A fire displaced a family of 2 and 2 dogs Saturday, Feb. 15. // Sac Metro Fire
By Sara Beth Williams– Two occupants have been displaced by a fire that occurred Saturday morning, according to officials.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to a house on Wildwood Way in Citrus Heights Saturday morning just before 10 a.m. to reports of smoke coming from the attic and chimney area. Fire crews were able to contain the blaze to the home and the incident is under investigation.
Two occupants were able to escape without injury and have been displaced. Two dogs were also able to escape and were found safely in the backyard, according to officials. A cat was not able to escape and died in the fire.
An artistic rendering of potential development envisioned in the city’s Specific Plan for Sunrise Mall.
By Sara Beth Williams– The Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan aims to “re-imagine” the heart of Citrus Heights by transforming the Sunrise Mall property into a mixed-use development inspired by successful shopping and entertainment districts across the country.
The city’s plan references sections of areas like Sacramento’s K Street, Levy Park in Houston, Texas, downtown San Luis Obispo, Runway Playa Vista in Los Angeles, and Santana Row in San Jose as potential models both visually and conceptually, but comparisons remain difficult due to a variety of factors like income levels, population density, and other regional differences.
Last August, Citrus Heights City Councilmember Tim Schaefer said Santana Row was “not a fair comparison” for the future potential of Sunrise Mall. Instead, he pointed to Belmar Mall in Lakewood, Colorado, as a more realistic model for what the site could become.
In follow up comments to The Sentinel this week, Schaefer said the current development guide serves as a “menu of options” for developers, and that future development could look different than what’s presented on paper.
The desire to revitalize Sunrise Mall reflects a broader trend seen in cities across California and the country, where aging malls are being reimagined and replaced. Cities like Westminster, Santa Ana, San Leandro, and Cupertino are all currently working on redevelopment plans for former defunct malls.
The City Council of Westminster unanimously approved a specific plan in November 2022 for the former Westminster Mall in Southern California. The mall property spans nearly 100 acres, like Sunrise Mall, and had multiple property owners and long-term leases at the time the plan was approved. As of early 2024, the city still remains in the planning phase.
Santa Ana approved a development plan for MainPlace Mall in 2019. Like the Sunrise Tomorrow plan, the MainPlace Mall Transformation Project envisions adding residential units, hotel rooms, office space, and commercial areas. As of September 2024, the demolition of the former Nordstrom building was halfway complete, according to the city’s website.
But each mall and its corresponding region have different demographics and factors that come into play. Lakewood, Colorado, where Villa Italia Mall was transformed into a major mixed-use shopping district called Belmar Mall in 2004, had a population of 143,000 in 2010 and now has a population of 156,000 residents with a median income of $85,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Westminster has a population of almost 89,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with a median income of $82,000. San Leandro, located between Oakland and Hayward, has a population of 91,000, with 44 percent of people earning over $100,000, according to the city’s website. Elk Grove, which recently opened Sky River Casino in 2022 after over a decade of complications on a massive mall redevelopment project, has a population of 170,000 and a median income of $119,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
While Citrus Heights’ vision for Sunrise Mall aligns with many redevelopment projects, not every redevelopment project looks the same. Elk Grove’s Lent Ranch Mall, originally intended to be a major mixed-use development project spanning over 200 acres, stalled for years due to financial and logistical challenges before Wilton Rancheria purchased the land and demolished it in 2019. In March 2021, the developer broke ground for the Sky River Casino, which opened in August 2022.
Local developer Ethan Conrad has proposed a different approach to developing the Sunrise Mall property. Conrad’s plans, outlined in a proposed amendment to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, show the addition of a Home Depot along with multiple fast food restaurants to the property. Conrad emphasized during a Neighborhood Area community meeting in January that national retail tenants should be secured first in order to attract additional, more desirable businesses. Conrad also suggested repurposing the existing mall structures rather than demolishing it, citing cost concerns.
In a website dedicated to what Ethan Conrad Properties calls “Sunrise Tomorrow Evolution,” the developer highlighted its success in revitalizing several “dead malls” into marketplaces, such as the Yuba Sutter Marketplace, Chico Marketplace, and the Marketplace at Merced.
