From the time of the Gold Rush, Sacramento has served as the heartbeat of the region. Throughout its history, the City was the cultural and community hub of the region. The strength and vitality of Sacramento waned, however, with the proliferation of suburban sprawl. But today the next chapter of Sacramento’s story is being written, and the City is experiencing a resurgence of vitality and strength.

Here are seven new projects bringing jobs, housing, and cultural experiences back to Sacramento.

The Railyards

The Railyards were once the heart of industry and innovation in Sacramento. The discovery of gold in the Sierras, the subsequent Gold Rush, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in the 1860 helped establish Sacramento. At its peak, The Railyards was the region’s major employer.

Today, The Railyards is one of the nation’s largest infill redevelopment projects. The 244-acre former industrial site is being transformed into a mixed-use urban village that will bring residential housing, jobs, entertainment, an 18-acre Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, and unique cultural experiences to the area.

The centerpiece of The Railyards is the Central Shops District. Eight historic buildings from the original Central Pacific Railroad yard are being adaptively reused into a 500,000 SF retail district featuring eateries, entertainment, art galleries, retail shops, museum, and central plaza.

The Railyards plan provides an addition of 6,000 to 10,000 new residential units integrated with a diverse range of uses and amenities. Mixed use medium- to high-density housing with retail and commercial uses at street level will provide a neighborhood feel in each district and provide a wide range of housing types. The first mixed-use residential project is anticipated to be completed by 2020.

MLS Stadium

The Railyards is bringing major league entertainment to the area with the development of a Major League soccer stadium that will offer an opportunity for a variety of sporting and entertainment events. The stadium venue will accommodate approximately 20,000 attendees and is located on approximately 13-acres in The Railyards’ East End District.

The MLS stadium will be home to an array of sporting and entertainment events throughout the year.

The proposed stadium location is one block from a Regional Transit station and less than a 10 minute walk from the Golden 1 Center and other downtown attractions. The stadium plan calls for short- and long-term bicycle parking and makes provisions for a Bikeshare docking station.

The MLS soccer stadium is expected to be completed in the Railyards by 2020.

How the Railyards Plan Encourages Cycling and Walkability in Sacramento

Wondering how the Railyards is planning for pedestrian and bicycle traffic? We’ve got the specific plan details about walking and cycling the Railyards..

Golden 1 Center

Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center was constructed as part of an offer to keep the Sacramento Kings franchise in Sacramento. In 2016, the entertainment and sports facility opened to the public.

The arena is a multi-use indoor sporting and entertainment venue with a capacity for 17,600 attendees for NBA games and approximately 19,000 for concerts.

The $500M Golden 1 Center is estimated to attract 1.6 million new visitors to downtown Sacramento each year and result in a $11.5B positive economic impact for the City over the next 35 years.

Downtown Commons

The Golden 1 Center sits in the middle of Downtown Commons, 1.5 million square feet of retail, restaurants, and entertainment. Formerly known as Downtown Plaza, the two-level outdoor shopping and entertainment complex is being redeveloped in association with the arena project.

DOCO includes 1.5 million square feet of development including 475,000 square feet of office space, 350,000 square feet of retail, a 250-room hotel, and 550 residential units.

Sacramento Valley Station

The Sacramento Valley Station, or “the depot”, has been in continuous operations since its opening in 1926. Constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad, the station was celebrated as a state-of-the-art building. Since its inception, the historic station has served as the primary rail passenger station for northern California. Today, the Sacramento Valley Station counts as the 7th busiest station in the nation.

The City of Sacramento is transforming the historic train depot into a transportation hub to serve all modes of travel to and from the station.

The Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility is a master-planned, multi-phased project that will enable state-of-the art operations for multiple modes of transportation at a centralized location. It will provide user-friendly connections between all modes of transportation – train, light rail, bus, bicycle, pedestrian, taxi and automobile.

The first phase of the project moved rail tracks approximately 500 feet north, connecting downtown to The Railyards. The $70M construction project included three tunnels under the realigned tracks, providing access to pedestrians and service vehicles and connecting The Railyards area to the north with Old Sacramento and areas to the south.

The second phase of the Sac Valley Station project was a $33M renovation and rehabilitation of the building, connecting it to The Railyards and paving the way for the station to expand to high speed rail and streetcars.

700 Block K Street

Construction is underway on the 700 block of K Street where 11 underutilized parcels are being transformed into a mixed-use development that will include residential and retail/ restaurant/ entertainment uses and a parking garage.

The project plan for the 700 Block of K Street includes renovating existing building facades along K Street for retail/ restaurant use and converting upper floors for residential use. The project scope includes a single five-story residential building over a two-level parking garage. The 700 Block is another example of an infill, mixed-use development project that supports the City’s 2035 General Plan and strengthens the urban core of Sacramento.

Sacramento Commons

In Sacramento’s Central Business District, the Sacramento Commons project aims to redevelop 11 acres into a mixed-use development consisting of a five-story residential building with live/ work units, two new residential towers, and a new apartment/ hotel tower.

The project plan includes 409 dwelling units, approximately 4,122 square feet of retail space, recreational amenities (including a swimming pool), laundry facilities, various landscaped areas, and a three-level parking structure containing 200 parking spaces and 190 parking spaces on surface lots.

The City of Sacramento has an ambitious goal of becoming the most liveable city in America, and mixed-use, infill projects that transform neighborhoods into thriving, urban villages are clearly the roadmap the city is using to achieve its goal.

Image courtesy of Coruscating Images.