Downtown Sacramento Partnership Strategic Action Plan

In almost every city, Downtowns are a major driver for local and regional economic health, producing revenues that can be invested throughout the community.

Despite being less than 5% of Sacramento’s landmass, the 66-block Downtown area in 2019 provided a third of the available office space, a third of the jobs, and over half of all City hotel tax (TOT) and parking revenues. And, property taxes average $17.5 million per acre, which is 18 times higher than the citywide average of $974,000 per acre.

Downtown Sacramento’s role as an economic engine became even more evident when businesses were required to close down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as the stay-at-home orders took effect in early 2020, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) asked us to guide it in strategic planning to build on Sacramento’s decade of growth and development. The timing actually couldn’t have been better: the pandemic exposed weaknesses and challenges that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

The new Strategic Action Plan capitalizes on the City’s strengths and positive momentum, while also addressing the stark realities of homelessness, social and racial injustice, and the City’s fragile retail, office and housing sectors.

Based on a series of stakeholder and resident meetings and focus groups, with additional research and analysis, the Plan includes a vision, goals and action steps that will help leverage limited resources, organize collaborations and connections, and foster positive economic development and change that will benefit everyone in the community. The Plan positions both the DSP and Downtown Sacramento for continued success into the future.