Rocklin, Calif., September 27, 2025
News Summary
JLL Capital Markets arranged a three-year, $27 million construction loan through U.S. Bank on behalf of Blue Coast Capital to fund the Whitney Ranch Retail Center in Rocklin, Calif. The to-be-built, 52,200-square-foot neighborhood center will feature about 35,000 square feet of inline and standalone retail plus five ground-leased pad sites. The development is roughly 60 percent preleased and will be shadow-anchored by a large regional supermarket, boosting its draw for other tenants. With financing in place, the project will move into construction and early lease-up over the coming years.
JLL Arranges $27M Construction Loan for Whitney Ranch Retail Center in Rocklin
A $27 million construction loan has been arranged to build a new neighborhood shopping center in Rocklin, Calif. The loan is a three-year construction loan provided through a national bank and was arranged by a capital markets team on behalf of the project’s developer. The center, planned inside the master-planned Whitney Ranch community, is set to open in 2026.
Project basics and financing
The to-be-built property is planned as a 52,200-square-foot retail center that combines inline and standalone space with ground-leased pad sites. About 35,000 square feet will be dedicated to inline and standalone retail uses, and five ground-leased pads will add roughly 17,200 square feet of space for restaurants, quick-service tenants or services.
The loan carries a three-year construction term and is structured to fund development work through completion. The lender providing the facility is a major commercial bank. The financing was arranged by a capital markets advisory team representing the borrower.
Tenant mix, anchor and leasing
The retail center will be shadow-anchored by an upscale regional supermarket chain that operates multiple locations across Northern California. One report version lists a roughly 43,000-square-foot grocer as the shadow anchor. Early leasing activity is underway and one version of leasing data indicates the property was about 60 percent preleased to a mix of local, regional and national tenants at the time the financing was arranged.
Location and timeline
The project sits within the Whitney Ranch master-planned community in Rocklin, roughly 22 miles northeast of Sacramento by one geographic estimate. Construction and tenant build-out are expected to continue through the coming years with completion slated for 2026.
Why this matters
The deal highlights continued investor interest in neighborhood retail that pairs daily needs tenants with services and food-and-beverage concepts. The inclusion of ground-leased pad sites is designed to attract restaurants and other credit tenants that prefer standalone locations. The shadow anchor supermarket is intended to drive routine traffic and support sales for inline shops and service providers.
Regional commercial real estate events and networking
Several upcoming sector-focused events are available for industry professionals. Programs cover topics such as retail, industrial, office, multifamily, health-care real estate, seniors housing investment and place-based destination experiences. Attendees can expect panels on capital availability, investment strategy, development trends and sector-specific operations, along with opportunities for networking and social hours.
Local pandemic context and PPP loan reporting
Local places of worship and other nonprofits received loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the early months of pandemic relief. One large local church reported a PPP loan entry in the public dataset showing a loan range between $350,000 and $1,000,000 with an award date in early April and an indicated intent to retain about 140 employees. Two other regional religious organizations appear in the public PPP data with loan ranges indicating awards between $1 million and $5 million and higher employee retention counts.
The PPP program, created under the national pandemic relief package, offered low-interest, potentially forgivable loans if funds were used to preserve payroll and cover other eligible expenses. Public disclosure of large PPP loans generated debate about access, fairness and program design after some small local businesses reported difficulty obtaining funds while larger chains and multi-location organizations secured larger tranches. The PPP reopened in a later round with an extended application deadline.
Public health and economic backdrop
The larger public health crisis continued to affect local policy and business operations, with state and county measures changing as case counts and hospital pressures evolved. Regional reports at the time cited thousands of deaths across the state and local fatalities in the double digits in nearby counties. Separately, market interest softened and shifted in some sectors while others, such as electric vehicles, saw a surge in consumer demand late in a quarter as buyers sought to capture a federal purchase tax credit before it was revised.
What to watch next
- Permitting and construction milestones for the Whitney Ranch retail project through 2026.
- Leasing announcements that will identify anchor and inline tenants for the center.
- Market responses to retail demand in suburban master-planned communities and the role of grocery-anchored centers in supporting nearby neighborhoods.
- Ongoing policy and public-health developments that may affect construction timing and tenant operations.
FAQ
What is being built at Whitney Ranch?
A new neighborhood retail center totaling about 52,200 square feet, combining inline retail, standalone space and five ground-leased pad sites.
How much financing was arranged and who provided it?
A $27 million construction loan with a three-year term was arranged and provided by a major commercial bank to finance construction.
When will the project open?
The project is scheduled for completion in 2026, with tenant build-outs to follow typical construction and permitting timelines.
Who will anchor the center?
The center will be shadow-anchored by a regional upscale supermarket chain. One reporting version lists a roughly 43,000-square-foot grocer as the nearby anchor.
Why did churches receiving PPP loans become controversial?
Public disclosure of large PPP loans raised questions about equitable access for small businesses and the wisdom of certain organizations applying for relief funds. The program offered low-cost, forgivable loans aimed at preserving payroll and covering eligible expenses, but the distribution highlighted gaps and controversies in early rollout and oversight.
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Key project features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Project name | Whitney Ranch Retail Center |
| Location | Whitney Ranch community, Rocklin, California |
| Size | Approximately 52,200 square feet |
| Retail composition | 35,000 SF inline/standalone + five pad sites totaling 17,200 SF |
| Anchor | Shadow-anchored by a regional upscale supermarket (one version lists a 43,000 SF grocer) |
| Loan amount | $27,000,000 |
| Loan term | Three-year construction loan |
| Completion | Expected in 2026 |
| Preleasing | Reported around 60 percent in one version of leasing updates |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- ReBusiness Online: JLL Secures $27M Construction Loan for Whitney Ranch Retail Center
- Wikipedia: Whitney Ranch / Rocklin, California (search)
- ReBusiness Online: Centersquare Acquires North Bear Crossing Retail Property in Lakewood, CO
- Google Search: North Bear Crossing Lakewood Colorado retail
- The Sacramento Bee: Health & Medicine (regional public health/legal story)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: California churches COVID-19 public health orders (search)
- Automotive News: California Car Dealership Pay Plan Breaks Down Sales/Fi Silos
- Google Scholar: automotive dealership compensation plan sales finance
- Business Insider: California Church Defying Shutdown Orders Got $350,000 PPP Loan
- Google News: PPP loan churches California controversy
Author: Construction CA News
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