The completion of Sierra Gateway Apartments marked one of the first steps to establish a new, education-oriented community in one of the fastest growing cities in California.
The 195-unit project near Sierra College in Rocklin was a decade in the making as the developers — the Ezralow Co. and architect MVE + Partners — navigated headwinds like lawsuits and negative press before delivering the project last year.
The development team's creative solutions to address construction and environmental impacts in part earned it a 2024 CoStar Impact Award, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
Construction of the project was delayed in 2021 due to economic challenges, but it was completed and received its certificate of occupancy in January 2023.
Jessup University, Rocklin's other college, has a mixed-use project currently under development. The project dubbed "Union Square" is looking to add retail and hospitality to the growing city.
About the Project: Developers the Ezralow Co. and MVE + Partners completed the 194,000-square-foot multifamily project at 5180 Rocklin Road near Sierra College in Rocklin.
What the Judges Said: "The public-private partnership and support from the City of Rocklin was compelling," said Troels Adrian, executive vice president of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
They Made it Happen: Stacey White, asset manager at First Pointe Management Group; Molly Jobson, regional manager at First Pointe Management Group; Sid Paul, vice president of acquisitions at First Point Management Group; Darren Horning, senior vice president at First Pointe Management Group; Gary Whitesides, principle and director of construction at First Pointe Management Group; Laura Lipps, property manager at First Point Management Group; and Erick Rivas, associate partner at MVE + Partners.
CoStar Market Manager Brian Feller contributed.
This article was updated on Aug. 8 to correct that the property did not reach 95% occupancy within the first 30 days of leasing.