History of the Curtis Park Rail Yard and development proposals

Whether you are new to Curtis Park or need a refresher course on the evolution of the rail yards and accompanying land use proposals, the following time line should help put the history of the rail yards in perspective. Thanks to SCNA board member Jennifer Jennings for assembling the information included below.

Early 1900s: Land which is now the rail yards is purchased by local business interests and the city and given to Western Pacific Railway Company for ten dollars. It is a successful effort to attract Western Pacific to Sacramento and to provide an alternate rail transportation option for the peach farming operations in the area.

1909: Owner, P.C. Drescher, grants a deed to the railroad on the condition that it is used for railroad and repair shop operations. A second deed to the City of Sacramento granted
Dreshcer's reversionary interest to the city and provides that if the land is not used as a rail maintenance and repair operations, it is to be used for a public park or for some other public purpose. (Drescher deeds, January 30, 1909, and February 2, 1909.)

1910: Rail yard operations begin.

1969: Western Pacific moves its main locomotive repair from Sacramento to Stockton, but the switching yard remains.

1982: Western Pacific moves more of their operation to Stockton. Union Pacific purchases Western Pacific and becomes new owner of the rail yards.

Mid 1990s: California Department of Toxic Substances Control determines that the site is contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.

1996: Concerned about liability for the contaminated land, the city enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with Union Pacific whereby it agrees to release any right to title to the land once Union Pacific submits a development application to the city.

1998: Union Pacific submits a development application to the city. A working group of diverse neighbors meet together and with UP, DTSC, and city officials over several years to help increase the level of clean-up and options for a compatible development. Issues of traffic and low-income housing are hotly debated. UP chooses to respond to the cleanup challenge in part by submitting a plan to pave over much of the site and suggests deed restrictions to prohibit homeowners and residents from digging in their yards. This leads neighbors to dub some of the proposed housing "Superfund Condos."

1999: SB 120 is sponsored by state Senator Deborah Ortiz at the request of Curtis Park residents to require that the proposed land use for the site drive the level of cleanup. With the support of the City of Sacramento, Sac City College Faculty Senate and the Sierra Club, the bill passes the Legislature and is signed by Governor Davis. During their initial clean-up work, UP discovers that 25-30 acres are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These contaminants trigger a much more stringent and costly cleanup than previously planned. As a result, UP puts a hold on their development application.

2003: UP sells 72 acres of the rail yard land to Petrovich Development and Renova Partners. Petrovich later buys Renova's interest. Petrovich proceeds with clean up of all the contaminated land to residential levels; completion expected in summer of 2005.

2004: Petrovich Development submits proposal to city for Curtis Park Village to include 200,000 square feet of commercial development, 225 to 250 single-family lots (with second units by right) and 310 multifamily units and five acres of open space.

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