LETTERS: Could Sunrise Mall be a future site for the Sacramento Zoo?

Sentinel Staff Report–
This week’s Letters to the Editor discuss future possibilities and desires for the Sunrise Mall property, including a question of whether it would be a good location for the Sacramento Zoo.

Sunrise Mall Property and Sacramento Zoo: I was wondering if anyone has looked into the Sunrise Mall property for the new location for the Sacramento Zoo? There is 100 acres and that is much larger than the 65 acres that Elk Grove offered. I know all of the schools, families, and communities near by would love to have the zoo there! Who needs to get together to have that conversation? It would be a community space and create revenue for the city and community. It seems like a logical solution for the recent set backs for both the zoo and sunrise mall property development projects.
-Bridgett Locken, Fair Oaks

Sunrise Mall Development: First, I want a MALL – not housing – not hotel – but somewhere I can go for quality shopping, eating, entertainment and a fun place to spend time with friends – it used to be like that. I remember when everyone fought for parking spaces at the mall.

We don’t need a Home Depot when we already have two within close distance. We don’t need a hotel – Citrus Heights is not a “Go To” place for conventions or sports and is not near a freeway. As Carly Harms stated in her letter on April 19th, I fear what the clientele would be.

I’m not a fast food eater but I understand and respect that many people are. Citrus Heights is already saturated with drive-through restaurants and I really crave something better – but I know that In ‘n Out is extremely popular and not near us and it sounds like it would attract a lot of customers so that would make sense. We need a quality eat-in restaurant. I remember when La Bou was at the Sunrise Mall and, although not high end, I ate there all the time – it had healthy, reasonably priced food with take-out option – I miss it!

I certainly don’t understand all the legalities of the relationship between Ethan Conrad and the City of Citrus Heights, but truly believe that someone has to buy him and any other owners out because they obviously don’t know or care about what the residents of Citrus Heights want. I don’t understand why are they allowed to just sit on it or offer unacceptable options. To me, the Mall property is the only “Jewel” we have left in Citrus Heights and there has to be a common sense solution to making it a “I want to go” place again. I don’t want to have to go to Roseville or Folsom.

I think there has to be something at the mall that will attract not only customers but also quality businesses. I’ve read about other “dying” malls throughout the country that have put indoor pickle ball courts – a “new” sport that has skyrocketed in interest the last few years and doesn’t appear to be a trend and they have been successful – people don’t want to play in the rain and cold. There are pickle ball franchises that have been setting up business in vacant mall spaces and it has attracted people who go on to dining at restaurants and shopping the retail stores. If not pickle ball, we need something NEW that will bring back the OLD.
— Donna Brady, Citrus Heights

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