Local

Eleven projects showcasing Modesto's housing transformation

The articles all detail how Modesto is experiencing significant changes in its housing landscape, with various public and private projects aiming to boost affordable and supportive housing, revitalize downtown, and reshape community spaces.

Modesto uses state and local funding to convert former hotels, like the Clarion Inn and El Capitan Motel, into low-cost apartments for people with limited incomes, veterans, and those supported by behavioral health services. The city builds new complexes such as Jenny’s Place, offering permanent housing for those coming out of homelessness, with targeted support for young adults. City leaders approve and plan a six-story apartment building downtown, aiming to make the city’s center more walkable and dense. These housing projects often include community amenities, like clinics, dining areas, and gardens, helping residents stabilize their lives. Projects like Dignity Village combine housing with behavioral and health services for homeless adults, with the goal of transitioning them to permanent housing. Alongside housing, city officials consider mixed-use developments tied to large projects, such as new entertainment districts anchored by a soccer stadium. These plans include options for market-rate and subsidized housing, and provoke conversations about infrastructure, traffic, and the impact on existing neighborhoods. Local agencies respond to the population growth by proposing higher development fees to maintain services like fire protection. Together, these efforts show how Modesto leverages creative partnerships and state resources to address housing shortages, support vulnerable residents, and reshape neighborhoods.

Stanislaus County is working with San Francisco-based nonprofit DignityMoves and Modesto on a $3 million project for 42 units of interim housing for homeless people on city-owned land at Ninth and D streets. The site is pictured Tuesday, June 25, 2024. While construction has not yet started, the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 1: STANISLAUS COUNTY HIRES CONTRACTOR TO MANAGE INTERIM HOUSING COMPLEX FOR MODESTO’S HOMELESS

Dignity Village Modesto is planned as a 42-unit interim housing center at 402 Ninth St. | Published July 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ken Carlson

Luis Felipe Fernandes (96) and his Sacramento Republic FC teammates celebrate following his score in overtime against the San Jose Earthquakes in a U.S. Open Cup game on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Heart Health Park in Sacramento. By José Luis Villegas

NO. 2: MEN’S AND WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAMS COULD COME TO MODESTO, PLUS A NEW STADIUM

The Modesto City Council at its Tuesday meeting will consider entering into letter of intent with United Soccer League. | Published September 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kevin Valine

Crossroads West housing development in Riverbank, Calif., Wednesday, August 16, 2023. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 3: LARGE STANISLAUS COUNTY DISTRICT PROPOSES HIGHER FEES AS GROWTH PUTS PRESSURE ON SERVICES

Will the fees cover cost of fire station at Crossroads West in Riverbank? | Published November 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ken Carlson

Modesto is working with Stockton-based Visionary Home Builders on an affordable housing development of 79 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The ground floor of the six-story building would be for commercial space. Modesto and Visionary will seek state funding for the project.

NO. 4: MODESTO COMPLETES FUNDING FOR SIX-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING DOWNTOWN. WHEN WILL IT OPEN?

Officials hope Seventh Street Village will inspire more dense housing in the core. | Published December 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by John Holland

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Stanislaus County officials are processing an application for a 145-acre industrial and warehouse development on the north side of Kiernan Avenue at Dale Road north of Modesto, Calif. Photographed on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 5: SCANNELL WAREHOUSE PROJECT ON KIERNAN AVENUE WANTS TO BE PART OF MODESTO. WHAT TO KNOW

“If the intention of the city of Modesto is to annex the land, then they have a fight on their hands from Salida.” | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ken Carlson

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Modesto City Councilmember Nick Bavarro speaks at at a public workshop Wednesday, March 26, 2025, that included updates on bringing a professional soccer team and stadium to Modesto.

NO. 6: A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM, AND A STADIUM, ARE DEFINITELY COMING TO MODESTO, CITY SAYS

Where the stadium will be built comes down to two locations | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Trevor Morgan Quinton Hamilton

West Modesto housing and the former municipal golf course in Modesto, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 7: SOCCER STADIUM COULD TRANSFORM WEST MODESTO. NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT IT

“I think you have to put real consideration how we’re going to change the lives of those people who are just living in their single-family dwellings right now.” | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julietta Bisharyan

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An 81-unit senior housing project won City Council approval in Ceres, Calif., on April 28, 2025 By City of Ceres

NO. 8: CERES APPROVES 81 SENIOR APARTMENTS. SITE OF 4-STORY BUILDING HAS NOTABLE HISTORY

“I know that our city needs places for people to get older,” Councilmember James Casey said | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Holland

Jenny’s Place in Modesto, Thursday, May 29, 2025. The housing project at the refurbished Travelers Motel on Ninth Street. The 54-unit former motel provides permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and is named for former Modesto City councilmember Jenny Kenoyer. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 9: MODESTO CELEBRATES OPENING OF HOUSING PROJECT AIMED AT COMBATING HOMELESSNESS

The complex is named after the late City Councilmember Jenny Kenoyer and provides residents with amenities including a mattress, refrigerator, bathroom and closet. | Published June 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Navtej Hundal

Guests walk through one of the 144 studio apartments during the grand opening of the 1612 Apartments at the Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority headquarters on Sisk Road in Modesto, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 10: CLARION INN IN MODESTO NOW HAS 143 LOW-COST APARTMENTS. CHECK OUT THE FOOD VENDOR

The hotel opened as a Holiday Inn in 1973 and later became Red Lion. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Holland

El Captain Motel in Modesto, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. By Andy Alfaro

NO. 11: UPDATE: MODESTO LANDS $17.9M TO TURN ANOTHER OLD MOTEL INTO LOW-COST HOMES

The project will house 24 veterans and the same number of mental health clients. | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by John Holland

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.