Mutual Housing California and the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA) were thrilled to announce the collaboration of 30 talented graffiti artists for a unique, community graffiti jam event, “Transforming Sacramento.” This exciting 3-day event took place over Labor Day Weekend, starting at 8 AM on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 805 R Street, and ended at 2 PM each day, concluding on Monday, September 2, 2024. A small program and celebration were held at noon on September 2nd to honor the artists, event partners, and the upcoming affordable housing project being developed at this location under Governor Newsom’s Excess Site Program for affordable housing development.
Event Highlights
The event celebrated the dynamic art form of graffiti and transformed the entire building at 805 R Street into a vibrant canvas showcasing the unique styles of select local artists with a range of techniques and decades of experience. The community was warmly invited to participate as spectators and engaged in hands-on instruction and painting with these talented and knowledgeable artists.
The theme of the event was transformation, consistent with the State’s Excess Site Program and its transformative focus on providing housing on vacant and underutilized properties. It also aligned with the work of CADA, its nonprofit development arm, the Capitol Area Community Development Corporation (CACDC), and Mutual Housing in cultivating community and providing affordable housing options. The future affordable housing development, called the Monarch, symbolized the way affordable, quality housing changes lives, much like a caterpillar transforms into a monarch butterfly. In line with the theme of transformation, the front of the building was adorned with hundreds of monarch butterflies made from vivid transparencies, casting playful light and shadows. As a second interactive artistic option, community members created and added their butterflies to the building or took them home as keepsakes.
Event Details
- Date & Time:
- Saturday, August 31, 2024: 8 AM – 2 PM
- Sunday, September 1, 2024: 8 AM – 2 PM
- Monday, September 2, 2024: 8 AM – 2 PM
- Community celebration: Monday, September 2, 2024, at 12 PM
- Location: 805 R Street, Sacramento, CA
- Activities: Graffiti painting, hands-on art instruction and painting, butterfly art creation
- Music: DJ played from 9 AM to 2 PM on Monday
- Food & Entertainment: Food truck and crafts for children daily
Temporary Art Activation
This temporary art installation remained until winter 2024, when the building was scheduled for demolition to make way for “The Monarch,” a new development with 241 affordable apartments and a manager’s unit, along with commercial space on the first floor. The Monarch included units for low and very low-income households, as well as extremely low-income units reserved for formerly homeless households. Marketing and outreach focused on serving the local artist community. CADA and Mutual expressed gratitude to the State Department of General Services (DGS) for their partnership on this art activation and to both DGS and the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for their efforts in building this and other housing developments on state-owned properties.
The Director of DGS noted, “Our long-standing and continued partnership with CADA has not only resulted in affordable housing to serve the Sacramento community, as the Monarch project will, but has also helped keep the local arts alive,” said California Department of General Services Director Ana M. Lasso. “Creating affordable housing isn’t just about buildings – it’s about embracing the local community and creating beautiful, inviting places where people want to live.”
Community Engagement
“We believed in the positive and engaging nature of graffiti street art and its ability to bring people together and increase understanding within a sanctioned space,” said CADA Executive Director, Danielle Foster. “Transforming Sacramento was about more than just art; it was about cultivating a sense of community and passing down cultural history, expression, and unique skills to the next generation.”
Creating Critically Needed Affordable Housing & Supporting the Arts
“We were excited to introduce Monarch, an affordable housing partnership between Mutual and CADA that not only provided critically needed transit-oriented affordable housing but also worked to support and uplift our local artists,” said Roberto Jimenez, CEO of Mutual Housing. “Our goal was to support the community’s creative spirit while also addressing housing and transportation needs with our largest project to date.”
About the Monarch
The Monarch, located at 805 R Street, was a mixed-use, affordable housing development set to transform a former State of California storage warehouse into a vital community hub. Consistent with the Central City Special Planning District’s requirements, the five-story, 201,456-square-foot building featured:
- 241 residential units regulated for low and very low-income levels, plus one on-site manager’s unit
- 20 units reserved for formerly homeless and at-risk households
- First-floor commercial space
- Various amenities, including an exercise studio, event courtyard, private resident courtyard, and laundry rooms on each floor
- Focused marketing and outreach to artists with affordable housing needs
For more information about the event or the apartment project, visit www.monarch916.com or contact the media relations team.
CADA
Cultivating community by building and maintaining vibrant, sustainable, mixed-use neighborhoods that support California’s capital city.
Mutual Housing California
Founded in 1988, Mutual Housing California develops, manages, and supports sustainable affordable housing where residents are partners in advancing equitable communities.