SACRAMENTO, California — The recent announcement of longtime business, Rio City Café, closing in Old Sacramento has sparked questions about the future of the waterfront.
This week, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg's Office announced a $40+ million plan to revitalize the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The announcement included conceptual renderings.
According to the mayor's office, the plan includes creating new public and performance spaces, constructing a platform with views of the Sacramento River, and in the short term, rebuilding worn wooden sidewalks.
The mayor's office said city staff have been working on the plan for about a year.
It also includes renovating or replacing the public market buildings which currently house a number of eateries, including Railroad Fish and Chips.
"We're really excited, any addition would be wonderful here," said Dean Huitrado, owner of Railroad Fish and Chips.
Ed Coyne, co-owner of the Delta King, a historic paddlewheel boat with a hotel and restaurants on the riverfront, is also excited about the plan, saying it's been a long time coming.
The Sacramento City Council approved a similar plan in 2019 that was halted because of the pandemic. This latest plan is an updated version of that.
"Concerns that I have, I think would be only two: would be the preservation of this part of Front Street at the waterfront here, which is where the transcontinental railroad begins," Huitrado said. "We would want to preserve all that as much as possible, leaving these buildings intact."
Huitrado also mentioned he hopes that businesses can stay open during renovations.
Jason Minow, owner of Sacramento Sweets Co., isn't convinced.
"I think that there's some other ideas that are better like lighting and security and cleanliness and history," he said.
The mayor's office said the revitalization efforts would be funded through revenue from the hotel tax, telling ABC10 that there is enough funds now to make it happen.
They told ABC10 that the renovations would take several years to complete but some will happen quicker, including a new playground planned to completed as early as next spring. The mayor's office said the plan should be coming before the council for a vote in the next few months.
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