Amid the differences in viewpoints regarding what the future of Sunrise Mall could become, Citrus Heights residents have overwhelmingly emphasized on local social media groups, through letters to the editor, in public comments at council meetings and through FlashVote surveys issued by the city, a strong sentiment that redevelopment of Sunrise Mall needs to occur sooner rather than later.
Ethan Conrad Properties is slated to present the amendment proposal to multiple neighborhood areas in February, with the next one scheduled to take place on Feb. 19 at the monthly meeting for Neighborhood Area 11, Birdcage Heights. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Century 21 Office, located at 7919 Pebble Beach Drive, Suite 101. A meet-and-greet will take place at 6:30 p.m.
The purpose of the city’s Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan is to provide a comprehensive direction with options for development that aligns with city strategic goals and policies.
The focal point of the Specific Plan is a walkable “21st Century Main Street,” with five big ideas guiding it: creating a community and regional destination with shopping and entertainment options; creating connected greenspaces throughout, including parks, plazas and streets with shade trees and sustainable landscaping; creating safe, low-speed streets that cater to pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles; creating livable neighborhoods with various housing options within walking distance to transit, retail, entertainment and employment opportunities, and creating an environment that promotes economic activity and job creation.
Overall, the Specific Plan anticipates the potential of tripling the development previously allowed at the sprawling site, with the addition of up to 480 hotel rooms, 2,220 residential units, 320,000 square feet of retail, 960,000 square feet of office space, and 450,000 square feet of community and institutional uses. The Specific Plan can be read in full online here.
JOANN Fabric and crafts is located at 5489 Sunrise Blvd. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– After escaping a first round of closures, a local fabric retailer has been named on the list of 500 store locations to shutter throughout the country following the beginning of a second round of bankruptcy proceedings.
Joann, an 82-year-old fabric and craft retailer, announced in mid-January it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a second time within 12 months. Almost one month later, the company announced last Wednesday that 500 stores nationwide, on top of six initial store closures, would shutter nationwide.
In court documents, the retailer blamed higher costs from shipping overseas products, as well as waning consumer demand, according to CBS News. Going-out-of-business sales are expected to start on Saturday and could continue for several months, the company said. Gift cards are still being accepted for in-store purchases, but not online shopping.
Nearly 60 Joann locations are slated to close in California alone, including locations in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, and Citrus Heights. The full list of store closures can be found here.
Joann in Citrus Heights is located in the Sunrise Village shopping center at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue, which underwent a major remodel in 2021 and 2022. Following the remodel of the shopping center, Joann moved from one building to another and reopened in March 2022.
Since the shopping center’s revitalization, the plaza has seen multiple new tenants, including Club Studio Fitness, which opened in September 2024, and Amazon Fresh, which opened in November 2024. Previously, Joann occupied the building that is now Amazon Fresh.
Joann originally announced in March 2024 that it had filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware, reporting at least $1 billion in debt. National news outlets reported the company secured $132 million in new financing, which was expected to reduce its total debt by about $500 million.
“Since becoming a private company in April [2024], the Board and management team have continued to execute on top- and bottom-line initiatives to manage costs and drive value,” Michael Prendergast, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Joann, said in the press release. “However, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment.” Prendergast also cited “constrained inventory levels” as influential in the decision to undergo a “court-supervised sale process.”
Joann is located at 5489 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights.
Dutch Bros Manager Stephanie Cotton helps load bags of food at Sunrise Christian Food Ministry Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Residents craving coffee drinks this Valentine’s Day can help contribute funds to the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry by purchasing drinks from Dutch Bros all day on Friday.
On Feb 14, Dutch Bros will donate $1 from every drink sold to various local charities. Six Dutch Bros stores in the Sacramento area, including the two stores in Citrus Heights, will be raising donations for the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry food closet for the seventh year, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry Director of Operations April Jacek confirmed. Jacek said that over the last several years, the Dutch Bros franchise owner of those six stores has donated $40,000 through these annual fundraisers.
Several managers and assistant managers from Dutch Bros stores spent last Tuesday helping serve on site at the Sunrise Chrisitan Food Ministry ahead of the annual “Dutch Luv” fundraising event happening Friday.
