SACRAMENTO-
With one week left until the city council votes on the McKinley Village project, concerned citizens packed the Clunie Community Center to hear what their council members had to say.
”Tthe neighbors here care for the area. We don’t want to see it destroyed. There are ways to put smart growth in. Smart growth is good, but this is not smart growth,” neighbor Ellen Cochrane said.
Cochrane is the former president of the East Sacramento Preservation Group. It is one of five other community groups who formed a coalition for the McKinley Village Project. Their mission: to send a message in one, strong voice, to the developers of the 335 unit home project.
”We want a better project. We need access at Alhambra Boulevard,” neighbor Heather Sullivan said.
Sullivan says Alhambra Boulevard is the only natural thoroughfare that would easily route traffic into and out of the development. Without a tunnel access point at Alhambra, Sullivan says, 3500 extra car trips will be funneled through 28th Street and 40th Street every day.
”Right now, it is going to have more detriment than benefit, which is why so many groups are working so hard to oppose it as proposed,” Anthony Donoghue said.
Tonight’s community meeting was led by council member Steve Cohn, with brief speeches by a few community group leaders.
“I say don’t let the glossy pictures fool you,” Norris said.
