Newly adopted Stockton Blvd Plan sets vision for revitalizing corridor and surrounding neighborhoods

Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted the Stockton Blvd Plan this week, which will serve as a guide to revitalize and strengthen the Stockton Boulevard corridor to create a vital foundation for the surrounding neighborhoods.

"Stockton Boulevard is the city's most important example of what's possible when we commit resources and pay real attention to inclusive economic development," said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. "Together with our businesses and neighborhoods, this is just the beginning, not only for Stockton Boulevard but for every historic commercial corridor in our city."

The Stockton Blvd Plan, led by the Neighborhood Development Action Team (NDAT), is a community-centered approach to revitalizing Stockton Boulevard in a way that benefits the people and businesses that currently live and occupy the area.

The following topics are key areas covered in the plan capturing community priorities and potential actions:

• Land use - activate the corridor by focusing on addressing vacant lots and underutilized land and increasing family and community-serving land uses.
• Housing - keep residents housed, provide more housing types, tenant protections, and assist the unhoused.
• Culture and arts - celebrate and enhance diversity, creativity and beauty.
• Inclusive economic development - expand job opportunities, support small businesses, and provide tools, resources, and education to help people improve their financial stability.
• Environment and safety - increase safety and security, access to affordable and healthy foods, reduce environmental pollutants, and provide quality healthcare and public spaces.
• Community engagement - encourage youth involvement and empowerment; and provide equitable and accessible communications.

The plan also includes a transportation component to continue evaluating physical improvements to the corridor to facilitate pedestrian, bicycle and transit use.

Stockton Boulevard was selected as the City's first planning effort by the NDAT in direct response to community concerns about racial inequity and the risks of gentrification and forced displacement for those who are currently residing in the Stockton Boulevard area.

A Resident Planning Team, composed of well-known and diverse local leaders, worked with the City from the beginning to guide the planning process. Anti-displacement values came from this resident team to guide every other part of the plan.

For over four years, the City partnered with community-based organizations Civic Thread and Building Healthy Communities as well as the Resident Planning Team and Community Ambassadors, to host numerous outreach efforts. These efforts included community conversations on anti-displacement and community ownership, community engagement events and celebrations, and interactive online workshops.

"This plan was a community effort as the City partnered with residents, business owners, landowners, and organizations to develop a shared vision of the corridor as a great place for existing residents and businesses, while also providing space for future growth," said Senior Planner, Elizabeth Boyd. "We are excited to see this plan adopted and continue implementing it with the community."

In partnership with the Office of Arts and Culture, the NDAT will launch a $700,000 pilot grant program to support community-led projects that improve quality of life and promote economic growth for residents and businesses along and surrounding the corridor. Part of the grant funding includes $200,000 specifically for arts and making public spaces feel more welcoming.

To raise awareness about this grant opportunity and gather feedback, the community is invited to take a survey, open until Nov. 30.

About NDAT

The Neighborhood Development Action Team is a collaboration between City departments and partner agencies, led by the Office of Innovation and Economic Development and the Planning Division of the Community Development Department.

NDAT uses a community-centered approach to revitalization with a focus on racial equity. NDAT's award-winning Community Ambassador program first began as a pilot to support the Stockton Blvd Plan and has continued into accepting applications for its fourth year