The vision offered by River District owners follows the trend of re-urbanizing older areas with a mix of housing, retail and offices in a pedestrian-friendly development intended to reduce commuting.
Under the recent plan, the largely run-down industrial area just blocks away from downtown would be transformed. The west end of the district, along the Sacramento River, would become hotels and stores. Moving east along Richards Boulevard would be offices and more stores. North and south of the Richards corridor would be large residential neighborhoods.
The district’s east side, along 12th and 16th streets, would be a mix of housing and retail called “the Gateway,” because the two streets would serve as an entry to downtown Sacramento.
The plan’s commercial square footage and new-home figures were not calculated for the study.
But Steve Ayers, president of the River District’s board, estimated 10,000 homes can be built in the area. He said that the already proposed 65-acre North Town project would have 2,700 homes. North Town would redevelop an old cannery at Richards and 7th Street.