New Sacramento Central Utility Plant

The new Central Power Plant between Q, P, 6th and 7th streets.  The old plant was shut down by the EPA for discharging hot water into the river.  The new plant utilizes a huge water cooling tower.  Instead of trying to hide it- which is impossible- the design embellishes it with colored panels and a space frame.  The treatment at the top is supposed to represent a splash, just like a high speed photo of a milk drop splash. The remainder of the building is intended to look like an office building, but it is simply a big mechanical plant inside with pipes and ducts, etc.

The new $181 million Sacramento Central Plant will replace an aging 40-year-old facility, efficiently heating and cooling 5.5 million square feet of office space in the Capitol and 23 other state buildings in downtown Sacramento. Although called a renovation, this project consisted of constructing a new plant outside the footprint of the existing plant and once complete the old plant was demolished to make way for TANK and site amenities. The new structure is about 80,000-SF. More info here.

Railyards Bridges

Despite Thomas Enterprises still lingering default to pay investor Inland American, work continues on the 5th and 6th Street bridges. By the end of September, the soffit and stems (lower deck) of the 5th Street bridge will be poured with concrete, and 6th Street structures will follow shortly after. All structures will be complete in early 2011. The Railyards redevelopment picture provided by http://www.sacramentorailyards.com/  and clicking on VIEW LATEST IMAGES.

$50 million Powerhouse Science Center

The former Pacific Gas & Electric Co. power plant on the Sacramento River will soon turn into a $50 million Powerhouse Science Center. PG&E workers will begin removing power lines Sunday, and then on Wednesday, will start removing the large towers that hold the wires. Construction is set to start in a year and set to open in 2013.

Renderings provided by Dreyfuss & Blackford.

Hotel Berry Renovation

This $24.5 million project is set to start renovations next month and take a year and a half to complete. The historic hotel at 729 L St. was built in 1929 and since the 1970s, the hotel had been used for affordable housing, referred to as a single-room occupancy (SRO) hotel. The renovation, will outfitted each room with a kitchenette and the ground floor will be remodeled.

In September 2009, the Hotel Berry Project was awarded nine percent tax credits through a competitive process. The Project exchanged the tax credits for an award of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds in the amount of $13,561,066 in December 2009. The ARRA award completed the Project's required financing. The necessary agreements have been executed to proceed with disposition of the property by the Redevelopment Agency to the developer Jamboree Housing Corporation (Jamboree). Jamboree will develop and own the Hotel Berry.

In July of 2010 Jamboree submitted plans to the City Building Department and anticipates receiving permits in October of 2010. Construction is expected to begin immediately after building permits are issued with completion estimated by the end of 2011. Sacramento City Ordinance 2006-056 requires that the City maintain an inventory of not less than 712 residential hotel or comparable units. The Hotel Berry is the second largest of the remaining downtown residential hotels and one of nine properties that comprise the City's SRO inventory. Granicus

Curtisfest 2010

Curtis fest is a community celebration of art in all it's forms, we will have local artists, artisans, and food vendors in Curtis Park this Saturday September 11th, 2010. Join your friends and neighbors from 10am to 4pm in Curtis Park, Sacramento. For more information email info@sierra2.org or call 916-452-3005.

This weekend Gold Rush Days & Chalk it Up

This Labor Day weekend Sacramentans have lots of activities to choose from. In Old Sacramento more than 200 tons of dirt will be dumped on the streets of Old Sacramento as the annual festival "turns back the clock," Gold Rush Days, transforming Sacramento’s historic district into a scene straight out of the 1850s. Costumed re-enactors, Wild West gun fights, musicians playing period instruments, and many aspects of life during the Gold Rush will be highlighted during the four-day event. The event is FREE, September 3-5, Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-7pm, Mon 11am-4pm.

In Fremont Park at 16th & O Street, Chalk It Up is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year as Sacramento’s longest running chalk art and music event as hundreds of sidewalk chalk artists and dozens of live music acts come together for yet another fun-filled, family-friendly Chalk It Up! Chalk art festival! September 4 -6, 10am to 6pm daily.

Images of Sacramento

Tower Theater - 2508 Land Park Drive- Built in 1938

1615 Capitol Ave. Department of Public Health

300 Capitol Mall - Built in 1983

Deadline for Railyard Developer Today

Today Thomas Enterprises could lose funding for the Railyards project if the developer can’t prove it has the money to continue the job. The state of California has said it will pull $30 million in grant funding if developer Thomas Enterprises cannot clear a notice of default with investor Inland American.

There is also another $50 million grant as well as another $35 million allotted from the state transportation commission, putting more than $100 million in funding at risk. Inland American says it will work to protect the state grant funds, with or without Thomas Enterprises. (CBS13)

The Next American Dream

The Next American Dream
Is Sacramento Ready?

We used to get dressed up to go “downtown.”
It was an occasion.
It was the place to be.
It was the energy of every growing city.
But times changed.

Suburbia was born.
And we deserted downtown.