“They are wonderful community partners, and very giving, and I love that they put their money where their mouth is,” Jacek said.
Stephanie Cotton, who is a manager from Dutch Bros on Auburn Boulevard in North Highlands, said she has volunteered at the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry site for the last three years and enjoys the ‘hands-on’ work of helping pack and distribute boxes and bags of food into waiting vehicles. Other volunteers from Dutch Bros also helped direct lines of families waiting in vehicles at the bottom of a hill in the parking lot of Advent Lutheran Church.
“I enjoy doing this one, because we get to meet other people that also volunteer,” Cotton said, adding that she enjoys interacting with the community and seeing how the behind-the-scenes process works.
Managers from three more Dutch Bros locations will be volunteering next week, Jacek said, including employees from store locations in Citrus Heights.
In 2023, Jacek said Dutch Bros volunteers came to help dig out a section where new concrete could then be poured to create a foundation where more food could be stored. Dutch Bros volunteers also helped move a very large and heavy container closer to the facility. With the help of various grants, the nonprofit has since added a car port and fencing around the new foundation and will continue to work on weather-proofing the area so that food can be stored safely.
When the pandemic hit, Jacek said there were 200 agencies serving Sacramento County and the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry served an average of 50 clients per day.
Following pandemic restrictions, the food ministry was one of 26 agencies that were able to remain open. In order to follow CDC health guidelines, the food distribution center readjusted the model in which they served the community by creating a drive-through where residents are able to pick up food from their vehicles.
To this day, the model remains, and Jacek said it has allowed them to continue to serve 200 families per day, where before the pandemic, the food closet served roughly 50 families per day.
Citrus Heights has two Dutch Bros. locations, one at 7853 Lichen Drive and one at 7445 Madison Ave. For more information on Dutch Bros’ Dutch Luv fundraising, visit the company’s website here.
A house on the corner of Auburn Blvd. and Cherry Glen Ave. has been demolished. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A boarded-up, abandoned house once visible to thousands of drivers passing by on Auburn Boulevard each day was demolished by the owner last month.
Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney announced in a Jan. 22 City Council meeting that the city and the owner of a dilapidated home on the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Cherry Glen Avenue would be demolishing the home.
Feeney said the property had been a code enforcement issue “for some time” before it was exposed to public view during initial construction on Auburn Boulevard last August.
A visit to the property Tuesday, Feb. 11, found the house demolished, with a pile of debris and a single small shed still remaining. As well, fencing surrounding a majority of the property line still remains, pieces of which have fallen over.
Neighbor Michelle Breisacher said the property owner “did all the work himself,” loading up his trailer, and making trips to the dump.
“All of us neighbors were so happy it was finally coming down,” Breisacher said Thursday, adding that the property was demolished sometime in January.
Breisacher, who has lived across the street for 40 years, told The Sentinel in August that she knew the previous owners. After the former property owners passed away, the home was sold and then sat vacant for years.
Removal of trees and shrubs earlier this year due to construction along Auburn Boulevard exposed the dilapidated, haunted-looking property, which was the scene of a small house fire in the middle of August 2024. As part of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets revitalization project, the city confirmed that it received permission from the owner of the home to remove at least one tree that “posed a safety risk” and obstructed the construction of a new retaining wall along the property line and the sidewalk.
Before construction began on Auburn Boulevard at the end of the summer, the home, located at 7500 Cherry Glen Avenue, was completely surrounded by large trees and shrubs, Google Images show.
Residential real estate website Trulia shows the property on Cherry Glen Avenue sits on half an acre. The four-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom home is reported by Trulia to have last sold for $270,000 in February 2019. However, Sacramento County Assessor’s Office records indicate the property changed ownership most recently in August 2022.
Future plans for the property are unclear, however, Feeney said he is “looking forward” to the property becoming something that is a “future contributor” to the community.
Construction continues on Auburn Blvd., which is on track to be complete in the fall of 2026. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project is slated to be completed by fall of 2026, according to Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney.
In an update to the City Council Jan. 22, Feeney said by the end of February, all joint trench work should be completed on the project, and in March, various utilities should be installing facilities in the new joint trenches. That process is expected to take four to six months, at which point all overhead poles and power lines will be removed.
