By Mike Hazlip—
Major development proposals and projects in Citrus Heights to keep an eye on in 2023 include a mix of commercial and residential projects in various areas of the city.
Sunrise Tomorrow. The city’s flagship project, Sunrise Tomorrow, is poised to welcome new development this year with an application under review showing the footprint of a hotel at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, city documents show.
Commercial real estate investor Ethan Conrad is also seeking to attract tenants or buyers for the former Sears buildings and acres of surrounding parking lots that he acquired in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to a listing on commercial real estate site LoopNet.
Related:City says developer considering hotel at Sunrise and Greenback
Hurdles remain, however, with Conrad suggesting more flexibility in the city’s approved plan. In an email to The Sentinel last month, Conrad said he would like to see the plan modified “so that as much of the existing buildings can be retained as much as possible, versus demolishing all of the existing buildings and constructing new buildings, which will be very costly and may not be feasible.”
Citrus Grove. Another highly visible project is the Citrus Grove shopping center at Auburn Boulevard near Interstate 80. The former Studio Movie Grill site has seen interest from another theater, according to a previous report by The Sentinel. Leasing materials list the site as unavailable, with “Theater coming soon” noted on the brochure, last updated in September 2022.
Citrus Grove anchor tenant Big Lots recently shuttered its doors in January, leaving another vacant commercial space in the shopping center. Across the street, the city is also reviewing a proposal to demolish a liquor story and construct a new Starbucks.
Related: Citrus Heights coffee drive-thru closes amid plans for new Starbucks
Sunrise Village. The Sunrise Village redevelopment has been underway since demolition of the former Benihana restaurant in March of 2021.
The center is poised to welcome new tenant City Sports Club and an unnamed grocery tenant that sources say could be an Amazon Fresh. City Sports is set to begin work on interior tenant improvements before officially opening the location.
Sylvan Corners. Two new projects could transform Sylvan Corners. Woodside Homes is planning a 95-home community on the site where Sylvan Middle School once stood, on the northwestern corner of the intersection.
Related: What’s happening with the plan to build 95 homes at Sylvan Corners?
The proposal calls for 70 traditional single-family homes and 25 lots with an alley entrance to the garage. Those 25 homes will face outward toward Auburn Boulevard in an effort to increase the curb appeal of the busy thoroughfare. Plans on the city’s website show 81 homes would be market-rate, while 14 are shown as affordable units.
Just east of the Woodside Homes development is a proposal for a new 16,000-square-foot church along Old Auburn Road. The Mission Rock of Salvation plans to develop an existing lot with a facility that includes a 351-seat sanctuary, a lobby, a coffee and snack area, and offices.
