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Opinion: Neighbors not happy with developer’s lack response on McKinley Village

Riverview Capital Investments has left Sacramentans scratching their heads. The venture capital company is leading the latest attempt to develop Lanatt (called ‘McKinley Village’) the low-lying acreage tucked snugly between Business 80 and the Union Pacific tracks. What the company is not doing, however, is answering neighbor’s questions.

Four different attempts have been made to build on the site. When Riverview Capital Investments representatives met with neighborhood groups on February 12^th they presented an old plan, tweaked and recycled, and then asked the neighbors for input.

East Sacramento Preservation’s meeting generated 39 questions and requests for information. Based on the questions, it is clear that safety is the primary concern of the neighborhood. The Lanatt area is a flood plain, and the secondary levee for the area is the elevated Union Pacific track. Punching holes into the train bed for access to the development area is widely regarded as dangerous.

Additionally, the traffic impact would be atrocious. The sketchy Riverview Capital Investments plans show 400+ homes in the small area. Midtown and East Sacramento have worked hard to maintain and groom livable areas. More traffic is ruinous.

We haven’t received answers from Riverview Capital Investments, for any of our queries, nor have any other neighborhood groups. When asked for an update, Riverview Capital Investments Vice President, Megan Norris wrote, “we are still moving forward, but don’t have much more of an update to give at this time.”

Neighbors need an update. We need to know what the company is planning and doing. We live here. We need to know.

Below are the questions asked at the East Sacramento Preservation meeting.

What is your timeline for this project?

Who is building the homes, The New Home Company?

Will there be a traffic study?

Are there protected vernal pools or endangered species in the area?

What firm will do the biological studies?

Can the neighborhood pick the firm?

Can an entrance come from the freeway?

Can we change the name of the project so it has its own identity?

What are you going to do about flooding?

Is using the McKinley Park sewer wise? The system/pumping station is overused now.

What will be the housing types: all two stories?

Can there be more entrances?

What are the plans for the church area?

Are you going to coordinate with the Sutter’s Landing development?

How will you compensate for heavier traffic?

How will you connect to public transportation?

How many garages for each unit and which way will they face?

May we have a list of the design elements that are smart/green?

Do you need to label the project “green?”

Who would like to live in this development when you could buy in East Sac for the same price?

How will you accommodate baby boomers that don’t want to climb stairs…?

Won’t railroad tracks be bothersome?

What if the units don’t sell?

Are there porches on the house plans?

Who owns the property?

Are there plans for gardens, habitat restoration/marshes in free areas?

What will the zip code be?

What is your best idea for sound buffering?

Who will do your noise study?

Will there be bike trail access?

Will the coming high-speed rail run through these tracks?

How will you create access to Sutter’s Landing?

Who will pay for a pool or park? The city?

Will lower income housing be included?

Can you confirm the school district?

Can we annex this to Sac City district?

Will there be CCRs?

Will you keep to your price point?

Can the homes be torn down or remodeled by the owners?