Feeney said undergrounding all utilities is “a big effort” and requires significant coordination between multiple companies. All underground utility work should be completed by the fall of 2025. Outside of joint trench work, construction will continue in areas that do not conflict with joint trench operations.
Between the fall of 2025 and 2026, roadway improvements will continue, including the installation of new traffic signals, lighting, trees, and other “top side” improvements, along with the installation of the gateway monument at the northern border of the city. Full road resurfacing is anticipated to be completed by the fall of 2026.
“We’re looking forward for this to be complete and help us attract new businesses to Auburn Boulevard,” Feeney said, also encouraging residents to continue to support businesses along Auburn Boulevard as they are still open and operating.
Since construction began at the end of July in 2024, at least one lane has remained closed—even outside construction hours. While the city has noted on social media posts that businesses along Auburn Boulevard are still open, many residents have expressed frustration, calling traffic “a nightmare” and describing lane closures as “inconvenient.”
In comments on social media, some drivers have said they were purposely avoiding the area until the work is complete, due to traffic backups.
Business owners also complained of impacts to their establishments during construction on the first phase of improvements on Auburn Boulevard over ten years ago, but celebrated the completion of the project in 2014.
Planned improvements in the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Street project include undergrounding of overhead utilities, installation of bicycle lanes and wide sidewalks, upgrading traffic signals to meet current standards, increasing safety and visibility through decorative street lighting, beautifying the corridor with new landscaping and trees, replacing old storm drain infrastructure, and enhancing transit stops for ADA compliance.
The city also plans to erect a “Welcome to Citrus Heights” gateway structure at the northern city limits and complete a full roadway overlay and new striping.
More information about the Auburn Boulevard Complete Street Project Phase 2 can be found on the city’s website.
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday will consider two different options regarding implementing mediation services for neighbor-to-neighbor disputes throughout the community.
According to a city staff report, the topic was brought to the City Council in response to a 2024 strategic planning meeting objective to develop mediation services options for the community at large so as to reduce undue strain on city staff. Neighbor-to-neighbor or resident-to-resident disputes can often involve nearly every city department and drain resources, the city report says.
The first option includes utilizing Citrus Heights Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Officers who already play a “vital role” in resolving conflicts within the community by applying problem-solving strategies to “address underlying issues and promote cohesion,” according to city staff.
“POP Officers are equipped with specialized training in conflict resolution, active listening, and negotiation skills, allowing them to mediate disputes effectively while maintaining neutrality and respect,” the report says, adding that their duties often go beyond law enforcement as they work to find constructive solutions. POP Officers also help “build trust,” reducing the need for legal intervention.
City staff are recommending sending one POP officer for Enhanced Mediation Training, which comes with a projected cost of up to $1,450.
The second option includes involving an outside third party to mediate disputes, such as the Sacramento Mediation Center. According to the staff report, each mediation session is for up to three hours, and each party’s fee for the first two mediation sessions is due in advance and is based on the individual’s income.
During the sessions, mediators outline ground rules, listen to each party’s complaint, assist in suggesting solutions, identify points of compromise, and assist in writing down an agreement on paper. Mediators do not typically follow up with parties after a dispute is solved.
The cost of mediation services based on income is $25 for those making up to $25,000 annually, $50 for those making $25,001 to $50,000, $75 for those making $50,001 to $75,000, $100 for those making $75,001 to $100,000, $250 for those making $100,001 to $200,000, $500 for those making $200,001 to $500,000, and $1,000 for those making more than $500,000.
The city recommends utilizing the Sacramento Mediation Center for a one-year trial pilot program.
The Sacramento Mediation Center (SMC) has been a program provided under the California Lawyers for the Arts since 2008 and provides “confidential and neutral conflict resolution services to residents, businesses, governmental entities, and other organizations of Sacramento County to address conflict, according to the city.
Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at City Hall, at 6 p.m., or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday will be asked to discuss and approve an Economic Development Work Plan, as well as consider options for Mediation Services to help resolve neighbor-to-neighbor disputes.
