Sacramento’s downtown is undergoing a transformation.“Things have changed dramatically since the pandemic hit and what downtowns look like here in Sacramento and across the country,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty. “We need to evolve, do things differently.”The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) unveiled its “Downtown’s Next Decade” vision at the organization’s annual State of Downtown breakfast on Tuesday, highlighting safety, environmental management and economic opportunities as its focus.It plans to hire more private security, increase its collaboration with law enforcement, prioritize programming in public spaces and encourage diverse growth across the expanding downtown core.Der Biergarten to open second location on waterfront As a part of the remarks, it was announced two businesses would soon take over the former Rio City Café space on the waterfront of Old Sacramento. Der Biergarten, which currently operates a midtown location, will open a second location in a portion of the space. “The concept is 100% just like the Midtown location,” said owner Sean Derfield. “We don’t have the dirt on the floor for the authentic beer garden feel. We do have a great deck and a river that is phenomenal.” Derfield is a longtime operator in Old Sacramento; He also runs Sean Finnegan’s Pub in the historic district. “We’ve been here 15 years, and we just love the community of ownership down here. All the owners know each other. We have meetings regularly,” he said. “I consider it like ‘Old Sacramento 2.0’ We’re passing the old generation now. We’re getting a little more up to date, some great restaurants coming.”He said the new location is slated to open by July and that he’s encouraged by the renewed attention city leaders seem to be giving Old Sacramento. “Old Sacramento is the largest single tourist destination that we have in the city of Sacramento,” said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Executive Director Michael Ault. “I think there’s a lot of momentum in Old Sacramento and the riverfront. The boardwalk is part of our identity. Further investment there is exciting.”The second business moving into the former Rio City Café space has not yet been announced. McCarty said negotiations with the new restaurant tenant are ongoing, but an announcement should come soon.The city, however, is in the process of overhauling the deck that oversees the river thanks to state grant money secured for the Old Sacramento project. “It’s our history. It is where the gold rush started, but more importantly, it’s an economic driver,” McCarty said of Old Sacramento’s impact on downtown. “One point eight million people last year went to a ball game. The Kings, the A’s, the Rivercats are right there. Old Sacramento is like feet from it. Having restaurants, other opportunities for people to meander before and after games year-round is important. It’s a driver for people to come visit.”Major League Baseball to stay in Sacramento?While the Athletics are temporarily calling Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home, McCarty wants to see a permanent Major League Baseball team in the region.“Cheering for your local team, certainly gives us national exposure, but most importantly, it’s going to help our local economy,” he said. “We have a $60 million deficit. We need to grow our economy. And how do you do that? Exciting economic development. Things like professional sports, more development downtown, more restaurants, more hotels.”As Major League Baseball considers adding a new west coast team, McCarty is planning a formal pitch to the league to choose Sacramento as its next city. “We’re one of three cities in the mix,” he said. “We’ll launch a big campaign in the near future to keep baseball forever.”| MORE | Single game tickets for the A’s on sale now. What to look forward to this seasonRailyards development This comes as construction is underway for a new stadium for Sacramento Republic FC in the Railyards. Development on those 230 acres is set to double the size of the downtown core, bringing the new stadium, a new $1 billion hospital, music venue, housing and more to the area. Ault said it’s time to move away from an overreliance on office workers as being the primary focus.“Downtown is going to be different, but it’s frankly going to be a lot more diverse,” he said. “I think that’s what we should be celebrating downtown. We’re giving now people a reason, evenings and weekends, to be downtown, not just during traditional work hours.”| MORE | Sacramento City Council fast-tracks infrastructure for railyards soccer stadiumSacramento State’s Capital CampusOverall, Ault said he’s encouraged by plans underway for the expansion and improvement to downtown. Another notable project, he said, is Sacramento State’s plans to bring a downtown campus to Capitol Mall, bringing with it thousands of residential housing units and students downtown every day. Governor Gavin Newsom announced last month Meta would be investing $50 million in those redevelopment efforts to transform three state-owned buildings for a mixed-use academic and affordable housing district for university students, faculty and staff.“We need to take a step back as a community and not focus on what’s not taking place, but be excited about what is,” he said. “Be the best champions for what this urban core can mean.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento’s downtown is undergoing a transformation.

