Sacramento, Calif. (Jan. 21) – The City of Sacramento has purchased a large, vacant property in south Sacramento suitable for a variety of potential uses, including affordable housing, homeless services and/or a civic amenity, such as a community park.

The City purchased the undeveloped 102-acre property, at 3100 Meadowview Road, from the federal government. Known as the southern portion of the Sacramento Job Corps Center site, it was declared excess property by the U.S. Department of Labor and put up for sale last year. Following a bidding process, the City secured ownership of the site for $12.3 million.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Mai Vang, who represents south Sacramento’s District 8, announced the purchase at an 11 a.m. press conference Friday at City Hall.

Photo credit: U.S. General Services Administration

Councilmember Vang said she would be working with the community in the coming months on a vision for the property as a potential new amenity.

“For far too long, south Sacramento has been underinvested in and denied economic opportunities,” Councilmember Vang said. “I’m proud to have led the work to ensure the City of Sacramento secured this property to ensure residents in south Sacramento get their fair share of equitable investments. We have a unique opportunity to build affordable housing, civic amenities and bring resources that will benefit our unhoused neighbors and families right here in south Sacramento. I’m excited to co-create and dream big with the community through the coming months in a series of community listening sessions to ensure we uplift every person, family, and child in south Sacramento.”

City officials said they envision using a portion of the land in the near term as a place where people living in their cars can safely park and receive services, similar to the Safe Parking site the City operates on South Front Street south of downtown.

“I want to thank City staff for their hard work in acquiring this important piece of land,” said Mayor Steinberg. “This acquisition is the first of several breakthroughs we expect to announce soon in our ongoing effort to create more safe spaces, beds and roofs for people experiencing homelessness. The size of this parcel also allows us to envision permanent affordable housing and a major new amenity for south Sacramento.”

“It’s incredibly exciting to add such a large and versatile piece of property to the City’s inventory,” said City Manager Howard Chan. “Councilmember Vang identified this opportunity last fall, and with her leadership, City staff worked quickly to review the site and assemble the winning bid. I would also like to thank Congresswoman Doris Matsui, who was instrumental in supporting the City throughout this process, as well as Mayor Steinberg, who has been a strong proponent of this purchase and its benefit to Sacramento.”

Part of the appeal of the undeveloped property -- other than its size and flexibility in usage -- is its proximity to two Regional Transit light rail stations, officials said. Both the Morrison Creek Station and the Meadowview Station are within walking distance to the site.

Before any development on the property can occur, the City first will need to vet the various possible land uses. Subsequently, work will begin on establishing infrastructure (including water, sewage and power), financing and partnering opportunities both public and private.

The City also will need to develop plans for public roadway access to the property, which likely will require easements from other organizations.

The auction and sale of the property, which is near the City’s Meadowview Service Complex, was handled by the U.S. General Services Administration.

“The auction and subsequent sale of a portion of the Sacramento Job Corps Center site is another example of GSA leveraging our expertise to reduce the federal real property inventory,” said Dan Brown, acting regional administrator for GSA. “When the Department of Labor declared a portion of the Job Corps property as excess due to shifting mission requirements, GSA, serving as the real estate agent, unlocked the value of the land by disposing of this property and helping to create economic development opportunities in Sacramento.”