Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights city leaders gathered earlier this month to consider three different conceptual options for a re-envisioned Sunrise Mall.
Options ranged from mild to radical transformation, with the City Council and Planning Commission directing a consultant to pursue a “21st Century Main Street” layout. A summary of each conceptual plan is included below:
Central Park: a conceptual plan that would see demolition and redevelopment of the entire 100-acre mall property, with an amenity-focus including two hotels and central space for a water park and sports field.
Mall Refresh: a conceptual plan for “adaptive reuse” of the existing mall property that would maintain most buildings, but add two hotels and other residential/commercial space in under-utilized parking areas.
Main Street: a conceptual plan for creating a “21st Century Main Street” out of the mall property drew consensus from city leaders, featuring at least one hotel, over 800 residential units, a looping bike path, major office space and a “town center” for outdoor events.
Each plan varies in how well it aligns with a market analysis from MXD Development Strategists, a consultant hired by the city.
MXD’s moderate growth projections show demand for 938 multi-family units, including 135 senior units, at the mall property, based on projected 2040 demand. Projections also show demand for 455 hotel rooms, and 446,000-square-feet of office space, including about 10% medical.
Plans for the mall under the preferred “21st Century Main Street” layout largely match MXD’s market projections, calling for future development at the mall site to include 672,000 square feet of retail (including department/restaurant/entertainment), 465,000 square feet of office space, 823 units of residential, 233 hotel rooms and 13,000 square feet for community/institutional use.
The mall refresh layout calls for less retail and residential, at 634,000 square feet of retail, 449,000 square feet of office space, 611 units of residential housing, and 114,000 square feet for institutional use. The plan would allow for two hotels with 420 rooms, one of which would be full service.
Central Park’s layout calls for the least retail, with just 75,000 square feet allowed for retail, restaurants and entertainment — and no department stores. The plan would also have the least residential, with 562 units. Office space would be constructed with a total of 584,000 square feet, and significant institutional space for educational and community facilities would be included (297,000 square feet). Two hotels would also be incorporated, with a total of 327 rooms.
Although a preferred conceptual plan was selected during the March 12 study session, specifics are still being worked out and the city says revisions will continue to be made until a final Specific Plan is approved later this year. A second community workshop is slated to be held within the next few months, where more public input will be received on the conceptual plans.
As the city does not own the mall, the Specific Plan being drafted can only set a framework to guide future development at the site. The city is not able to dictate which specific tenants will set up shop.
According to the city’s consultant, the next step for the Sunrise Mall plan is determining specifics, including what use goes where, development standards for how high buildings can go, the number of parking spots needed, and traffic/environmental assessment.
To learn more about the preferred conceptual plan selected by city leaders, see prior story: Preferred plan for future Sunrise Mall area includes hotel, 800+ residential units.