Monday, December 29, 2008

Shovel-Ready Sites Program Funding

On December 18th the City Staff recommend to the Planning Commission the transferring of $876,805 of funding from two little used Capital Improvement Program projects into the Shovel-Ready Sites Program. This was advised to encourage new job creation and increase General Fund revenue for the City. Amending sections 17.191.050 and 17.195.060 of the zoning ordinance in order to transfer funding from the Infill Fee Reduction Program (I06000300) and Low Income Fee Waiver/Deferral Program (I06000400) to fund the Shovel-Ready Sites Program (D21001300) with $876,805.

The Shovel-Ready Sites Program was established in 2004/2005 with the intent of encouraging economic development at key locations in the City. The goal of the program is to promote economic development by leveraging and attracting private investment. The program works to address and provide solutions to infrastructure, transportation, planning and environmental challenges. By preparing key sites for development, the City can help create new jobs and grow our sales and property tax base, thus increasing General Fund revenues. The program was originally funded with $650,000 but those funds have been used for shovel-ready efforts on Florin Road, the River District, and the remainder for the 65th Street Transit Village area. So at this time no funding remains for other economic development and shovel-ready effort.

The transfer of money would take money away from the Infill Fee Reduction Program designed to reduce up to $5,000 per unit of building permit fees for small residential infill projects. The Low Income Fee Waiver/Deferral Program was designed to reduce fees for those residential projects that were required to develop affordable housing under the requirements of the City’s Mixed Income Ordinance. Though both programs were established before the court rulings on prevailing wages, neither program has been used much over the last four years because each triggers prevailing wage requirements. Prevailing wage requirements can often dramatically increase development costs for projects that use these City funds. SHRA has identified that there are no projects on the horizon that could, or would want to, take advantage of these funds.

Shovel-Ready-Sites-Program-Funding-Meeting-Documents

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

IndieSacramento Monthly Trunk Show & Craft Bazaar

I love how this is on FIRST SATURDAY. Everything is 2nd Saturday, 2nd Saturday...let's hope this can become a big success.
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IndieSacramento is Sacramento's largest MONTHLY trunk show & craft bazaar, held on the FIRST SATURDAY of every month from 12-4pm. The location may change on a monthly basis, so please check this website for details.

Our Mission:
The purpose behind IndieSacramento is to help spread the word about locally owned businesses and to help Sacramento gain the reputation it deserves as a city with cutting-edge art, crafts, and fashion -- plus great local shopping and eats.

Check out the website for photos and additional info: http://www.indiesacram...



Saturday, December 13, 2008

Sacramento Community Theater Renovation



The city is considering a partial renovation of the Community Theater at $40 million. A feasibility study in 2007 put the cost to do the full renovation at $75 million and was improbable. The new design is by Westlake Reed Leskowsky Architects and would add 18,000sf to the theater as well as changes to the exterior of the building. If the project is approved by the Council, design work would start in fall 2009 with construction beginning in 2013 and completion in 2015. The project would be done in phases scheduling around performing arts seasons (Sept. – May) with heavy construction in the summer months while the theater is closed.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Station 65

This projects outside the grid but it's a mixed-use, transit oriented project that will bring some smart growth principles at 28.4 units per acre.



This proposed mixed-use, transit oriented project consists of 49,805 sf of commercial retail, 82,695sf for a hotel with 148 rooms, 13,875sf of restaurants, 30,000sf for a fitness center, 52,290sf of office and medical office, 210,635sf for a parking structure, and 100 residential units.

The site is located on the southeast corner of 65th Street and Folsom Boulevard. It is adjacent to the 65th Street Light Rail Station and close to the major freeway ramp of Interstate 50 as well as within walking distance to the California State University, Sacramento campus. With F65 just across the street with a similar layout of retail and residential, I'm sure this will fit into the neighborhood just fine.