Redefining The Core: Downtown Sacramento

This article gives an overview of Downtown Sacramento projects in various stages of development. It’s part of our Redefining the Core coverage, which features projects in the works, proposed or completed in the central city. While proposed or in the works projects appear likely, it’s possible not every project will make it to the completion phase.

IN THE WORKS

Gregory Bateson Building

Developer: State of California, Department of General Services

Description: Extensive renovation of the four-story, 215,000-square-foot building that dates to 1981. Work includes replacing deficient plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, telecommunication and security systems; renovating elevators; improving disability access; removing hazardous materials; repairing water damage; and detailing exterior facades.

Location: 1600 Ninth St.

Cost: $161.5 million for progressive design-build contract

Status: Construction is underway and expected to be completed in late 2024.

Jesse Unruh Building

Developer: State of California, Department of General Services

Description: Extensive renovation of the 1928 building, which has 125,000 square feet of usable space. Work includes removing hazardous materials; replacing deficient plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, telecommunication and security systems; installing new elevators; and improving disability access. The State Treasurer’s Office is the building’s primary tenant.

Location: 915 Capitol Mall

Cost: About $158 million for progressive design-build contract

Status: Construction is underway and expected to be completed in summer 2025.

Former Resources Building

Developer: State of California, Department of General Services

Description: Extensive renovation of the 17-story building, which was built in 1964, to house about 2,500 state employees. In addition to major gutting, work includes completely replacing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, telecommunications and security systems. It also includes removing hazardous materials, shoring up the building’s structural integrity and replacing the roof and facade.

Location: 1416 Ninth St.

Cost: About $409 million for progressive design-build contract

Status: Construction is underway and slated to be finished in late 2025.

New Capitol Annex Building

Developer: State of California, Joint Rules Committee/State Legislature

Description: Construction of a new building to replace the 70-year-old annex, which didn’t meet seismic codes or comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new 525,000-square-foot building would be a “double-T” shaped building designed to meet or exceed current seismic codes. The project also would include an underground parking garage with 150 spaces.

Location: Eastern half of the state Capitol building located at 1315 10th St.

Cost: Estimated at more than $1.2 billion

Status: After a three-year legal battle, the existing annex building was demolished in summer 2023. Construction is underway and slated to be finished in 2026.

Cypress

Developer: Capitol Area Development Authority, D&S Development

Description: Construction of an eight-story building with more than 90 market-rate units and 1,830 square feet of ground-floor retail. Amenities will include a pool, community lounge, gym and eighth-floor terrace with barbecue and seating areas. Depending on the market, some units could be available for purchase.

Location: 1330 N St.

Cost: $50 million. D&S bought the site for $2.4 million.

Status: Construction started in January 2023 and is slated to be completed in spring 2025.

13C Apartment Development

Developer: Vrilakas Groen Architects, property owner is the Merin Williams Family Trust

Description: The first phase of the project consists of eight studio apartments in a two-story building. The second phase calls for two three-story buildings with 22 one-bedroom apartments on an L-shaped lot. The one-bedroom units will be 420 square feet.

Location: 216 13th St. for the first phase; 1221 C St. for the second phase.

Cost: Not determined

Status: Construction on the first phase of 13C is underway and expected to be completed in May 2024. Application and plans for the second phase were filed in January 2024 and are under review. Construction for that phase is expected to begin in June 2024 and be completed in June 2025.

7&I

Developer: 730 I Street Investors LLC (Bay Miry, David Miry, Steve Lebastchi)

Description: Rehab of a three-story vacant office building. Capital Public Radio leased about half the building — more than 30,000 square feet on the second and third floors — for its new headquarters. But due to financial constraints, the radio station announced in late March that it is not moving into the space and is instead remaining at its current headquarters at California State University Sacramento.

Location: 730 I St.

Cost: Not disclosed for the shell and lobby rehab. Last year, CapRadio said its direct construction cost for its space was $7.7 million.

Status: Rehab of the shell, lobby and the CapRadio space has been completed. The station said it will continue working to resolve its lease obligations at 730 I St. None of the other available space in the building has been leased.

CapRadio Live

Developer: Capital Public Radio

Description: Renovation of the ground floor of 1010 Eighth St. to house a 7,500-square-foot performance venue. The space features a 190-seat, broadcast-ready blackbox theater, a lobby and covered outdoor space for events.

Location: 1010 Eighth St.

Cost: Direct construction cost is $7.2 million

Status: Construction at CapRadio Live began in 2021, and the venue was expected to open in spring 2024. But those plans have been put on hold as CapRadio tackles its financial situation. Although the station has decided not to move into the new headquarters space it leased at Seventh and I streets, it has not announced its plans for the CapRadio Live space.

The Sequoia

Developer: The John Stewart Co., Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing

Description: Rehab of a 1910 hotel into 88 units of permanent supportive housing for residents who were previously homeless. Plans call for adding kitchenettes and bathrooms to 16 units and renovating 72 single-room occupancy units. Each floor will have a community kitchen and bathroom, and the ground floor will have a community room, laundry room, bike storage and property management offices. New mechanical systems, elevators, flooring, plumbing, fire safety and light fixtures will be installed. Services will include mental and physical health care, substance abuse counseling and job training.

Location: 911 K St.

Cost: $50.1 million

Status: Construction was scheduled to start in April 2024 and will be completed by the end of 2025.

PROPOSED

Kroma

Developer: 1121 I Street QOF, a limited liability company established by RCB Equities for the project

Description: Construction of an eight-story building with 206 market-rate apartments and ground-floor coworking space. Amenities would include a two-story ground-floor lobby and fitness center, a landscaped courtyard on the third-floor podium deck and a sky lounge and outdoor terrace on the eighth floor. Project would include 93 parking spaces, a pet wash and bike shop for tenants. The site was a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. store and service center, which would be demolished.

Location: 1121 I St.

Cost: About $66 million in construction costs. Developer purchased the property in May 2022 for $6.47 million as an opportunity zone investment.

Status: Entitlements have been approved, and the developer is submitting building permits. The goal is to demolish the existing buildings in May and June 2024 and to break ground in July 2024.

1023 J St.

Developer: RCB Equities

Description: Construction of an eight-story building with 270 apartments, 4,349 square feet of ground-floor retail and 151 vehicle parking spaces. Plans call for a second-floor clubhouse with an outdoor courtyard, kitchens and fire pits. The fourth floor would have a pool, outdoor kitchens and game areas, while the eighth floor would have a rooftop terrace/clubhouse. Existing commercial buildings on the site would be demolished.

Location: 1023 J St.

Cost: About $98 million. RCB Equities purchased the property from the Saca family in late December 2022 for $7 million. Previously, a 40-story residential project called the Metropolitan had been proposed for the site but the project never moved past city approvals.

Status: An application was filed in August 2023 and approved in March 2024. Developer would like to begin construction by late 2025.

Aiden by Best Western Hotel

Developer: SJ Hospitality Inc. in Davis

Description: Adaptive reuse of a four-story office building into a hotel with 73 rooms and 55 parking spaces. The office building, dubbed the Offices at Retro Lodge, was originally built as a hotel in the 1950s. It was converted to office space more than a decade ago. Project would involve both exterior and interior renovations.

Location: 1111 H St.

Cost: Not disclosed. SJ Hospitality purchased the office space in 2022 for $6.12 million.

Status: Application and design plans were approved in June 2023. Construction documents are currently being reviewed.

700 J Hotel

Developer: Hume Development

Description: Adaptive reuse of a seven-story office building into a hotel with 107 rooms. Built in 1915, the 79,000-square-foot building once housed a bank branch on its first floor. Plans calls for a 2,725 square-foot restaurant and bar on the first floor as well as a banquet hall and smaller private dining area. The basement, once used as a bank vault, would have a private dining room, small bar and restaurant and a prep kitchen. The building is listed on the city’s register of historically significant structures.

Location: 700 J St.

Cost: Not determined. Hume is in contract to acquire the building, with escrow set to close in about six months. The building’s current owner bought the building for $11.65 million in November 2016.

Status: An application for the project was submitted in late January 2024. Revised plans were submitted in April and are under review.

Esperanza

Developer: Urban Capital LLC, Ibex Ventures, Gateway Development

Description: Construction of a 49,720-square-foot building with 132 apartments. It would have 86 studio apartments, each with 320 square feet, and 46 one-bedroom lofts ranging from 480 to 520 square feet. Amenities would include a community courtyard, bike storage and a lounge. Project is aimed at tenants with 80% to 120% of the area median income.

Location: 424 12th St.

Cost: $28 million

Status: Entitlements are being prepared, and design reviews are underway.

13C Studios

Developer: SKK Developments

Description: Construction of two three-story apartment buildings with 126 units combined. The two buildings would be separated by a courtyard complete with fire pits, barbecue grills and lounge seating. Other amenities would include a fitness center and bike storage room.

Location: 1300, 1310 C St.

Cost: Estimated at $25.6 million

Status: Developer is in the process of procuring entitlements and hopes to start construction before the end of 2024.

The Diggs

Developer: Heller Pacific

Description: Conversion of a four-story office building into housing, retail and office space. Project would include 140 market-rate, loft-style apartments, 10,000 square feet of office and restaurant space, and 25,000 square feet of mini storage space.

Location: 1800 Third St.

Cost: About $50 million

Status: Heller Pacific is under contract to buy the 204,800-square-foot building from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. Developer filed a preliminary application in December 2023, is close to submitting entitlements and hopes to start construction in early 2025.

Sacramento County Jail Expansion

Developer: Sacramento County

Description: Construction of a mental and medical health facility and booking site on a vacant lot next to the main jail.

Location: 651 I St., where the main jail is located

Cost: Estimated at $925 million

Status: In August 2023, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors hired Kitchell CEM Inc. as project and construction manager for the project. Contractors were expected to be hired in early 2025, with construction beginning in 2026 and completed in 2028. In December 2023, amid extensive opposition, the supervisors decided to pause the project while they enlist a third-party review of the proposal.

Lot X

Developer: Southern Land Co.

Description: Construction of two residential towers and 21 townhomes with a combined total of 438 rental units. The tallest tower, with 26 stories, would have 263 apartments. The shorter tower would be 14 stories and have 154 apartments, plus some flex space for offices. The two towers combined would have 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. An eight-story parking structure would be between the two towers.

Location: 201 N St. for the 26-story tower; the 14-story tower would be at the southwest corner of Third Street and Capitol.

Cost: About $325 million. Southern Land bought the 2.58-acre site in October 2021 from the Sacramento Kings for $16.75 million.

Status: No timetable has been set for this project.

Sacramento Canopy by Hilton & Residences

Developer: Eva Hill, CEO of Venture Oaks Real Estate Group

Description: Construction of a 14-story building with 265 hotel rooms on the first 11 floors and 55 luxury apartments on the top three floors. Amenities would include a rooftop lounge, ground-floor bar and restaurant, outdoor terrace, five meeting spaces and a fitness center. The hotel would operate under Hilton’s Canopy brand.

Location: 831 L St.

Cost: About $150 million

Status: Project has been approved. Construction start date is pending.

1401 H St.

Developer: Lotus Equity Partners, TGERI Investments

Description: Construction of a five-story building with 60 short-term rental units, plus about 1,700 square feet of ground-floor retail. Amenities would include a fitness center, fifth-floor deck and bicycle parking. The units would rent at market rates and could be used to house actors performing at the neighboring UC Davis Health Pavilion.

Location: 1401 H St.

Cost: Not disclosed. Lotus Equity Partners bought the site for $1.25 million from the Sacramento Kings in early 2020.

Status: Application and design were approved in December 2020. Project is on hold.

HRGA Office

Developer: HRGA

Description: Construction of a two-story office and residential project on what’s currently a parking lot. The first floor, with about 2,700 square feet, would provide office space for HRGA, an architectural firm now located on Fair Oaks Boulevard in Sacramento. The second floor would feature two one-bedroom units.

Location: 714 14th St.

Cost: Not disclosed

Status: Plans have been approved. There’s no timeline yet for construction due to the economy and high interest rates.

800 Block

Developer: CFY Development Inc.

Description: Construction of two buildings with about 150 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space. Amenities would include coworking spaces, community rooms, music lounges and a rooftop terrace.

Location: 800 K St. and 801 L St.

Cost: $90 million

Status: Plans have been approved but the entitlements expired in October 2022. Developer plans to resubmit for entitlements after financing is in place.

10K

Developer: Mohanna Development Co.

Description: Construction of a 15-story, mixed-use building with 220 hotel rooms, 186 apartments and a rooftop bar. The building also would have 7,400 square feet of first-floor retail space and a floor of co-living space with separate bedrooms and bathrooms but shared living areas.

Location: 920, 924 and 930 K St., on the site of three empty buildings Mohanna purchased in 2015.

Cost: Not determined

Status: Project was approved in 2018. Citing challenging market conditions, Mohanna requested and was granted a three-year extension of entitlements, which would have expired July 23, 2024. The new expiration date is July 23, 2027.

Alkali Flats on 12th

Developer: Owner is Alex Leon

Description: Construction of a five-story mixed-use building with 24 apartments above about 5,000 square feet of retail space. There also would be a rooftop amenity for residents.

Location: 330 12th St.

Cost: Not disclosed

Status: Project was approved in June 2019. There is no known timetable for construction.

Crocker Art Museum Art Park

Developer: Crocker Art Museum Association, city of Sacramento

Description: Construction of an art-focused public park on a 3-acre unimproved parcel across the street from the current museum complex.

Location: 216 O St.

Cost: $30 million to $40 million for the full art park

Status: The City Parks Department is taking the lead on creating sidewalks and pathways in the area. The museum would place a sculpture or two at the site. Those improvements should be complete by 2026; the full project is on hiatus.

Sacramento Valley Station

Developer: City of Sacramento

Description: Construction of a new transit center and public space near the historic Sacramento Valley train station. The first phase would involve building a bus mobility center with an elevated 18-berth bus terminal and a lower level for micro-transit access, bike facilities and small parking garage. The second phase would include building an elevated train station over the train tracks. Plans include adding up to 750,000 square feet of commercial space and 460 housing units. The existing station has 26,000 square feet of leasable office and retail space.

Location: 32 acres near the Sacramento Valley Station at 401 I St.

Cost: $90 million for the mobility center. Costs for future phases have not been determined.

Status: City Council approved the final master plan for the station in April 2021. Depending on funding, construction of the bus mobility terminal could begin by 2026. In the meantime, the city is working on smaller rerouting and road projects related to the new terminal.

COMPLETED

The Bernice

Developer: The Michaels Organization

Description: Construction of a five-story building with 187 market-rate apartments. There are 73 studios, 101 one-bedroom and 13 two-bedroom units. Amenities include a coworking space, clubhouse and an upper-floor sky lounge facing Downtown. There’s also a fitness center, pool and hot tub, an outdoor fire pit and barbecues and a nine-foot outdoor video screen facing the pool

Location: 1900 Third St.

Cost: $60 million

Status: Construction started in April 2022 and was recently completed.

The Saint Clare at Capitol Park

Developer: Mercy Housing California, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency

Description: Conversion of a former 180-room hotel and temporary homeless shelter into 134 studio units for previously unhoused residents. Each studio unit includes a kitchenette, full bathroom and bed. There are community meeting areas, bike parking, a laundry room and on-site case management plus about 2,670 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

Location: 1125 Ninth St.

Cost: $76 million

Status: Construction began in January 2021 and was completed in December 2023. The first residents moved in during January 2024. In February 2024, the project was 60% leased.

Envoy

Developer: Anthem Properties

Description: Construction of a seven-story apartment building with 153 market-rate units, about 10,000 square feet of first-floor retail and a 102-stall basement parking lot. Amenities include a fitness center, rooftop deck, lounge and central courtyard.

Location: 1010 11th St.

Cost: Not disclosed. Canada-based Anthem bought the property for $5 million in 2018.

Status: Construction was completed in June 2023. Leasing is underway.

AC Hotel Sacramento

Developer: The owner, Phota Sacramento LLC, is affiliated with American Hospitality Services Inc. in Elk Grove.

Description: Construction of an eight-story hotel with 179 rooms and a ground-floor restaurant and bar. There’s also a media center and business center on the first floor and a fitness center on the second floor. The hotel is an AC Hotels by Marriott brand.

Location: 905 Seventh St.

Cost: $40 million. Phota Sacramento purchased the property in February 2020 for $3.5 million.

Status: Project broke ground in October 2021 and opened March 7, 2024.

Central Sacramento Studios

Developer: City of Sacramento, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Danco Communities

Description: Conversion of a Best Western Plus hotel into a supportive housing project with 92 units. Each unit has a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. The first floor features a community garden and recreational area for residents. The property also includes a restaurant at 815 11th St. Sacramento County is providing supportive services for 15 units; the remaining residents are receiving supportive services from Sacramento-based LifeSTEPS.

Location: 1100 H St.

Cost: About $30 million. The city received a $23.9 million state grant and SHRA received a $3.1 million state grant for the project in January 2022. In addition, the project received a $4 million loan from SHRA for construction.

Status: Construction began in April 2022 and is now complete.

Developer: Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Description: Construction of a state-of-the-art electrical substation that powers thousands of customers in the Downtown core. It contains four massive transformers surrounded by massive concrete blast walls, 2 miles of conduit, and many more miles of wiring.

Location: 1.5 acres at G and Seventh streets

Cost: $94 million

Status: Construction started in August 2020 and was completed in summer 2023.