The River District Overview

With 773 Gross Acres 675 Land Acres, the River District has a lot of room to develop it own identity becoming a mixed-use urban environment featuring residential, office and commercial services. Currently both Township 9 and the California Lottery Headquarters are breaking ground in an effort to revitalize the area. These major projects and others will serve as catalysts bring development, jobs, public transit and cultural amenities to District and paving the way from a primarily light-industrial commercial district to a distinctive, mixed-use neighborhood that will connect Sacramento to its rivers.



Process & Timeline
April – August 2009
Community Outreach
Chapter Writing for Specific Plan
Policy Development
Special Planning District Update
Historic Resources Survey

September 2009 - Infrastructure Finance Plan – Public Review
October 2009 - Public Draft EIR
January - 2010 Final EIR
Jan-Feb 2010 Public Hearings



Vision & Guiding Principles
- Maximize Connectivity –North/South and East/West.
- Create a Sense of Place.
- Encourage Sustainable Development.
- Build Infrastructure that Provides a Balanced Approach to Regional Traffic Issues.
- Stimulate Economic Growth.
- Provide a Variety of Urban Living Options.
- Support regional strategies that seek to improve social conditions
- Encourage Mixed-Use Development.
- Provide Enhanced Community Facilities and Amenities.
- Engage the Rivers and Foster Open Space Opportunities.
- Create a Walkable District.


Circled is Township 9 - 52 acre development approved August 2007

Goals for the River District Specific Plan
- Specific Plan will include the following:
- Land Use Plan and Zoning with Heights
- Circulation Plan
- Infrastructure / Public Facilities
- Financing Plan
- Nexus Study (Downtown/Railyards/River District Costs)
- Program Level Environmental Impact Report Design Guidelines (Central City Urban Design Guidelines)

Third Saturdays Coming to Downtown

Starting on Saturday, July 18, over 40 local arts, crafts and fashion vendors will descend upon K Street, transforming downtown Sacramento into a bustling creative district.

The Third Saturday Design Downtown street fair will take place once a month and be a creative block party centered on 10th and K streets featuring artists, craft vendors, live music, food, drinks, a beer garden and more. And it’s all free! E-mail music@newsreview.com for more information!

When: Sat, 7/18, 3pm
Where: 10th and K streets

Vendors:
A Touch of Color Inc.
Archradish Apparel
Arts and Business Council
Atelier
Aurastella
Aztec Cash
BAM Designs
BKD Signature
Bliss Jewelry
Candy Glass
CC Star
Chris Simmons
Devalyn Marshall
Deranged Designs
Elevator
Essensual Jewelry
Fancy Foury Paws
Geddes Studio
J n J Design
Juli’s Jewels
Just Beecauze
Kenna Foster
Kewish Designs
Magic Salon
Marianne DeMartini
Marty May Press and Stitchery
Meshugga Chic Vintage
Never Felt Better by Jen
Pack Rat Crafts/ From the Heart Designs
Paul Imagine
Pegasusmaiden.com
Penny's Lane Polymer Clay
Project Transaction
Rag and Paper Designs by Gloria Grandy
Robin’s Nest Clothing
Royline
Sacto Jewelry
Screen Masters
Transformations
Transient Treasures
Wandering Mind Designs
Wee Sew Cute

The Railyards

In late June the Railyards were awarded $30.9 million in infrastructure funding by the California Department of Housing and Community Development's Loan and Grant Committee (HCD). This award will allow the project to build additional public infrastructure in this development effort.

The track relocation design effort under TranSystems will sprint into final design following NEPA completion. Bridge plans at 65% prepared by Quincy Engineering, Inc. in collaboration with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the 5th Street and the 6th Street overpasses over future tracks south of the historic shops have been reviewed and approved by the City. Monitoring of surcharge piles impact on underlying soils at the location of the 5th Street bridge abutments is being conducted by F3 and Associates, Inc. under the supervision of Quincy Engineering and Blackburn Consulting. Preparation to drive indicator piles for bridge foundations is also underway. Teichert Construction has completed the first grading phase on Railyards Boulevard between Bercut Drive and 7th Street. Import of soil for vegetative cover continues by Taylor Heavy Hauling under the supervision of Environmental Resources Management. The amount and pace of infrastructure will accelerate as infrastructure bond dollars are received.