“Things have changed dramatically since the pandemic hit and what downtowns look like here in Sacramento and across the country,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty. “We need to evolve, do things differently.”

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) unveiled its “Downtown’s Next Decade” vision at the organization’s annual State of Downtown breakfast on Tuesday, highlighting safety, environmental management and economic opportunities as its focus.

It plans to hire more private security, increase its collaboration with law enforcement, prioritize programming in public spaces and encourage diverse growth across the expanding downtown core.

Der Biergarten to open second location on waterfront

As a part of the remarks, it was announced two businesses would soon take over the former Rio City Café space on the waterfront of Old Sacramento. Der Biergarten, which currently operates a midtown location, will open a second location in a portion of the space.

“The concept is 100% just like the Midtown location,” said owner Sean Derfield. “We don’t have the dirt on the floor for the authentic beer garden feel. We do have a great deck and a river that is phenomenal.”

Derfield is a longtime operator in Old Sacramento; He also runs Sean Finnegan’s Pub in the historic district.

“We’ve been here 15 years, and we just love the community of ownership down here. All the owners know each other. We have meetings regularly,” he said. “I consider it like ‘Old Sacramento 2.0’ We’re passing the old generation now. We’re getting a little more up to date, some great restaurants coming.”

He said the new location is slated to open by July and that he’s encouraged by the renewed attention city leaders seem to be giving Old Sacramento.

“Old Sacramento is the largest single tourist destination that we have in the city of Sacramento,” said Downtown Sacramento Partnership Executive Director Michael Ault. “I think there’s a lot of momentum in Old Sacramento and the riverfront. The boardwalk is part of our identity. Further investment there is exciting.”

The second business moving into the former Rio City Café space has not yet been announced. McCarty said negotiations with the new restaurant tenant are ongoing, but an announcement should come soon.

The city, however, is in the process of overhauling the deck that oversees the river thanks to state grant money secured for the Old Sacramento project.

“It’s our history. It is where the gold rush started, but more importantly, it’s an economic driver,” McCarty said of Old Sacramento’s impact on downtown. “One point eight million people last year went to a ball game. The Kings, the A’s, the Rivercats are right there. Old Sacramento is like feet from it. Having restaurants, other opportunities for people to meander before and after games year-round is important. It’s a driver for people to come visit.”

Major League Baseball to stay in Sacramento?

While the Athletics are temporarily calling Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento home, McCarty wants to see a permanent Major League Baseball team in the region.

“Cheering for your local team, certainly gives us national exposure, but most importantly, it’s going to help our local economy,” he said. “We have a $60 million deficit. We need to grow our economy. And how do you do that? Exciting economic development. Things like professional sports, more development downtown, more restaurants, more hotels.”

As Major League Baseball considers adding a new west coast team, McCarty is planning a formal pitch to the league to choose Sacramento as its next city.

“We’re one of three cities in the mix,” he said. “We’ll launch a big campaign in the near future to keep baseball forever.”

| MORE | Single game tickets for the A’s on sale now. What to look forward to this season

Railyards development

This comes as construction is underway for a new stadium for Sacramento Republic FC in the Railyards. Development on those 230 acres is set to double the size of the downtown core, bringing the new stadium, a new $1 billion hospital, music venue, housing and more to the area. Ault said it’s time to move away from an overreliance on office workers as being the primary focus.

“Downtown is going to be different, but it’s frankly going to be a lot more diverse,” he said. “I think that’s what we should be celebrating downtown. We’re giving now people a reason, evenings and weekends, to be downtown, not just during traditional work hours.”

| MORE |

Sacramento City Council fast-tracks infrastructure for railyards soccer stadium

Sacramento State’s Capital Campus

Overall, Ault said he’s encouraged by plans underway for the expansion and improvement to downtown.

Another notable project, he said, is Sacramento State’s plans to bring a downtown campus to Capitol Mall, bringing with it thousands of residential housing units and students downtown every day.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced last month Meta would be investing $50 million in those redevelopment efforts to transform three state-owned buildings for a mixed-use academic and affordable housing district for university students, faculty and staff.

“We need to take a step back as a community and not focus on what’s not taking place, but be excited about what is,” he said. “Be the best champions for what this urban core can mean.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel