Posted on: October 9, 2026
By Martin Espinoza
Full Source: The Press Democrat
Edie, 6, left, and Margot Kordenbrock, 4 play on the structures in Permanente Plaza in front of the new Casa Roseland Affordable Housing Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Just a few weeks ago, Bill Laughlin, 51, was living at Samuel Jones Hall homeless shelter in Santa Rosa, struggling to recover from multiple health conditions, including a recent massive stroke that almost cost him his legs.
Today he’s living in a spotless, one-bedroom unit at the new Casa Roseland affordable housing project in southwest Santa Rosa. His furnishings and appliances are so new he forgot to remove the protective film from inside his oven the first time he used it.“I still wake up every morning wondering where I’m at and, like, if I’m dreaming or not,” said Laughlin, who is one of scores of new residents who since July have moved into the 75-unit housing project in the heart of Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood.
Public figures gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Casa Roseland Affordable Housing and Plaza Permanente, the first stage of the Tierra de Rosas mixed-use development Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
On Friday, numerous federal, state, county and city officials gathered near the housing complex with representatives of Casa Roseland’s developer MidPen Housing, several financial institutions and nonprofit groups for a ribbon-cutting celebrating a key milestone in a larger project for the site. A handful of residents, including Laughlin, also joined the commemoration, which took place at the adjacent, one-acre “Plaza Permanente” park at the corner of Sebastopol Road and West Avenue.
The $47 million, four-story Casa Roseland building and the $4 million park are the first major accomplishments in the larger vision for the long-awaited Tierra de Rosas development at the site. Infrastructure, including underground utilities and site improvements, cost another $38 million.
Nearly two-decades in the making, the larger Tierra de Rosas project has endured numerous fits and starts and funding challenges, which were repeatedly cited by several speakers, who on Friday celebrated those who made the housing and park project possible.
“Congratulations, this was a real team project,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena. “This is more than affordable housing. This is beautiful housing for beautiful people.”
Thompson noted his support in Congress for the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program to help finance the construction of the building. State Sen. Mike McGuire, the Healdsburg Democrat running for the reshaped 1st Congressional District, credited the many years of planning and the persistence of both local leaders and the community itself to not give up on the project.
“This community has been overlooked and underinvested,” McGuire said. “But today, today neighborhood leaders are delivering for their community and a brighter future for all of us.”
McGuire said the state invested nearly $42 million in the Tierra de Rosas project. Other speakers included Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey, who has championed the project and the neighborhood, he said, as a local journalist, a Santa Rosa council member and now as a supervisor whose district includes the Roseland community. Santa Rosa City Councilmember Eddie Alvarez, whose district includes Roseland and the South Park neighborhoods, repeatedly thanked everyone who made the project possible.
State senator Mike McGuire speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Casa Roseland Affordable Housing and Plaza Permanente Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Alvarez, and others, pointed out the laughter of local children that will soon be heard in the park. One of the biggest contributions to the construction of the park, $2 million, came from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservaiton and Open Space District, which also has contributed to Bayer Farm, a nearby urban park, and Roseland Creek Community Park, currently under development.
Units in the new residential building are open to individuals and families earning between 30% to 60% of the area median income. Rent for a one bedroom unit going to someone making 30% of the area median income is $849, according to Lyn Hikida of MidPen. Hikida said rents range up to $2,355 for a three-bedroom for a family earning 60% of area median income.
Casa Roseland has 24 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom units. An extra two-bedroom is occupied by the apartment manager. MidPen, which does all the property management and leasing at the complex, also will have a services coordinator and maintenance technician working at the site.
MidPen said nearly three-quarters, 54 of the 74 units, are occupied. The developer works with local organizations to promote leasing, though there are currently 4,000 people on a waiting list. Potential residents must go through a lottery, and those who are selected then go through an approval process that usually takes one or two weeks.
The larger Tierra de Rosas project also includes plans for a 100-unit market-rate apartment just to the east of Casa Roseland, as well as a “civic parcel” and a small commercial space.
Public figures gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Casa Roseland Affordable Housing and Plaza Permanente, the first stage of the Tierra de Rosas mixed-use development, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 in the Roseland district of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The timeline for completion of those projects is unclear, said Michelle Whitman, executive director of Sonoma County Community Development Commission, a key partner in the Tierra de Rosas project. Whitman said the county has a memorandum of understanding with the local nonprofit Health Equity Rising for use of the civic parcel, located just south of the Casa Roseland complex.
She said there’s no definitive timeline for the market-rate housing, likely dues to high constructions costs, elevated interest rates and other market pressures. As for the commercial parcel, the county put out a request for proposals in the spring but received no response, she said.
For those moving into Casa Roseland, completion of the other projects in the Tierra de Rosas is an afterthought.
“It’s nice seeing all the families and kids all happy to move into something new,” Laughlin said.
Staff Writer Martin Espinoza can be reached at [email protected].
Full Source: The Press Democrat
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