Silos along Sacramento River to be torn down soon

View Photos

Dennis McCoy | Sacramento Business Journal

At 180 feet tall, the Cemex silos at 1501 S. River Road were for many years one of the tallest structures in West Sacramento. Now they're being torn down to make way for new development.

Ben van der Meer

Staff Writer- Sacramento Business Journal

Email  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Google+

Silos along the Sacramento River that hark back to a more industrial riverfront in West Sacramento will come down beginning next week.

When the former Cemex cement plant towers begin their encounter with the wrecking ball next Tuesday, it also will be a landmark moment in the area's future, as an opening to new development.

According to the city of West Sacramento, the Pioneer Bluff area along the river immediately south of where Highway 50 crosses is envisioned as a future retail, residential and office area as industrial uses like the cement plant are phased out.

The idea is to replicate the city's success with the Bridge District to the north, where new residential and retail is under development immediately north and south of Raley Field.

At 180 feet tall, the silos at 1501 S. River Road were for many years one of the tallest structures in West Sacramento. Though their exact age wasn't available, Cemex began operating on the site in the 1950s, before moving to a site in the city's port district in 2009.

Demolition, including use of a wrecking ball, is set to begin Tuesday morning but won't be completed for eight to 10 weeks. A nearby bridge under construction, named for longtime county supervisor Mike McGowan, is scheduled to be complete before year's end, which would allow more access to the area.

West Sacramento officials also are considering demolition of five vacant buildings in the Stone Lock district, the next riverfront area to the south, also being considered for future mixed-use development.

Ben van der Meer covers real estate, development, construction, transportation and the business of sports for the Sacramento Business Journal.