When it comes to housing, there’s a big name game in Manteca.

It’s called Quarterra.

They don’t build single-family homes and sell them.

Quarterra keeps and rents them out.

The wholly owned subsidiary of the country’s second-largest homebuilder, Lennar Corporation, is preparing to build the largest mixed-use rental community in the northern San Joaquin Valley.

Quarterra plans to build 672 apartments, 48 ​​semi-detached houses and 98 single-family homes on 59 acres at the southeast corner of the 120 Bypass and Main Street interchange. All buildings will be leased.

That’s 818 rental apartments that, based on current returns for various housing types, could bring an additional 1,900 new residents to Manteca.

Quarterra will hold a virtual community meeting on the proposed project on Monday, August 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

You can join via Zoom (https://tinyurl.com/QuintalRoad) or by phone (669-900-9128) and enter the meeting ID 891 9460 6357#.

The meeting will consist of a short presentation of the project and the benefits for the community.

There will be time for community feedback to answer questions about the project.

The meeting will be recorded and made available upon request to those who are unable to attend.

Lennar via Quarterra is one of at least four developers in the United States building new apartment buildings.

It is a growing trend where home builders are becoming landlords.

The reason for this is a number of factors:

*The robust rental market.

*People who prefer a detached house but cannot afford the deposit.

*Those who want a home but prefer the flexibility of renting

*Some people are not eligible for a mortgage.

*There are people who want to live in a home in a community while saving for a mortgage and want to make sure they are making the right choice regarding the city they call home.

*Because the houses are located close to each other, it is easier for the company to rent, maintain and repair them.

In other single-family home communities built and leased by Lennar, such as in Sparks, Nevada, the company also takes care of lawn and shrub maintenance.

Quarterra’s website states: “We are committed to addressing the housing shortage and affordable housing crisis in the United States by providing access to households earning, on average, only 85% of the area median income.”

If this happens, more single-family homes could be built that more people with jobs on this side of the Altamont Pass could afford to rent.

The company currently leases 4,891 homes in 19 markets. The homes have a total value of $2.2 billion and are an average of 0.8 years old.

The project, known as Quintal Road, the Quarterra Project, will deliver:

* A median will be constructed on South Main Street between Atherton Drive and the highway, allowing only right turns onto and off Quintal Road, including the existing convenience store/gas station and undeveloped commercial sites.

*A second northbound lane will be added from Atherton Drive, connecting to the eastbound bypass ramp.

*Buena Vista Drive will be extended to and over Atherton Drive. The new intersection will have traffic signals.

*Two minor intersections with Atherton Drive.

*Extension of the segregated cycle path that currently ends at the western edge of the Paseo Villas apartments.

*New traffic signal components to coordinate signals on Main Street at both Atherton Drive and the eastbound highway ramps to improve traffic flow.

*The creation of a public space with Manteca’s first cricket ground.

The 672 apartments will be divided into two complexes. The first phase of apartments will consist of 156 one-bedroom units, 120 two-bedroom units and 36 three-bedroom units. The second phase will consist of 252 one-bedroom units and 108 two-bedroom units.

Each phase will have separate clubhouses, fitness facilities and swimming pools. Both will be fenced.

The 98 single-family homes are planned for both sides of Atherton Drive, 66 of them on the south side of the four-lane road. Like other single-family homes along Atherton Drive, they will back onto a noise barrier.

The 48 duplex units are located on the north side of Atherton.

They provide universal access to a 1.93-hectare public area adjacent to the apartment complexes and accessible to everyone.

There will be a picnic area with shade canopy, an active recreation area with a cricket pitch, a children’s play area, walking paths and a flex court.

The Quintal Road proposal is one of three projects either approved or in the approval process that will impact the intersection of Atherton Drive and Main Street.

One of the other two properties is a 210-unit property on the southeast corner of Atherton Drive and South Street, which is being pursued by the Bay Area-based SOMA Group.

When these and the project complexes on Quintal Road are completed, there will be 2,326 residential units along Atherton Drive between Bass Pro Road and a point east of Van Ryn Avenue.

The other is the Marketplace at Main shopping complex at the southwest corner of Atherton Drive and South Main Street. It will be anchored by a supermarket.

In addition, there is nearly 51,800 square feet of additional retail and restaurant space, including a 418-square-foot McDonald’s at the southwest corner of Atherton Drive and South Main. It will be the fifth McDonald’s in the city.

The plans also include a car wash. It will be located along South Main Street.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email [email protected]