Roseville Remains a Magnet for Business, Education, and Housing

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Roseville has established itself as one of the economic engines of the Capital region. It’s been named one of the lowest cost places to do business in California, one of the best communities for women entrepreneurs, and one of the top places in the US and Canada for technology-related back-office solutions.

City Council and staff are constantly working to promote and nurture a business-friendly environment. We support the pace of projects, implement sensible policies, ensure that funding supports our quality-of-life standards, and create a community that draws a highly skilled workforce. 

Healthcare outlook is healthy

Businesses recognize these features and continue to focus on locating and expanding here. In the healthcare sector, Kaiser Permanente is constructing a five-story medical office building, laboratory, pharmacy, and parking garage at its Riverside Avenue campus. Sutter Roseville Medical Center is building critical care units and expanding its emergency department. Adventist Health, which has been headquartered in Roseville for many years at various sites, is consolidating its staff into a new corporate office business off Eureka Road. 

McKesson established a regional pharmaceutical and medical supply distribution facility in Roseville, bringing 175 employees. Penumbra, which manufactures medical devices for stroke victims, announced last fall that it will locate in a building formerly owned by Hewlett Packard on Foothills Boulevard, bringing 250 jobs to Roseville.

Shopping and leisure abound

In the areas of entertainment, leisure, and shopping, Villa Sport Athletic Club is entering the fitness market with a fitness facility and outdoor recreation area off Highway 65 near the Galleria that’s expected to open this summer. 

The home furnishing store Living Spaces will open near Top Golf, where the Home2 Suites and Residence Inn hotels are under construction. The Residence Inn 104 grand opening is schedule for Spring 2019. The Living Spaces site will include a café and range of living solutions as it makes its regional entrance in Roseville.

At the Westfield Galleria, redevelopment of Sears will bring a 14-screen theater with an entertainment facility featuring bowling, darts, pool, and a restaurant, as well as other lifestyle additions. Additionally, Westfield Galleria now offers Tesla auto displays and sales. 

Downtown transformation continues

Downtown Roseville continues to experience transformation as proposals for redevelopment of the post office site are received. Rest assured, there is an effort underway to maintain a retail presence for the post office downtown. 

In the area of higher education, the University Development Foundation recently closed on its purchase of the old Fire Station 1, a site that is expected to host a university. The yet-to-be-named university would establish its initial presence downtown with an eye toward building an expansive campus west of Roseville in the future. Already, Sierra College holds career, extension, and academic classes at the downtown campus at 316 Vernon St. 

The opening of a second garage expands the ease of parking downtown, all of which is free. New bridges over Dry Creek will enhance the connectivity between Royer Park, the Downtown Library, Vernon Street Town Square, and restaurants, shops, galleries, and businesses on Vernon Street and in Historic Old Town. These bridges are expected to be completed by Summer 2019. All of these improvements were funded with grant funding and developer fees that can’t be spent to maintain general city services.

Housing remains a focus

Single-family residential development is strong. In addition, several affordable housing developments are in the works. Mercy Housing recently opened its Lohse Apartments on Vernon Street, which includes ground-floor retail space. 

The Main Street Plaza Apartments will emerge on the corner property at Washington and Main, and the site of the Roseville hotel that was demolished last summer. Construction is set to begin this spring and will bring 65 affordable units and 3,000 more square feet of commercial space to the historic district. 

Junction Crossing is expected to break ground this year after its developer, St. Anton Communities receives additional financing. It will bring 80 affordable units to Pacific Street. 

Changing economy impacts City finances

People often incorrectly assume that a healthy economy means that the City itself has no budget problems. So it’s important to understand some key points about municipal finances. While the economy is healthy, the changing nature of our consumption habits has negatively affected our revenues. 

As consumers shift from product-based to service-based purchases and from in-person to online shopping, city revenues decrease. This is at the same time costs are rising due to regulations, construction, health care, and pensions. 

Voters’ approval last November of a half-cent sales tax increase will take effect April 1, and revenues will be received after July 1. This will allow the City to maintain current service levels for several years, stabilize the General Fund budget, and start limited new initiatives beginning in the FY2019-2020