The Gateways Redevelopment Project Area includes approximately 1,100 acres, primarily along the central north-south axis of Santa Rosa, including many of the major corridors and adjacent areas that serve as "gateways" to the civic heart of Santa Rosa, namely Downtown and Historic Railroad Square.

Some of these major corridor areas include Santa Rosa Avenue, Petaluma Hill Road, Steele Lane, Mendocino Avenue, Fourth Street, Brookwood Avenue, Wilson Street, Cleveland Avenue, Range Avenue, West Ninth Street, North Dutton Avenue, Jennings Avenue and College Avenue. The project area was established on June 13, 2006.

Activities in the Gateways Redevelopment Project Area were put on hold for three years while a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Gateways Redevelopment Plan was in court. The case was tried on February 8, 2008 before Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Elaine Rushing. On April 2, 2008, Judge Rushing issued her Final Decision, in favor of the City. Judge Rushing's Final Decision was formally entered into the Superior Court records on April 8, 2008.