Seniors in the Reno-Sparks area have a new option for affordable housing.

The Afton at Sparks Marina opened its doors on Monday.

The complex offers 142 one and two-bedroom apartments exclusively for seniors 55 and up.

Some units are reserved for those making 80% or less of the area median income.

The Call to Action Foundation, which helped fund the project, says senior housing is crucial to the market.

"The more that we allow seniors to kind of move into smaller communities to downsize, I think the better housing stock we're going to have, and hopefully the more affordable some of the homes are going to get," says Drew Maggelet, Director of Housing, Call to Action Foundation.

The Call to Action Foundation is a Salt Lake City-based organization that specializes in boosting access to affordable housing.

Maggelet adds, "We're going to be able to see more young families be able to step into these homes and build communities just like the seniors did when they first came."

The Afton came together without federal funding. In addition to Call to Action, Nevada State Bank paid for the project, with support from the State of Nevada Housing Division.

"We know we can build this if we just basically, in the same way that you would if you could afford a regular home or a mortgage or something like that, basically that same process," Maggelet says. "We don't need to make sure that we're trying to compete against other communities for subsidies."

Amenities include a clubhouse, covered parking, three fitness centers, and valet trash services.

It's also located in a convenient spot, at 1275 East Prater Way.

"This is a big deal for it to be right here near the Sparks Marina and Legends. It makes it a great location for all of the folks that are living there," says Paul Anderson, Sparks City Councilmember for Ward 3, where The Afton is located.

Many seniors got to tour the facility following the grand opening ceremony.

Thomas Baker says he'd happily move in, especially since his current home is pricing him out.

"I'm going to have to totally give it up and try and find me someplace that's going to give me an opportunity to live comfortably for the rest of my life," Baker says, "which may not be long, but for me it's long enough."

Baker says the model unit he toured was more or less designed for folks his age.

"It doesn't have any big steps and stuff that you got to go over in order to get anyplace," he says, "and everything being new, it's not all gravelled up and broke up like the place I'm in now."

You can view floor plans, join the waitlist, or learn more information about The Afton at Sparks Marina on the complex's website.