Downtown's Next Decade outlines DSP plans for Sacramento

Downtown Sacramento Partnership unveiled "Downtown's Next Decade" at its State of Downtown breakfast, presenting a 10-year vision focused on safety, environmental management and economic opportunity; officials said the downtown district has grown from 66 to over 100 blocks.

Downtown Sacramento Partnership presented "Downtown's Next Decade," a ten-year vision for the city's core, at its annual State of Downtown breakfast. The plan focuses on renewing and expanding the downtown district while positioning it nationally. Officials described three core initiatives: safety, environmental management and economic opportunity. Speakers noted recent growth in the district and outlined near-term actions. What was announced: - DSP said the downtown area has expanded from 66 blocks to over 100, covering about 500 property and business owners. - A downtown safety plan includes hiring private security patrols, enhancing collaboration with law enforcement, and using technology to improve efficiency in high-need areas; DSP said a security contract was expected to be signed soon. - Environmental management plans emphasize placemaking and public space programming and note that perceptions of public space influence behavior. - Officials urged attention to downtown's economic role, promoting diversified uses such as housing, entertainment, cultural assets and employment within a walkable core. - Mayor Kevin McCarty noted a reported reduction in unsheltered homelessness over two years, the opening of 500 new beds in the last 15 months, and a plan for 600 more beds as part of a six-point approach. - Two new Old Sacramento tenants were announced: a restaurant in final negotiations to take over the former Rio City Café space, plus a Beer Garden planned for a section of the boardwalk. Summary: The plan frames downtown expansion and targeted investments as a way to create a safer, more active urban core and to attract a mix of uses and users. Near-term steps identified by officials include finalizing a private security contract and completing tenant negotiations in Old Sacramento; other implementation details and timelines were described at the event and remain to be developed further.