West Sacramento took another step Wednesday in its ongoing transformation of the Bridge District, with the city council approving the purchase of a nearly 3-acre property near Sutter Health Park.The city agreed to buy the site north of the ballpark for $3.2 million, a move city leaders said is primarily aimed at infrastructure improvements, but one that is also drawing attention because of the property’s long-term development potential.City officials said the site is in one of the fastest-changing parts of West Sacramento, where new construction along the waterfront has helped bring more people into the area and into nearby businesses.“We’ve definitely seen an influx of traffic to this area, and that’s been really wonderful so far,” said Bia Hoskins, general manager of Drake’s: The Barn.Hoskins said businesses have already adjusted to the area’s growth and to larger crowds tied in part to baseball at Sutter Health Park, home to the River Cats and the Athletics for a second season.“We’ve made some adaptations to our service model to get people in quicker, served faster, and I think it’s been paying off — the guests are having a better experience,” Hoskins said.West Sacramento City Manager Aaron Laurel said the property is significant because it is one of the last remaining industrial sites in the Bridge District.“This property is really the last holdout of industrial use in the Bridge District,” Laurel said.Laurel said the city’s long-standing plan for the site has centered on infrastructure improvements along 5th Street. Still, he acknowledged the land also has strategic value because of its location near the ballpark.“If there were an expansion opportunity for Major League Baseball, it’s definitely a site that has strategic value long term,” Laurel said. “But just to be clear, the city would be pursuing this acquisition regardless.”That possibility has caught the attention of baseball fans and residents who say they want to see more growth in the district.“There’s been some fantastic growth, and we see all the new builds,” Michelle Hogue said. “I would love to see more down here.”“Especially baseball,” Becky Metcalf added.Laurel said visible development tied to the infrastructure work is still likely several years away.“I would anticipate would be done in the next, like, say, 3 to 5 years,” Laurel said.The city said funding for the project will come from a special Bridge District fund supported by property taxes generated within the surrounding area, not from the city’s general fund.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
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
West Sacramento took another step Wednesday in its ongoing transformation of the Bridge District, with the city council approving the purchase of a nearly 3-acre property near Sutter Health Park.
The city agreed to buy the site north of the ballpark for $3.2 million, a move city leaders said is primarily aimed at infrastructure improvements, but one that is also drawing attention because of the property’s long-term development potential.
City officials said the site is in one of the fastest-changing parts of West Sacramento, where new construction along the waterfront has helped bring more people into the area and into nearby businesses.
“We’ve definitely seen an influx of traffic to this area, and that’s been really wonderful so far,” said Bia Hoskins, general manager of Drake’s: The Barn.
Hoskins said businesses have already adjusted to the area’s growth and to larger crowds tied in part to baseball at Sutter Health Park, home to the River Cats and the Athletics for a second season.
“We’ve made some adaptations to our service model to get people in quicker, served faster, and I think it’s been paying off — the guests are having a better experience,” Hoskins said.
West Sacramento City Manager Aaron Laurel said the property is significant because it is one of the last remaining industrial sites in the Bridge District.
“This property is really the last holdout of industrial use in the Bridge District,” Laurel said.
Laurel said the city’s long-standing plan for the site has centered on infrastructure improvements along 5th Street. Still, he acknowledged the land also has strategic value because of its location near the ballpark.
“If there were an expansion opportunity for Major League Baseball, it’s definitely a site that has strategic value long term,” Laurel said. “But just to be clear, the city would be pursuing this acquisition regardless.”
That possibility has caught the attention of baseball fans and residents who say they want to see more growth in the district.
“There’s been some fantastic growth, and we see all the new builds,” Michelle Hogue said. “I would love to see more down here.”
“Especially baseball,” Becky Metcalf added.
Laurel said visible development tied to the infrastructure work is still likely several years away.
“I would anticipate [it] would be done in the next, like, say, 3 to 5 years,” Laurel said.
The city said funding for the project will come from a special Bridge District fund supported by property taxes generated within the surrounding area, not from the city’s general fund.
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