Sacramento Railyards Specific Plan and Design Guidelines

Thomas Enterprises

DC&E prepared the Specific Plan and Design Guidelines for the high-profile Sacramento Railyards project, located on one of the largest urban infill sites in the country, a 244-acre area in the heart of downtown Sacramento. The Specific Plan set clear parameters for the creation of a dynamic, high-density 24-hour-a-day urban village that will be connected to Sacramento’s historic downtown office, retail and government center areas through an extensive network of public open space amenities and pedestrian linkages. The Railyards area will be a regional live-work hub anchored by the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility, which will occupy the rehabilitated historic railroad depot building. The development will also reuse the historic Central Shop buildings for retail uses and a new Railroad Technology Museum. As part of the project, DC&E crafted Design Guidelines that set standards for high-quality development and reinforced the City’s aspirations for the Railyards site as a region-wide asset. Throughout the Specific Plan process, DC&E worked closely with the site’s developer, architect, City staff and numerous technical consultants to address issues such as land use standards, soils contamination and aging infrastructure. DC&E’s work was conducted on an accelerated schedule, with delivery of an administrative draft document only seven weeks after project initiation. The Specific Plan and Design Guidelines received a Sacramento Valley Section APA Award for Comprehensive Planning by a Large Jurisdiction in 2008.