Standing near the construction site of Rancho Cordova’s proposed new downtown — a stretch of land slated to include a privately funded stadium, hotels, housing, retail and an emerging artificial intelligence hub — Mayor Garrett Gatewood discussed how the once-struggling city is positioning itself as one of California’s fastest-growing communities.
Gatewood pointed out future locations for a 7,500-seat stadium, hotels, grocery stores, housing and nearby schools. The project, city leaders say, represents a turning point for a city that has spent years shedding a reputation for blight and underinvestment.
Gatewood, 48, whose one-year term as mayor began this month, serves under Rancho Cordova’s council-manager form of government. Rancho Cordova’s five councilmembers rotate the mayoral role annually, with the mayor serving primarily as a ceremonial leader and policy guide while the city manager oversees daily operations. The city of roughly 85,000 is about 10% Black…