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Tag: Nichole Baxter

  • City update highlights growth, redevelopment opportunity in Citrus Heights

    City update highlights growth, redevelopment opportunity in Citrus Heights

    A concept plan for the future of Sunrise Mall, as shown on the city’s website. (click for larger map)

    By Mike Hazlip—
    In a new “Citrus Highlights” video update Wednesday, the City of Citrus Heights streamed a 30-minute online presentation to answer questions and highlight various development activity around the city.

    The city’s economic development and communications manager, Meghan Huber, took questions from city spokeswoman Nichole Baxter and a few comments from individuals participating online.

    Huber said her goals are attracting new businesses, retaining businesses, marketing, and supporting startup companies. She said the top economic sectors for potential growth are medical, government, and retail.

    Local examples of growth in the medical sector include a new surgery center currently under construction on Stock Ranch Road, as well as the new Dignity Health building on Greenback Lane. Huber also highlighted the recent grand opening of a new Green Acres plant nursery along San Juan Avenue, in a long-vacant building.

    Another area of booming economic activity is in the home improvement economic sector, which Huber said has seen a 40% increase since the pandemic began over a year ago.

    Huber said one challenge with development in Citrus Heights is limited space, as the city is 98% built out. “We don’t have the luxury of just throwing up new construction,” she said.

    Noting examples of redevelopment, Huber cited the transition of the former Toys R Us building into a Hobby Lobby. She believes there is still potential for additional redevelopment in Citrus Heights, and described the abandoned Studio Movie Grill site on Auburn Boulevard as having a “really compelling value proposition” to a potential tenant.

    Related: New tenant sought for abandoned Studio Movie Grill site in Citrus Heights

    Redevelopment of the building was left unfinished when Studio Movie Grill filed bankruptcy after pandemic shutdown orders negatively impacted the business. A report in the Sacramento Business Journal also said the project’s troubles may have begun before the pandemic.

    The site in the northern outskirts of the city is visible from I-80, where traffic counts are over 175,000 vehicles on the interstate and an additional 40,000 pass by on Auburn Boulevard. The boulevard itself is also slated for a $23 million infrastructure upgrade, as part of the city’s second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Revitalization project.

    Related: Sunrise Mall redevelopment could add $1 billion value, up from current $31M

    Plans for transforming Sunrise Mall are on schedule, according to Huber. She said an environmental impact report for the city’s Specific Plan for the mall is nearing completion, and the city expects to release more information this summer.

    The mall is currently zoned retail, limiting potential development, Huber said. She expects rezoning efforts will attract new interest in the site.

    The city’s plan for guiding redevelopment at the mall anticipates a four-phase project spanning 20 years, including a new “main street,” offices, residential and at least one hotel. The first phase would use the existing parking areas, three-quarters of which are surplus, according to Huber.

    Want to share your thoughts on development in Citrus Heights? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Three new COVID-related deaths reported in Citrus Heights

    A screenshot of a county health department map taken May 14 shows the number of COVID-19 cases in Citrus Heights and Sacramento County, with darker shades representing more cases.

    Sentinel staff report–
    The number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in Citrus Heights rose from five to a total of eight on Thursday, according to a May 14 update from the Sacramento County Public Heath department.

    Citrus Heights Communications Officer Nichole Baxter told The Sentinel that the three new deaths reported Thursday “were all residents in congregate care.” She referred a request for additional information to the county’s COVID media team, which also only confirmed the deaths were “related to a congregate care setting.”

    According to a statement on the county’s website, the health department’s policy is to not announce individual confirmed COVID-19 cases or deaths. The website does confirm that all deaths in Citrus Heights and Sacramento County “are among those age 65 and older, had underlying conditions, and/or had other risk factors.”

    See county health data: click here

    As of May 14, Sacramento County has seen a total of 1,194 cases of COVID-19, with nearly 1,000 of the cases now listed as “likely recovered.” Countywide, there have been 54 related deaths, nearly half of which have occurred at “congregate facilities.”

    At least one of the eight deaths in Citrus Heights appears to have occurred at a skilled nursing facility in Citrus Heights, according to a report last updated on May 11 by the California Department of Public Health.

    The report shows ManorCare Health Services, located at 7807 Uplands Wy., reporting “less than 11” deaths. A notice on the state’s website says specific death numbers are not listed unless deaths are over 10, “in accordance with de-identification guidelines.”

    Nursing facilities with zero deaths are shown as “0,” meaning at least one COVID-related death was reported at the Citrus Heights facility. The website includes a disclaimer stating that appearance on the state’s report “does not imply wrongdoing on the part of the facility.” It also notes that some deaths listed “may include residents who had COVID-19, but died of something else.”

    The total number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Sacramento County has slowed, leading county officials to push for joining neighboring counties in reopening the economy.

    Compared to a week ago, county health data shows there have been just 18 new cases of COVID-19 in Sacramento County. The prior week saw an increase of 31. During some weeks in March and April, numbers rose by 100-200 per week.

    As of May 13, the county health department shows 16 hospitalizations, down from 77 in early April. ICU cases have also dropped to nine, from a high of 33 last month.

    State criteria released last week by the governor require counties to have zero COVID-19 deaths reported within the past two weeks, in order to qualify for loosening virus shutdown policies. While recent deaths disqualify Sacramento County from reopening, Sacramento County health chief Dr. Peter Beilenson told The Sacramento Bee this week that the county is “ready to open a little wider” and discussion is underway with state officials to make an exception for Sacramento County.

    Bielenson told The Bee he is making the case that a county with 1.6 million people should not be held to the same death standard as counties with far less population.

    The Sentinel is making its essential coronavirus coverage available to all readers, with no subscription required. Please consider a digital subscription for just $3.99/mo. to support local news in Citrus Heights.