City to unveil vision for Sunrise Mall in June 30 online workshop

Sentinel staff report–
The City of Citrus Heights on Tuesday will unveil its preferred concept design for transforming Sunrise Mall into a “21st Century Main Street.” The unveiling will occur during a public workshop held online via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. on June 30.

The preferred design seeks to create a pedestrian-friendly “main street” in the middle of the 100-acre Sunrise Mall property, with mixed-use housing and office space situated above stores and restaurants lining the street. A new two-acre park would also be situated at the center of the site, creating a “town square.”

In March, during a rare joint study session with members of the Planning Commission and City Council, city leaders selected the preferred “Main Street” conceptual plan for the future of the mall that calls for at least one hotel, over 800 residential units, a looping bike path, and major office space.

The preferred layout was selected out of three conceptual options presented by a consultant the city hired last year to develop a “shovel ready” Specific Plan to guide the mall’s future development.

“Our community has incredibly fond memories of the Sunrise Mall in its heyday – it was the commercial core of Citrus Heights,” said Meghan Huber, the city’s economic development and communications manager, in a news release. “Now, our Sunrise Tomorrow project sets a new vision for the mall site, and aims to make the area an economic engine, where our community can live, work, shop, and play.”

Following the unveiling, the city says a two-week online engagement effort will begin, where residents will be “encouraged to share their thoughts on the design concept.” The city previously solicited community input through the project’s website, sunrisetommorow.net, and a community workshop held in February.

Those interested in attending the virtual community workshop are asked to register at sunrisetomorrow.net.