CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif .– Since their heyday in the ’80s and’ 90s, shopping malls in the United States have experienced a slow and steady decline, struggling to compete with popular online retailers.

For Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights, the struggles were no different.

Built in 1971, the mall has followed the path of many malls across America, but city leaders say the mall is still the city’s biggest economic engine.

On Tuesday, February 11, city leaders held a vision workshop where community members gathered to give their opinion on a project called “Sunrise Tomorrow,” a municipal plan for the redevelopment of the 100-acre property. – 75% of which is parking. Those who attended the vision workshop were able to tell city leaders what they would like to see in the space.

RELATED: Sunrise Mall Needs a Much-Needed Renovation. Citrus Heights executives hope residents will give their opinion

“I’m thinking of something like a town square,” said Peg Wright, a Citrus Heights resident who attended the meeting. “We’re sort of moving away from these things and it would be nice to bring them back. The city squares have a park or some kind of central gathering place. People can have environments around, which are for shopping or local talent can have a garage band type environment. ”

The revitalization of the Sunrise shopping center is a 24-month project and the first construction of the new space will not begin until December 2020.

RELATED: Sunrise Mall In Citrus Heights To Get A Much-Needed Makeover

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