Transitioning a neighborhood of such history, identity and character is both a great challenge and a great responsibility. To prepare, the team at Sutter and StoneBridge Properties hit the books—and the streets.

Working with noted local historian Paula Peper, StoneBridge has commissioned a thorough history of the site in order to better understand its origins and lineage—socially, culturally and ecologically. This report supplements two other books (free on line) we’ve published on Sacramento, Sacramento Park Neighborhoods andSacramento’s Park Neighborhood Trees. The latter two books are part of an insightful book series published by StoneBridge called “Roots of the Past.”

(You might ask, why does a development company devote so much time to publishing books? Because we believe that by studying wonderful old neighborhoods, we’ll identify the enduring characteristics that can be replicated in the development of new neighborhoods.)

We’ve also done extensive community outreach, talking with—and actively listening to—residents, neighborhood groups and planning officials about your love for this neighborhood, your hope for its future, and your questions and concerns about how this redevelopment will affect it.

In response to these community talks, Sutter and StoneBridge have incorporated significant neighborhood feedback into the development plan that was recently submitted to the City of Sacramento for review. And these talks are ongoing. “We will continue our outreach into the community to refine the plan,” says StoneBridge president, Randy Sater. “Getting neighborhood feedback is critically important to us.”

Central to this plan is a set of design guidelines—for homes, open spaces, street patterns and more—that sit comfortably, familiarly even, within East Sacramento’s existing look and feel. And it’s more than just fitting into the surroundings; the new Sutter Park Neighborhood will add parks, walkways and other public amenities, while substantially reducing the levels of traffic that are now generated by the hospital.

As we like to remind one another, it’s really about reconnecting the neighborhood.

Important Dates

• March 6, 2014 – 5:30 pm
  Planning Commission
  New City Hall
  915 I Street, 1st Floor
  Sacramento, CA 95814
• April 8, 2014 – 6:00 pm
  City Council
  New City Hall
  915 I Street, 1st Floor
  Sacramento, CA 95814

The above information is from the Sutter Park Website.