Jibboom Street Park

Jibboom Street Park will act as destination attraction along the existing Sacramento River Parkway bicycle trail that connects Old Sacramento to Discovery Park. The project is being developed in phases, with the first phase completed. The landscaping, open turf area, walkways and benches, and promenade with lighting opened in Autumn 2006.

Jibboom Street Park Phase One developed 6.5 acres of the site surrounding the former PG&E building and extends to the recently completed Sacramento River Intake Facility to the south.

The existing river levee has expanded eastward, with earth fill added to the existing levee to widen it and bring part of the park site to the existing levee height. This visually reduces the scale of the new intake structure and enhance views of the Sacramento River along many locations in the park. An arc-shaped pedestrian walkway crosses the site and links the plaza at the new Sacramento River Intake Structure to a smaller pedestrian overlook at the former water intake pier. Interpretive signage is placed at the small pedestrian overlook at the former intake pier. The area between the levee and the pedestrian walkway creates a "River Green" open space area planted with native grasses, trees and vegetation so visitors can picnic, rest and enjoy views of the river. Other items included in the initial park development are site security lighting, non-mow landscaped berms to screen freeway traffic noise and low maintenance landscape plantings.

Another major feature for the proposed second phase of development is a large group picnic area with shade structures, picnic tables, group grill and site furniture, along with a parking lot. Future development of the project would include rehabilitation of the historic building for a commercial and/or community use, and could involve development of a conference center or restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Sacramento River.

East End Gateway

All four East End Gateway sites have selected developers and project construction start dates for as early as later this year. All these projects have housing and ground floor retail space along the 16th Street corridor. If all sites get built as planned, a total of 198 housing units will be for rent or sale between the prices of $225,000 (525 Sq. Ft.) and $501,000 (1,100 Sq. Ft.)


East End Gateway Site 4

SE corner 16th & P Street
Developer: MNA Management, Inc. / Foothill Partners
Architect: Mogavero Notestine Associates
Unit Count: 40 condominiums and 8 to 12 rental co-op rooms
Retail Space: 5,560 sq. ft.
Estimated Development Costs: $12,400,000
Projected Construction Period: Late 2011 to Mid 2013
Key Milestones: Developer to provide Financing Plan: August 15, 2009
CADA and Developer enter into Exclusive Negotiating Agreement subject to CADA Board approval of Financing Plan: September 18, 2009

East End Gateway Site 2 & 3

Location: Site 2: NW corner of 16th and O Streets Site 3: SW corner of 16th and O Streets
Developer: Ravel Rasmussen Properties and Separovich/Domich Real Estate
Architect: Stantec Architecture
Unit Count: 60
Retail Space: Site 2: 5,781 sq. ft. Site 3: 7,137 sq.ft.
Estimated Development Costs: Site 2: $9,300,000 Site 3: To be determined
Projected Construction Period: Late 2009 to mid 2010
Upcoming Milestones: July 15, 2009 - Developer to close on the property and start construction.
Status: CADA and Developer have entered into a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) effective as of January 25, 2008. The DDA was amended on January 30, 2009 requiring the Developer to close on the site and start construction by July 15, 2009.
The City Building Department has approved the construction drawings and is prepared to issue a building permit pending payment of fees by the Developer.

East End Gateway Site 1

Location: NW corner of 16th and N Streets
Developer: Em Johnson Interest, Inc & Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund Holdings, Inc.
Architect: Devrouax & Purnell & LDA Architects
Unit Count: 98
Retail Space: Approximately 6,000 square feet oriented along 16th Street
Estimated Development Costs: $37,000,000
Projected Construction Period: Demolition starts: October 2010
Construction ends: February 2012
Upcoming Milestones: Developer submits conceptual design to CADA – 9-09 Stakeholder design presentations – 10-09 Planning Commission and Design Review Commission reviews (tent.) – 9-09 CADA Board review of conceptual design – 10-09 ENA expires – 4-10
Status: CADA and Developer have entered into a an a one-year Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Developer on April 17, 2009. The ENA may be extended by up to one additional year by the CADA Board, if needed.

