SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Areas along Florin Road like the former Florin Mall were once places where the community came together, according to Florin Road Partnership executive director Corey A. De Roo.
"I went shopping at Florin Mall and even if you weren't in South Sacramento, you still went to the mall," she said.
When she heard news of an Oaxacan Mexican restaurant potentially moving into the former Sears Auto Center, she became hopeful the area would see more improvement and visibility going into 2024.
The property owner behind the recent purchase of the former Sears Auto Center, Ethan Conrad Properties, also purchased the rest of the former Sears property to turn into a Raising Cane's location.
A further investment along Florin Road included Ethan Conrad Properties buying a 14-acre plot of land on Florin Road and Franklin Boulevard for about $2 million, said De Roo.
"The Sears property has been sitting stagnant for so long so we're really looking forward to seeing it repurposed," she said.
Florin Road beautification
De Roo has been executive director of the Florin Road Partnership since 2016, leading the organization to its goal of revitalizing the shopping corridor along Florin Road.
According to the partnership, Florin Road has more than 215 property owners and 400 merchants.
The partnership is currently working on the Clean California Grant and launching the Florin Road Community Beautification project — a $1.2 million investment a year-and-a-half in the making.
Sacramento Art Program coordinator April Breis says the project aims to improve public spaces in the area through waste reduction and public murals.
"Project funding has already provided the target area with three new murals, two of which can be found at the corner of Tamoshanter and Florin Road, one on a retaining wall at Florin Square and the other on the backside of Quality Tune up and the third at the Food Maxx located at 3860 Florin Road," said Breis. "These murals were created by local artists and the community through a paint-by-number style mural painting events."
Other planned developments in the area as part of the Florin Road Community Beautification Project include:
- Metal art sculptures throughout the district depicting historical figures, with 20 of the sculptures doubling as public seating and seven will be more than 10-feet high.
- Updated landscaping such as drought-tolerant plants and shaded trees are planned for spring 2024.
- Litter abatement internships for youth to clear waste.
Florin Road Square marketing director Aaron Boyce said the area often gets a bad reputation but the community is strong and resilient.
Florin Square is one of the largest collaborations of Black-owned businesses in Northern California, with several retail stores, services and nonprofits.
"In terms of residents, you'll see Black, Hispanic, eastern Asian and for the most part we all work together," said Boyce. "What I like about the area is when you walk and drive through, you'll see businesses that reflect those demographics."
He says the best way to dispel the notion Florin Road is a bad area is to bring people into the neighborhood and show them the businesses as well as the people.
"You'll see between now and June 2024 some beautiful walls and improvements, including murals done by neighborhood artists up and down the road," said Boyce.
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