Development projects planned along Citrus Heights, Roseville border

By Mike Hazlip—
An eyesore area on the outskirts of Citrus Heights could look quite different in a few years.

A long-vacant site that was once home to a popular night club just across the border in Roseville is now proposed for demolition, while several new drive-thru’s, a theater, and a $20-million-plus investment from the City of Citrus Heights in roadway improvements are also planned nearby.

The Station, located just over the border at 1100 Orlando Ave., announced a “temporary” closure in 2017, but the site has remained vacant for several years since that time. Now, an application for a car wash has been submitted.

Roseville Public Information Officer Helen Dyda confirmed in a May 24 email to The Sentinel that an application for a stand-alone, drive-thru car wash facility was received. The application includes removing The Station building, Dyda said. The city did not comment on when the application was submitted or any timeline for the project.

The unique building incorporates train cars in the architecture, with an iconic red caboose worked into the front entrance area.

The building was a popular bar and night club until it became embroiled in legal action with the City of Roseville for about three years until a 2011 court ruling, according to a report by Gold Country Media. The news outlet said the court ruled in favor of the city in a lawsuit filed by The Station that claims the city wrongfully revoked their dance permit, and the location was later the scene of a shooting in 2016.

The car wash proposal comes amid plans to build a Starbucks just inside city limits at 8540 Auburn Blvd. Those plans were approved by the Citrus Heights Planning Commission earlier this month, according to a previous report by The Sentinel.

From May 13: Citrus Heights commissioners approve plans for new Starbucks

The project involves constructing a 2,241-square-foot building that will house a Starbucks with a drive-thru and indoor and outdoor seating options, including a 400 square foot plaza. While the existing retail space occupied by Tea It and Waggin’ Tails will remain, the plan includes demolishing a current coffee kiosk and a liquor store.

Adjacent to Starbucks, the same applicant has also proposed a second 2,600-square-foot “quick serve restaurant” with a two-lane drive thru on an adjacent parcel the applicant also owns. That proposal will be separately reviewed by the City of Roseville, as it is located just across the border. Documents filed with the City of Citrus Heights show Panda Express as the restaurant slated to occupy the site.

The county line separating Placer and Sacramento that also serves as Citrus Heights’ northern border runs between the planned Starbucks and Panda Express. Unincorporated Placer County also shares a piece of the site with the Roseville city limit ending just east of the development site, public records show.

Also on The Sentinel: Citrus Heights moves ahead with next step to expand city’s borders

Nearby, a theater is still planned for the former Kmart site — although original plans for a Studio Movie Grill were cancelled during the pandemic. Details remain slim, but a leasing brochure last updated in January this year shows the site at 8501 Auburn Blvd. is leased, with a “theater coming soon” shown in the brochure. The neighboring former Big Lots location is shown as available.

The City of Citrus Heights is also finalizing long-delayed plans to begin construction on the second phase of a major revitalization project for Auburn Boulevard. The project will continue where phase one left off at Rusch Park and will extend to Orlando Avenue through a partnership with Roseville.

That project will include a new signalized “gateway” arch over Auburn Boulevard near California Burger, along with roadway widening, bike lanes, new sidewalks, street trees and under-grounding of utilities. Construction will begin in 2024, according to the latest update from the city.

From 2021: City seeks input on new ‘gateway’ arch for Auburn Blvd