Block Breaker?
City must hear from neighbors on 6-story proposal
By Rick Stevenson
February 2026
The former Mary Ann’s Bakery in East Sacramento is the proposed location for a six-story housing edifice and parking garage. The project would fill the block between Alhambra Boulevard and C, D and 30th streets.
With 332 residential units and 322 parking slots, the development seeks to permanently change the neighborhood. A smaller building—say, three stories—would keep the area’s low-rise character. A six-floor structure threatens to destroy the ambiance of a historic community.
The idea of new housing at the bakery site isn’t a problem. Rather, the problem is the proposal’s height and scale. The current 35-foot height limit would be obliterated by a building almost twice as tall as the restriction.
Some residents fear the project is a classic “block breaker,” setting up the neighborhood for more large-scale buildings. Several six-story projects have already requested city entitlements near the old bakery, forcing the question of whether East Sac can maintain its low-rise heritage or become an extension of Downtown.
A six-story building blocks sunlight from neighbors and impacts gardens and trees. High-rise residents would have 24-hour views into backyards and windows of surrounding homes.
As proposed, the Mary Ann’s Bakery development covers one full block. It’s constricted on two sides by the Business 80 freeway and a dead-end street leading to the Union Pacific railway berm.
The project has two street frontages with full traffic flows, rather than the conventional four frontages for residential city blocks. Imagine the traffic caused by 332 units. Imagine the consequences for nearby homes. Imagine quiet residential streets jammed with cars.
The Mary Ann’s Bakery project awaits a California Environmental Quality Act review concerning new exemptions in the law. Once the review is delivered, the planning commission will consider the project, possibly with minimum public notice.
Agenda notices of at least 72 hours may satisfy state law, but they can be intended to deter organized community opposition.
Residents should organize now to advocate for adequate notice on the Mary Ann’s Bakery residential development proposal. The community must be given every chance to address city officials on a project that can forever change East Sac.
Rick Stevenson is a Land Park resident who was born in East Sacramento. He can be reached at stevenson-richard@sbcglobal.net.
