The Railyards is entering a new phase as some of its biggest projects move forward.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steel columns are rising, dirt is moving and construction crews are reshaping the Sacramento Railyards, giving the public its clearest look yet at a redevelopment project years in the making.
The Railyards is entering a new phase as some of its biggest projects move forward, including a new Kaiser Permanente hospital and the future home of Sacramento Republic FC.
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The new Kaiser Permanente hospital is leading the construction wave across the district. Officials say the 310-bed, all-electric replacement hospital for the Morse Avenue facility is expected to open in 2029.
“It was a long arduous process,” Jay Robinson with Kaiser Permanente said.
Robinson said the project is intended to serve growing membership along the Interstate 5 corridor and help transform Sacramento’s skyline.
“It makes sense for us because where our members live, we know there is a lot of activity and growth going on in the I-5 corridor,” Robinson said.
He said the hospital’s location was selected because of where Kaiser members live, freeway access and its proximity to existing Kaiser clinics.
“We are bringing back maternal child services to this area, so we’ll be delivering babies here. So, we are very excited about it,” Robinson said.
A few blocks away east, construction is underway at the future Sacramento Republic FC stadium, which the club expects to open in 2028.
John Jacobs, vice president of communications for Sacramento Republic FC, said more activity is expected soon.
“We hope to see more activity on the site in the next couple of months, and then people will actually really see the stadium rise from the ground,” Jacobs said.
The stadium project includes a 17-acre mixed-use development surrounding the venue.
“Not only are we building a stadium, we are going to build a surrounding mixed-use development, 17 acres, which with the stadium will hopefully double the size of downtown. So, a lot of really exciting things to come,” Jacobs said.
The progress comes as city leaders invited the public to an open house to see what is already underway and what is planned next.
“We have been waiting for this moment for decades,” said Phil Pluckebaum, Sacramento City Councilmember for District 4. “It’s deceiving how big the rail yards is. It is another downtown size of land, so we are going to double the size of our downtown when this is built out. That’s a massive opportunity for the region. It’s a big deal,” Pluckebaum said.
Future plans include more housing, retail, commercial development, music venues and an entertainment district around the soccer stadium.
Josh Leachman, senior vice president of project development for Downtown Railyard Venture, said the redevelopment is entering a new phase.
“It’s a different chapter in the rail yards. Things are under construction. Things are happening,” Leachman said.
Leachman said current projects, including the Kaiser Permanente hospital, Sacramento Republic FC stadium and an entertainment venue at the historic Central Shops, are expected to bring more people to the area to live, work and play.
“We are taking each new chapter as it comes,” Leachman said. “We will have more residential that will happen every couple of years, and then there’s going to be opportunities we don’t know about,” Leachman said.
City leaders and developers did not give a specific timeline for when the entire Railyards redevelopment will be completed. But they say the current construction could help accelerate more development in the area.
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