The Feb. 12 City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Economic Development Work Plan: The Work Plan was developed in response to a 2024 City Council strategic planning meeting goal of “Diversify for a Vibrant Economy” and the specific strategic objective, with five key focus areas relating to economic development. The work plan serves as an economic policy framework that provides a “structural approach” to business attraction, commercial revitalization, and creating a business-friendly environment in the city, according to a staff report. The City Council will be asked to adopt the work plan on Wednesday, along with related incentive program guidelines.
Business Attraction Program. As part of the Economic Development Work Plan, Business Attraction Incentive Program Guidelines and Small Business Design Support Program are “two key incentive programs” designed to attract and support targeted businesses. According to the staff report, the Business Attraction Incentive Program provides financial incentives to encourage specific businesses, such as sit-down dining and entertainment venues, to locate to Citrus Heights. Incentive packages under $5,000 can be approved by the City Manager, while packages over $5,000 require council approval, according to the guidelines.
The Small Business Design Support Program offers technical assistance to small businesses navigating design, zoning, and permitting requirements with the goal of making it easier for entrepreneurs to establish themselves in Citrus Heights. While some initiatives may require additional funding, requests will be incorporated into the city’s two-year budget planning cycle and presented to the City Council for consideration on an as-needed basis.
Mediation services options: The City Council will hear and discuss two different options regarding implementing mediation services for neighbor-to-neighbor disputes throughout the community. The topic has been brought to the City Council in response to a 2024 strategic planning meeting objective to develop a mediation services options for the community at large so as to reduce undue strain on city staff. According to the staff report, neighbor-to-neighbor or resident-to-resident disputes can often involve nearly every city department and drain resources.
The first option includes utilizing Citrus Heights Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) Officers who already play a key role in resolving conflicts within the community by applying problem-solving strategies according to city staff. Additional training would be provided for at least one POP officer and would cost up to $1,450.
The second option includes involving an outside third party to mediate disputes, such as the Sacramento Mediation Center. According to the staff report, each mediation session would last for up to 3 hours, and each party’s fee for the first two mediation sessions is due in advance and is based on the individual’s income. During the sessions, mediators outline ground rules, listen to each party’s complaint, assist in suggesting solutions, identify points of compromise and assist in writing down an agreement on paper. Mediators do not typically follow up with parties after a dispute is resolved.
Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at City Hall, at 6 p.m., or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
By Sara Beth Williams– A new bakery is coming to Citrus Heights in a newly renovated shopping center.
Nothing Bundt Cakes is planning to fill a vacant location in the Sunrise Village shopping center, according to leasing materials from Merlone Geier. Site plans show the bakery occupying a vacant space in the same building as Little Caesars. The 2000-square-foot space is the largest of the three spaces in the building. The bakery could open in late fall, depending on permitting and the timeframe of construction, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
Since the revitalization of the shopping center at the corner of Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard, the plaza has seen multiple new tenants, including Club Studio Fitness, which opened in September 2024, and Amazon Fresh, which opened in November 2024. Previously, Joann occupied the building that is now Amazon Fresh.
Recently, Grocery Outlet submitted plans to the city of Citrus Heights to fill a vacant building that was once a former Rite Aid. Grocery Outlet’s name is not yet listed in the leasing site plan.
Nothing Bundt Cakes calls itself the “Number 1 specialty cake company in the U.S.” according to the company’s website. The first Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1997. The chain has more than 600 locations, including five other shops in the Sacramento region. A Citrus Heights location is not yet listed on the bakery’s website.
Sentinel Staff Report– Latest police logs show an increase in vandalism, while showing a decrease in homeless-related calls. Below is a summary of activity logs from Jan. 30, 2025 through Feb. 5, 2025.
Animal control: 7 (same as prior week)
911 hangups: 31 (down from 41)
Code enforcement: 22 (down from 35)
Traffic accidents: 33 (up from 26)
Vehicle violations: 271 (down from 388)
Theft: 31 (down from 36)
Homeless-related: 18 (down from 25)
Vandalism: 8 (up from 6)
Violent/threats: 27 (up from 19)
Disturbance: 84 (same as prior week)
Suspicious circumstances: 152 (down from 162)
All incidents: 1172 (down from 1360
Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date here:
The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.
The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”
Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.
