One of North Natomas' biggest empty corners may finally be waking up. Tsakopoulos Investments has submitted a plan to the city for nearly 45 acres at the southwest corner of Del Paso Road and El Centro Road, calling for a mix of housing and retail on what has been one of the neighborhood's largest undeveloped infill parcels. After years of the land being marketed for commercial uses, the proposal would turn a long-vacant, signalized intersection near Interstate 5 into a mixed-use block built around new homes and street-level shops, if it wins approval.
According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the company submitted plans Monday for a 44.9-acre parcel at Del Paso and El Centro that includes both residential and retail components. The article's image caption identifies the property as 4451 El Centro Road (Natomas 38), a site that has been available to developers for years.
What's proposed
Commercial listings and parcel records describe the site as roughly 44.9 acres and note that it has been marketed as a build-to-suit shopping center. That listing points out utilities already stubbed to the property and highlights its suitability for large retail users. Per LoopNet, the parcel has been offered for retail development and sits at a heavily traveled intersection that connects directly to Interstate 5.
Site history and city review
State CEQA records show earlier filings tied to the southwest corner of Del Paso and El Centro, including a "Natomas Century Plaza" notice that sought retail and office entitlements on roughly 45 acres, along with separate records documenting Del Paso Road widening work connected to the corridor's growth. Those prior filings indicate the site has been on planners' and developers' radars for decades and that traffic and environmental impacts have been part of the discussion for a long time; see the filings on CEQAnet and CEQAnet.
Why it matters for North Natomas
Large, contiguous infill parcels are getting harder to find near Sacramento's core, and recent coverage has flagged a pickup in land deals as owners and developers reposition their holdings. As the Sacramento Business Journal reported, land transactions have been on the upswing in the region. The Tsakopoulos family, long-time local developers and landowners, has a decades-long track record in the area; for background on the family's local role, see the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
What comes next
The plan now heads into the city's review pipeline and could trigger environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires public agencies to study and mitigate significant environmental impacts. The state's Office of Planning and Research details how CEQA notices, environmental documents and public comment periods typically unfold, so residents can expect a series of filings, technical studies and public hearings before any final approvals are on the table; see the Office of Planning and Research for an overview.
For now, Tsakopoulos's filing turns a long-dormant corner of North Natomas into an active development conversation, and neighbors and officials will be watching how the company balances retail demand with housing needs. This story will be updated as the city posts planning documents or the developer releases additional details.
