Making it Happen
In 2005, the City of Sacramento and The River District initiated a process to produce a Vision and framework for future development. Historically, the area has been referred to as the Richards Boulevard Area, or Capitol Station District. With the American and Sacramento rivers serving as defining features, the redevelopment of this former industrial district, now The River District, will embrace its rivers, creating both economic and social benefits for the region. This Vision was built upon previous planning efforts for the area, developing those ideas in response to current market trends and opportunities.
Creating a dynamic River District will occur through a series of progressive, well-defined, synergistic strategies and initiatives designed to support and promote the District's developing neighborhoods. At the same time, planning efforts in The River District will be coordinated with - and complementary to - plans in Downtown Sacramento and the Railyards as those areas grow and evolve.
Shifts in industry, attitudes and market demands will make it possible for the River District to become a vital mixed-use urban environment featuring residential, office and commercial services. The River District boasts the best that Sacramento has to offer: urban living; direct access to natural settings and healthy lifestyle activities along the American and Sacramento rivers; proximity to Downtown and local employment centers; and the convenience of Light Rail and regional public transportation offering easy access within the Sacramento region and beyond.
Unique to the area are four neighborhoods that create an identity within the larger River District. On the east end of the district, the Gateway neighborhood grounds the River District in the historic fabric that created Sacramento with a mix of traditional services, new commercial enterprises, and one-of-a-kind retail destinations - many housed in the area's old brick buildings and warehouses. The North 7th neighborhood focuses on new development and redevelopment projects - some at a large scale - that introduce a fresh urban vibrancy to the River District. Medium and high density housing combined with office and retail activities are key to the area's new image and character. The Two Rivers neighborhood, situated at the confluence of the rivers at the River District's west end, leverages unique natural resources while orienting toward the larger region. Hotels, restaurants and attractions in the area draw people from throughout the region and the Central Valley and serve needs within the River District. The renewed Railyards neighborhood provides a mixture of old and new as it transforms historic buildings into cultural, entertainment and retail uses. An intermodal transportation facility makes this a truly transit oriented neighborhood for the resident population and provides a regional focus within the Central City.
