resort destinations, Truckee has struggled with affordable housing for its workforce. The Railyard Project offers many affordable housing units to help with this issue.
The first of this project’s offerings is the Artist Lofts, 76 low-income units designed for local artists. The Truckee Artist Lofts (TAL) will be a mixed-use, affordable housing community for local creatives and the local workforce.
The community includes 76 income-restricted rental apartments, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, with ground-floor commercial/retail space. The artist units will target a range of incomes, with the cheapest studio going for about $400 a month and the largest three-bedroom for about $1,500.
Availability is dependent upon income limits, which is great for struggling artists. They are currently still accepting rental applications, especially from households in the 40% and 50% income range ($25,000 to $31,000). For more information on applying for residency, please click here.
Construction Schedule
The Market Square Truckee is a daily needs retail/mixed-use shopping district that will be in the south area of the railyard. New Moon Natural Foods will anchor the project in a 20,000-square-foot building. This popular and organic market will also have a restaurant area.
Phase One (Old Truckee Lumberyard) was the former home of Truckee Tahoe Lumber, which is relocating to the airport area. Phase One will be a rebuild of the lumber storage buildings, with a surrounding public space on Church Street.
The older timber structure will become home to a major restaurant and bar. The larger steel structure will become a two-level building, offering food and beverages with retail and professional units on the ground floor.
Phase Two will also include 40 affordable housing units, four loft townhouses, and 40 affordable apartments. It will also feature a wedding and events center.
The Church Street extension and Glenshire Drive roundabout should be completed in 2023. The Old Lumber Yard (Phase One) is scheduled to begin in 2024. The Market Square will follow in late 2024.
Contact me today for more information about the Truckee housing market.
