Flagstaff’s affordable housing options have expanded with the opening of Sierra on 66, a 221‑unit community funded through Low‑Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). 

The development team said the Route 66 project helps Flagstaff’s “affordable housing emergency.” According to Kevin Sturgeon, lead developer for Roers Companies, Sierra on 66 has been years in the making. 

“We’ve been working on it for probably four to five years, from when we signed the site up and began conversations with the city, all the way to getting it done under construction and opened up,” he said.

The development is available to households earning up to 60% of the area median income. It includes one-, two‑ and three‑bedroom units and was designed to blend seamlessly with nearby market‑rate communities. 

“I’d argue it’s indistinguishable from a lot of the market‑rate communities around there,” Sturgeon said. “The exterior looks super nice, and it’s got all the community amenities that are nice in the area.”

Residents have access to a fitness center, tot lot, dog run, bocce ball court, club room, and outdoor patios with fire pits and grilling stations. Inside the apartments, features include stainless‑steel appliances, walk‑in closets, vinyl‑plank flooring, ceiling fans, and in‑unit washers and dryers.

The all-inclusive rent structure is one feature Sturgeon believes will stand out to residents.

“All of the utilities are included in the rent already,” he said. “Electricity, water, sewer, trash — everything is included in the base rent. It’s a fixed rent structure, and I think that’s a nice bonus for a lot of tenants.”

Sturgeon emphasized that the project’s success is tied to strong partnerships. “We work with the state, we work with the city a lot, and they’ve been nothing but supportive since day one,” he said. “Flagstaff declared a formal affordable housing emergency, and while we didn’t solve it, we tried to chip away at it and be a solution.”

He added that Sierra on 66 is the largest affordable housing development the city has seen “in a while,” and the team is proud of the result. “We wanted to make sure it’s something everyone is proud of,” he said. “We own and manage the property long‑term, so we wanted it to fit in the community.”

Qualifications, rents and unit types are listed on SierraOn66.com.