Sacramento mayor, city leaders approve plans to revitalize Old Sacramento, build downtown hotel
SACRAMENTO – The city council on Tuesday approved the funding for a revitalization of the Old Sacramento Waterfront and a new downtown hotel.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, accompanied by other city officials, announced last week a combined $46 million investment to go toward the waterfront and the construction of a new hotel at the SAFE Credit Convention Center.
Of that dollar amount, $40 million will go toward revamping the Old Sacramento Waterfront — the first $25 million will go toward riverfront projects and another $15 million will go to the private sector to match.
Steinberg said part of the plans include repurposing or rebuilding public market buildings, improving food and restaurant options, replacing the boardwalk and repairing docks. Also part of the plan is access to the Sacramento River.
Sacramento is set to get $4.6 million from the state for deferred maintenance and improved infrastructure. Steinberg also mentioned the city has funds from the Transient Occupancy Tax.
"We have many responsibilities as leaders, whether we're public or private sector leaders, in this community, but one of them is to build a bigger and more dynamic city. It is to create because more is good," Steinberg said when he announced the new funding.
Steinberg has held several events showcasing plans for the future of Old Sacramento, including renderings.
Early this year, Rio City Cafe closed after three decades on the waterfront. It closed due to financial troubles, including a city-owned deck that's in need of repair. The city said it doesn't have the funds to fix it.
As for the hotel, Steinberg says there will be a connection to a third-floor ballroom in the convention center and the hotel. The mayor hopes for construction to start as soon as possible.
The city council also approved allocating $2 million from the hotel tax to Visit Sacramento, something the mayor pushed for in his continued pursuit to make Sacramento a "City of Festivals."
Just last month, Sacramento hosted Aftershock and GoldenSky.
This comes nearly two weeks after the city council signed off on a term sheet to build a stadium for Sacramento Republic FC.