Controversial McKinley Village Project Passes Sacramento City Council On 6-3 Vote

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A controversial housing project got the go-ahead on Tuesday from the Sacramento City Council in a meeting that nearly lasted into the next day.

The council approved the McKinley Village development that would add 300 homes to East Sacramento on a 6-3 vote. Council members Steve Cohn, Angelique Ashby, and Kevin McCarty voted against it.

In front of a packed room, developer and former gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides tried to win over the naysayers, outlining his proposal to build the homes on vacant land along Business 80 in East Sacramento.

"I hope we can look back in 20, 30 years, 40 years when all the discussion has subsided, that McKinley Village is part of our community in our wonderful family of neighborhoods as this community has evolved," he said.

In total, 90 people signed up to speak on the $160 million project. The biggest sticking point was whether a tunnel should be built through a railroad levee to allow cars easier access—something the developer says would be too costly.