It has been four years since the City of Sacramento bought a 102-acre stretch of empty land in the heart of South Sacramento and the property still sits vacant and with no clear plan.
It was purchased in 2022 from the federal government for $12.3 million dollars. There has been a wide range of ideas for the site since the purchase. Some have proposed a youth sports complex, a mixed-use development that could include small businesses and parks. At the time of the purchase, before the current mayor’s term, city leaders said it could be used for a safe parking zone for people living in their vehicles.
The 102-acre site is between Meadowview Road and Consumnes River Boulevard.Photo courtesy of The City of Sacramento
Whatever approach is chosen will have to comply with federal rules that require 25% of the land to be used for affordable housing. Still without a finalized plan, the land awaits a decision from the city that purchased it.
The city has launched a new step in the process by accepting what they call a “Request for Expressions of Interest” (RFEI). The city says it will use the process to gauge developer interest and assess what may be financially feasible before committing to a specific direction for the land.
Councilmember Mai Vang, who represents the district where the property is located, describes this as an information-gathering step to assess what is possible. However, Vang believes this project could have been further along if it had not been paused in March last year.
“I would say it’s a lack of political will from the Mayor and Council to invest in South Sacramento. We’ve been waiting for over a year now,” Vang said. “And I know we were ready to go last year in March, but we were asked to put things on hold.”
The last time the 102 Acres project was formally discussed by the city council was in the spring of last year. The meeting was expected to bring forward the next steps. But the council stopped short of proposing a final plan.
At that meeting, Mayor Kevin McCarty cautioned against committing to a concept without clear financial backing, saying the city should avoid locking itself into something it cannot afford over the long term.
In a recent interview with CapRadio, McCarty did not commit to what he wants the site to become, though he floated ideas including a public-private partnership, addressing current homelessness needs, and bringing in a development partner. He says the city should still avoid locking itself into something too costly.
McCarty said that selling the land could be considered.
“Certainly, the city could sell it. We could lease it. There are a number of options for us and we’re exploring them all,” McCarty said.
McCarty says that without a clear project plan, the process cannot move forward.
“We don’t have a partner to do anything there yet,” he said. “That’s why we’re launching this [RFEI] process… I’m looking forward to the outcomes and applications that come forward, and we’ll go from there.”
Vang is still pushing for the development to happen. She has pointed to years of community listening sessions as the foundation for whatever comes next. Vang said she the vision to be led by South Sacramento residents.
Residents listen during a community meeting about the future of Sacramento’s 102-acre Meadowview site in South Sacramento on Feb. 4, 2026.Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio
Vang’s office earlier this month hosted an in-person community meeting where city staff walked residents through the city’s RFEI plan and explained what could come next.
Jesse Reese, president of the Meadowview Neighborhood Association, said his group has attended multiple meetings about the site over the years.
Reese said the community wants something that benefits families and keeps young people active.
“Somewhere where kids can go play,” he said. “They always talk about affordable homes. So, we know that 25% of that property is designated for affordable homes.”
He added that recreational amenities could also make a difference.
“For me, I wouldn’t mind seeing a skateboard venture,” Reese said.
Reese acknowledged the project’s slow pace but said delays tied to leadership changes are understandable.
“When the new mayor took over… that been a slight bit of delay,” he said, noting that new councilmembers also needed time to get up to speed.
Neighboring communities are also watching closely. Junior Gorris, president of the Delta Shores Community Association, said his group has been tracking the site since forming about a year ago.
“It was a promise made by the city to the residents of District 8 and we want to make sure that they’re following through,” Gorris said.
Gorris said whatever gets built should strengthen the local economy.
“We just want something that’s economically beneficial to our residents and to our neighbors and to our business operators,” he said.
He said Delta Shores, which sits just a short drive away, could be directly impacted by whatever rises on the site.
“If you’re not making a decision, someone’s going to make a decision for you,” Gorris said.
At the most recent meeting, at least one developer attended, indicating private-sector interest.
But no specific proposal has been endorsed by the city.
The RFEI proposals from those interested in building on the land are due by late February. City staff are expected to review these submissions and report back to council later this year.
Even if a direction is selected soon, development would likely take years. Until then, the 102 acres will remain open land in South Sacramento, with multiple visions over the years but no final blueprint.
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