During the ENA period, the developer will be refining the conceptual design, securing a construction financing letter of commitment, and negotiating the terms and conditions of a Development and Disposition Agreement (DDA) with CADA. CADA and the developer will be presenting the conceptual design to key institutional and community stakeholders and stakeholder groups. CADA will be completing an environmental review of the project.

A DDA normally is executed at the end of the ENA period. During the DDA period, the developer will complete the construction documents, secure the building permit, and take title to the site in preparation for construction.

Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2010.

$55.8M in Prop. 1C funds

Capitol Lofts at 11th and R looking to the southeast

This week the state Department of Housing and Community Development approved four Sacramento projects for $55.8 million in Proposition 1C funds. The four projects awarded funding are The Railyards, Township 9, Curtis Park Village and Capitol Lofts which are all infill infrastructure and transit-oriented development housing projects.

The Capitol Lofts have been a project in the works for around 6 or 7 years, so I really hope this funding jump starts the project. I'm also not sure about Curtis Park Village, this projects been stalled for over a year because Superfund clean-up costs exceeded the $4 million grated to the project in 2008 from Proposition 1C grants.

This year $197 million was available statewide through the Prop. C1 program, these grants will help cover the cost of new infrastructure.

Sacramento Infill Strategy

Back in 2002, the City Council adopted an Infill Strategy with the purpose to removing barriers, promote more quality infill development, and to work closer with the community, developers, and public agencies in Sacramento.



In a recent overview report filed by the cities Infill Coordinator, between the years of 2005 and 2008, infill development in Sacramento had become a much larger share of total developments in the city but it still lags behind greenfield development. The increase in infill development in the City does not appear to stem from dramatic increases in demand or the number of infill developers, but rather an increasingly constrained supply of greenfield land. This has boosted the percentage of infill from 19% in the 2001-2004 period to 43% in 2005-2008 time period.

With growing numbers of local infill developers, increasing demand and a limited land supply, the percentage of infill development is expected to continue to grow. However, infill developers face a number of significant barriers including obsolete infrastructure, high construction costs and land prices, design issues, communityresistance, and a complicated regulatory environment.



The City has made a lot of changes to improve the regulatory environment for infill developers. Changes include the new streamlined MATRIX review process; clearer design guidelines; zoning changes to allow higher density and promote flexibility; fee deferrals and waivers for infill; grant funding for amenities in infill areas; and financial assistance to projects. In addition, the City has begun proactive efforts, such as the Shovel-Ready Sites Program, to invest in infill areas in order to leverage additional private sector investment.

Efforts to promote infill development in the City and the region have increased due to the benefits of this type of development. By placing jobs, housing and services near existing businesses and residents rather than at the City’s edge, the City can help reduce vehicle trips, improve air quality and reduce the long-term cost of having to build and maintain new roads, pipes, and facilities.



Unlike the residential market where a constrained land supply drove an increase in infill activity over the last four years, industrial, office, and retail development was influenced by different factors. Such factors include proximity to consumers, market demand, and ease of access. While non-residential development increased almost 70% in infill areas compared to only 28% in greenfield areas, a breakdown by type reveals a more complex picture.

Between 2005 and 2008, the level of industrial and especially retail development was higher in greenfield areas compared to infill areas. In infill areas, only office development was higher, but that was a result of significant high-rise office projects in Downtown such as the U.S. Bank Tower rather than a widespread increase in infill areas.

Since the 2030 General Plan proposes that two-thirds of all future growth will be infill, the City will be looking at new ways to promote infill development to meet future demand. The risk that the City faces is that if it is not able to increase the supply of infill development, people and jobs may locate in greenfield areas or elsewhere in the region. If more people and employers locate away from urbanized infill areas, our region will see less open space, increased congestion and worsening air quality.

All info above was provided by the City of Sacramento Summer 2009 Infill Report