Centrage Project Time Machine
What is now becoming McKinley Village was once the proposed site for the
Centrage Project, an alternative to suburban sprawl. Back in 1988 this $500
million, European-style self-contained community outraged neighboring east
Sacramento residence and the Sacramento Old City Association. Centrage
was a high density, transit oriented development that was to be built out
over 10 years. At full build out the project would consist of 750,000 square
feet of office space, 230,000 sf of retail, 1200 residential units, 250 room
hotel, amphitheater, movie theater, 4.5 acre lake, greenbelts, bicycle paths,
tennis courts, swimming pools, other outdoor recreation areas, and parking
for around 6000 cars. Originally 8 highrises were proposed ranging from 26
to 10 stories. In an effort to satisfy anti-Centrage folk, towers were reduced
in size but the opposition were not happy demanding that 50% of the 48
acres be turned into parks and open area. Centrage was one of the most
controversial developments in recent Sacramento history, but after nearly a
5 year of heated debate and several reductions in size to win over local
residences and City Council, the project was abandon. Below are a couple
renderings showing what might have been.
Revised plans removed one of the eight planned towers for the project and
reduced the size of some of the remaining seven, 26 to 19 story building
(one), 16 story buildings (two), 18 to 12 story building (one), 11 to 8 story
building (one), 10 story building (one), eliminated one 10 story building,
8 story building (one), 2-6 story building (12)
Centrage Project site plan proposed in 1988
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Centrage Project building height comparison 1988
Centrage Project rendering showing originally proposed height of 26 story
tower later reduced to 19 stories looking west from the Capitol Freeway
Centrage Project map overview
Today the 48 acre parcel located between E Street and the Capitiol City
Freeway resembles a sprawling suburban neighborhood that's not unique
or interesting in any way.
McKinley Village currently under construction