Housing

We strive to make housing affordable and accessible for every Californian.

Ascent’s housing experts are working with cities, counties, and regional governments across California to provide comprehensive solutions to today’s most challenging housing issues. We have worked on over 70 housing elements during the last three cycles and are well versed in addressing the latest housing legislation. We work with our clients to develop innovative approaches to housing elements and develop tailored solutions for accommodating regional housing needs allocations, preparing fair housing assessments, creating strategies to combat discrimination and advance equal access to opportunity, and preparing associated housing-related zoning updates for compliance with state law. We have partnered with local governments, nonprofits, and private sector developers to create innovative solutions for addressing homelessness in some of the most impacted regions of California. Our team has provided housing expertise to regional councils of government across the state, including SACOG, SCAG, and SANDAG, to advance best practices for streamlining and accelerating housing production.

SERVICES
  • Specific plans, community plans, master plans, and area plans
  • Comprehensive planning
  • Housing elements and housing policy
  • Corridor plans, complete streets, and station area plans
  • Housing-related zoning amendments
  • Staffing assistance and legislation support
  • Inclusive community engagement
FEATURED PROJECTS
Ascent is assisting SANDAG with the Housing Acceleration Program (HAP) Technical Assistance Program, providing staffing support and assistance to local jurisdictions on housing policy and legislation, housing element implementation, and CEQA streamlining to assist SANDAG’s 19 member agencies. The program supports implementation of SANDAG’s 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment Plan, 2021 Regional Plan, and Sustainable Communities Strategy.
San Diego County, California
SANDAG Technical Assistance Program
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Ascent led the preparation of the City's sixth cycle Housing Element. Sunnyvale is the second largest city in Santa Clara County, with a population of over 150,000. In the heart of Silicon Valley, the city has some of the highest housing costs in the state, with a median home price of over $1.5 million.
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale 6th Cycle Housing Element
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Ascent led the preparation of the City's sixth cycle Housing Element. El Cerrito is located in Contra Costa County, south of the city of Richmond and north of Albany and Berkeley. Similar to other East Bay cities, the flatlands along the Bay contain much of the commercial and higher-density housing, while the neighborhoods in the hills comprise mostly single-family homes on steep lots on narrow winding roads.
El Cerrito, California
El Cerrito 6th Cycle Housing Element
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The City of Sacramento’s 2021–2029 Housing Element is an 8-year strategy to meet the housing needs of current and future residents by providing opportunities for increased overall housing production, greater housing affordability, advancement of equity and inclusion, and protection against residential displacement.
Sacramento, California
Sacramento 2021–2029 Housing Element
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The 2023–2031 Housing Element update sets forth the policies and programs to address the housing needs of all households in Union City and addresses new state law requirements and statutory regulations. The project includes updating the sites inventory, developing a rezone strategy, preparing a fair housing assessment to affirmatively further fair housing, and conducting outreach in multiple languages (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Tagalog, Hindi) to reach the city’s multilingual residents.
Union City, California
Union City 2023–2031 Housing Element
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Ascent led the preparation of the City’s sixth cycle Housing Element. Folsom was assigned a much higher Regional Housing Needs Allocation, particularly the lower-income RHNA (70 percent increase). Ascent staff worked closely with City staff, landowners, and other stakeholders to develop a rezone strategy focused on increasing housing capacity at light rail stations, along the city’s primary commercial corridor, and in a newly developing town center.
Folsom, California
Folsom 2021–2029 Housing Element
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AMBASSADORS

Chelsey Norton Payne AICP
Director of Urban Planning

916.306.2621
Email

LinkedIn
MEET CHELSEY

Heidi Gen Kuong AICP
Urban Planner/Project Manager

916.930.3191
Email

LinkedIn
MEET HEIDI
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
  • California Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Fresno Council of Governments
  • Sacramento Area Council of Governments
  • San Diego Association of Governments
  • County of El Dorado
  • County of Placer
  • County of Sacramento
  • County of Sutter
  • County of Ventura
  • City of Carlsbad
  • City of Clovis
  • City of Davis
  • City of El Cerrito
  • City of Folsom
  • City of Fresno
  • City of Lathrop
  • City of Oakley
  • City of Orange Cove
  • City of Placerville
  • City of Roseville
  • City of Sacramento
  • City of San Joaquin
  • City of Sunnyvale
  • City of Union City
  • Town of Truckee
  • PlaceWorks
URBAN DESIGN + PLANNING KNOWLEDGE
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SB 2 Planning Grants Program Provides Technical Assistance to Local Jurisdictions for Planning Efforts
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Senate Bill 2 Planning Grants Program provides technical assistance to local jurisdictions for planning efforts that accelerate housing approvals and increase housing production. As a part of the program, these toolkits.
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Sacramento’s Bold Strategies to Address Housing Needs and Homelessness
As California continues to face a housing crisis, the City of Sacramento has taken significant steps to address its housing needs that may provide valuable strategies for other cities to consider. On August 10, 2021, the Sacramento City Council unanimously approved a Comprehensive Siting Plan to Address Homelessness.
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Urban Design
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