West Sacramento is moving to transform a contaminated industrial site across from Sutter Health Park into a future development opportunity tied to the city’s growing Bridge District \u2014 and possibly its Major League Baseball ambitions.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the West Sacramento City Council unanimously approved the $3.2 million purchase of a nearly three-acre property on Riske Lane, directly across from the stadium where the A’s and Sacramento River Cats play.<\/p>\n
“This property is sort of the last remaining industrial use in the Bridge District,” City Manager Aaron Laurel said.<\/p>\n
The neighborhood has undergone a major transformation over the last decade, with new housing and businesses moving in.<\/p>\n
“It’s a nice place that’s grown along the riverfront,” Mayor Martha Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
Guerrero said the property is in the area where there could one day be a new Major League Baseball stadium.<\/p>\n
“It’s no secret that we’ve been interested in taking a look at a Major League Baseball expansion team,” she said.<\/p>\n
But there are some safety concerns over the land itself.<\/p>\n
“The city has a long track record of taking on challenged properties like this,” Laurel said.<\/p>\n
Laurel said that most recently, it was a stucco manufacturing plant.<\/p>\n
In the 1970s, a lead-acid battery business was located there, and the soil is still hazardous. A state inspection found lead levels at the site were 1,500 milligrams per kilogram.<\/p>\n
That’s more than 18 times higher than the level that’s considered acceptable for reuse without restrictions.<\/p>\n
Lead contamination is considered a human health hazard that can cause cardiovascular and kidney damage, and developmental delays in children.<\/p>\n
“Without the city doing this work, it’s very unlikely a private developer would be able to take it on,” Laurel said. “The purchase price does reflect a consideration of the contamination and the cleanup costs we expect.”<\/p>\n
Plans for the property include using it to extend and widen some existing streets and provide more public parking. In the future, it could be a mix of residential and commercial uses.<\/p>\n
It’s an effort to turn this hazardous spot into a place that could one day have a major league view.<\/p>\n
“We want to be able to transform that,” Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
Money for the land purchase and cleanup costs comes from property taxes in the bridge district that are dedicated towards public improvements.<\/p>\n