A spark in the dark
In the early hours of August 27, 2023, flames tore through Casa Bella Furniture Store, a family-owned business that had anchored Del Paso Boulevard for two decades. By morning, nothing remained but charred debris and smoke hanging heavy in the air. Owners Shane and Rhody Curry suspected arson—a suspicion echoed by neighbors who had seen too many fires burn too close for comfort. Sacramento Fire officials could not confirm the cause, as the building had to be knocked down before accelerant tests could be done. Still, for a boulevard already burdened by theft, vandalism, and shootings, the loss felt like the latest blow in a long fight.
“We have often mulled the idea: ‘Are we dumb for being here?’” Shane Curry told reporters that day. “But then look around you and you see all these people here.”
That gathering of neighbors and advocates, including members of the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership, was more than a show of solidarity—it was a sign that the Boulevard’s story was not over. For Roshaun Davis, Founder and Executive Director of CLTRE, the fire was not just a tragedy. It was a call to reimagine what could rise from the ashes.
“We knew this couldn’t be the end,” Davis said. “If anything, it was the moment we realized we had to go bigger—for the community, for the Boulevard, and for the people who believe in what we’re building here.”
That conviction would set off a chain of events that turned loss into a blueprint for renewal. The result: CLTRE House, a 32,000-square-foot workforce housing and creator hub designed to change the cultural and economic landscape of Sacramento’s Second City Council District (D2).
From rubble to roadmap
The first step came when CLTRE approached the property owner with a bold proposal: rebuild the site, but add housing and creator spaces that could anchor a new vision for Arden Way. The owner agreed, and through a partnership with Vertical Pacific—led by civil engineer and developer Katie Hanten—CLTRE secured site control. That milestone unlocked pre-development capital from Community Vision, opening the door for Salazar Architects to begin designing a space that reflected the community’s needs.
By May 2025, CLTRE House had cleared entitlement approvals and moved into the bidding phase for construction. The next goal: breaking ground in late 2025. Alongside those milestones, CLTRE will launch a $300,000 community raise, inviting residents, partners, and supporters to help finance the project’s final stretch.
Building for the Boulevard’s reality
CLTRE House is not an abstract vision. It’s a response to real, documented needs in D2, where economic opportunity and cultural vitality often coexist with systemic inequities.
According to the most recent demographic analysis of D2, the district faces some of the city’s starkest challenges (Foretop, 2024). More than 22 percent of residents live in poverty, and 21.2 percent of adults lack a high school diploma or equivalent, the highest rate in Sacramento (Foretop, 2024). Median household income—$55,847—is just 70 percent of the citywide median, and over 54 percent of housing is renter-occupied, with fewer owner-occupied homes than in nearly every other district (Foretop, 2024).
Despite these challenges, D2 is also one of Sacramento’s most culturally diverse areas: 38.6 percent of residents identify as Latino/Hispanic, 12.8 percent as Black/African American, and nearly 9 percent speak an Asian language at home (Foretop, 2024). This mix brings richness, resilience, and a strong base for community-led revitalization.
CLTRE House is designed with those realities in mind. Its 53 attainable units will target residents earning 70 to 80 percent of Area Median Income, combining studios, one-bedroom apartments, and ground-floor live-work units. These spaces will be especially geared toward local creators and entrepreneurs, providing affordable housing and on-site business resources. The building will include a shared lobby/gallery for art events, a courtyard for community markets, and flexible workspaces to host education and job training workshops.
Partnerships that make it possible
The scale of CLTRE House is no accident—it is the product of layered partnerships and strategic alignment with city priorities. Vertical Pacific brought deep experience in urban infill projects, guiding the development through permitting, engineering, and risk mitigation. Salazar Architects ensured the design met both environmental and cultural goals, with features like solar readiness, stormwater capture, drought-tolerant landscaping, and energy-efficient building systems.
Support has come from multiple levels. Congressman Ami Bera has endorsed the project, recognizing its potential to deliver on the city’s workforce housing and cultural programming goals without requiring zoning changes or general plan amendments.
By emphasizing minority-owned design and consulting firms, CLTRE House also builds equity into its process, ensuring that those shaping the space reflect the community it will serve.
The human scale: John Word’s front porch
Amid the timelines, budgets, and architectural renderings, the promise of CLTRE House is best seen in the dreams it will make possible. One of those dreams belongs to John Word, better known as DJ Rock Bottom. A CLTRE alumni with a passion for vinyl and community, Word has long envisioned opening a vinyl bar—a place where neighbors can gather over music, conversation, and the tactile joy of records.
For Word, a live-work unit at CLTRE House isn’t just affordable housing; it’s a launchpad. He imagines the ground-floor space transformed into his bar, while the upstairs serves as his home. On weekends, he could wheel his turntables onto the front porch and spin tracks for Second Saturday or a pop-up market in the courtyard.
“I would purpose this space to be more than just something that sounds good,” Word said. “It’s about creating a place where the music is a guide—something that prompts, enlivens, and opens us up to something larger than ourselves. Listening is a practice of presence, and when we share that experience, we build a community.”
His story underscores the multiplier effect of the project: one creator’s opportunity can ripple outward, activating public space, inspiring neighbors, and driving foot traffic to other local businesses.
Ground zero for CLTRE programming
When complete, CLTRE House will become the central hub for the organization’s EveryDay Creative Program—a platform designed to give community members tools, training, and support to pursue creative and entrepreneurial projects. By locating this programming in the same building where creators live and work, CLTRE will blur the lines between home, workspace, and cultural venue.
Indoor and outdoor spaces will be programmed for health and wellness workshops, artist exhibitions, markets, and performances. The proximity to public transit (just 300 feet from the nearest light rail station) ensures accessibility, while the option to acquire an adjacent parcel opens the door for future expansion.
An invitation to invest in the future
For potential partners, CLTRE House is a chance to be part of a tangible, long-term investment in equity, culture, and community resilience. For residents, it is a promise that the Boulevard can be more than a corridor people drive through—it can be a destination where opportunity lives.
As CLTRE prepares to launch its $300,000 community raise, Davis hopes the story spreads beyond the district.
“We want people to see this as a model,” he said. “When you put trust and resources in the hands of the community, you get solutions that are both creative and sustainable.”
What began as the devastation of a fire has transformed into something beautiful—rising like a phoenix from the ashes. CLTRE House stands as a testament to resilience, vision, and the belief that catastrophe can be the catalyst for greater strength, deeper wisdom, and renewed power. Soon, where the flames once raged, there will be music, light, and opportunity spilling out onto Arden Way.
This is the moment to get involved. Whether through financial contributions, in-kind support, strategic partnerships, or simply sharing the story, every act of engagement strengthens the foundation of what CLTRE House will become. With the united commitment of partners, neighbors, and allies across Sacramento, the project can reach new heights, carrying lasting opportunity, culture, and creativity into the heart of District 2.
