The site is equivalent in size to the existing downtown central business district and holds significant historical and cultural importance to Sacramento.
The yards steadily expanded, becoming the biggest railroad facility west of the Mississippi River and employing approximately one-third of all Sacramento workers in the early decades of the 20th century.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency have identified numerous soil and groundwater contaminants on and near the development area.
[8] After remediation and NPL deletion in 1991, a 2007 review of the site assessed that while the contaminants still persist, their levels remain protective of human health concerns.
By focusing on regional employment opportunities, cultural destinations, and high‐quality residential neighborhoods, the Railyards calls for improved land use efficiency and reduced GHG emissions through a healthy jobs‐housing balance; multi‐modal connectivity; urban centers with jobs, housing, shopping, services, and transit; and advanced green building practices.
The Central Shops District will spark the renaissance of downtown Sacramento and will become the epicenter of activity for the Railyards as they are transformed into a modern, urban village.
The historic railyard central shops were once a place of industrial progress, where thousands of mechanics, craftsmen, and engineers spent long days building entire locomotives from the ground up.
The Railyards Central Shops District will be adaptively reused in a way that preserves the historical significance and architecture of the brick buildings, and evolves it into a revolutionary new future.
The Central Shops District will offer unique retail and entertainment venues, as well as art and cultural experiences that are distinct to our region and city.