It’s time to rebuild our urban cores.
Does Sacramento have the will to rebuild?

Please join us at the Crest Theatre
for a screening of
The Next American Dream,
a documentary film about a downtown coming back to life.

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010
Social Hour – 5 to 6 p.m.
Screening – 6 to 7 p.m.
After-Party – Social Nightclub (10th and K)

This screening was not brought to you by an association, a chamber, a media outlet, a developer, a politician or the filmmaker. This film was brought to you by people who call Sacramento home. Most importantly, this film was brought to you by a group of people who ready to change the landscape of our region.

For more information about The Next American Dream, visit nextamericandream.com.

Some local Sacramentans are putting this screening on: a new vision for downtown Sacramento.

Check out the trailer at http://nextamericandream.com/.

I think you’ll find it well worth your time

Updated DMV Headquarter Renderings

Thanks to my friends at Lionakis who is both the Architect and Designer of this project, I have some updated renderings that includes a new central plant. In addition to the other upgrades I mentioned in my previous post, the exteriors south-southwest portion of the facade will be a dual-skin facade. The purpose of this feature is to provide an insulation barrier which may also be ventilated naturally (through a stack effect: heat rises). The central plant is also currently construction, one block south of the headquarters.

What ever happen to...

A couple weeks ago the Sacramento Business Journal did a story all the infamous lots in downtown Sacramento where projects that were once on the verge of breaking ground were eventually put on hold or canceled .There are a few of these site I had forgotten about, but it's also a good read as to what else is going on now.

Read here: Lots of potential by The Sacramento Business Journal

3rd & Capitol Mall where John Saca's Towers were proposed

River District Specific Plan

For the 748-acre River District Area, the City proposes adopting policy documents to support a transit-oriented mixed-use urban environment that would include up to 8,144 dwelling units, 3.9 million square-feet of office, 854,000 square-feet of retail, 1.4 million square feet light industrial, and 3,044 hotel units.

The proposed River District special planning district consists of properties generally bounded by the Sacramento River on the west, the American River on the north, the Railyards on the south, and 18th Street on the east. The SPD is intended to implement the development standards and design guidelines in the River District area plan.

The goals of the River District SPD are as follows:

• Establish a greater mix of land uses and intensities to attract private investment;

• Provide the opportunity for reuse and rehabilitation of heavy commercial and industrial uses to take advantage of the light rail facilities in the area to reduce the number of obsolete and underutilized buildings and sites;

• Allow for the retention and continued operation of industrial and service oriented uses;

• Provide for improved circulation, infrastructure, and community facilities that will serve existing and future needs within the area;

• Provide for the future creation of a significant residential population as industrial uses are replaced or relocated within the River District area to achieve housing objectives of the central city and provide a jobs/housing balance for future office growth;

• Provide for the intensification of commercial and office uses within close proximity to the planned and existing light rail stations and Interstate 5;

• Discourage uses that contribute to visual or economic blight;

• Ensure that properties with hazardous material contamination within the River District area are remediated to the extent necessary to protect the health and safety of all possible site users and users of adjacent properties, consistent with applicable laws and regulations;

• To encourage the preservation of historic structures;

• Promote aesthetic improvements to the area by implementing development standards and design guidelines.

This Thursday the 12th, the Planning Commission will review and comment on proposed height limits within the River District, treatment of nonconforming uses, zoning code change entitlements (height, setback, and stepback), parking regulations, rezoning of industrial land to more mixed uses, feasibility of requiring ground floor commercial within specified areas of the district, and other issues regarding the draft River District plan.

Township 9 Parks Master Plan

Township 9 is a 65acre planned mixed use community located in the City's River District and adjoining the southern boundary of the American River. Parks within the project include a passive community park along the American River, a small neighborhood park centrally located within the development, widened street medians and a mew, a transit plaza and mid-block paseos. The parks will serve the residents and employees of the development and will help to move pedestrians and bicyclists through the project site as they make their way towards the American River. A master plan for all of the parks, with the exception of the mid-block paseos, will come to City Council for approval on August 10th.

On July 1, 2010, the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) reviewed and supported the Parks Master Plan for Township 9, recognizing that the parks included expensive elements not typically found in City parks, and that maintenance of the parks would be more costly. The PRC recommended that park maintenance be conducted by City staff rather than by a private entity, following discussion about the Project's Development Agreement which requires the Developer to form an assessment district to fully fund the maintenance of the parks. The Township 9 Development Agreement allows the City to enter into an agreement with an outside entity to perform the maintenance.

The City received $30 million in Proposition 1 C grant funding that was assigned to the Township 9 development project. This funding has enabled the developer to begin construction on this high profile project. The Proposition 1 C funding will focus on the design and construction of infrastructure needed to develop the site (streets, sewer, water, storm drain and dry utilities), three parks (Transit Plaza, North 7 th Street Median, and Riverfront Park), and light rail improvements in consideration for development of 397 market rate housing units and a 180 residential unit affordable housing apartment. Staff will return to City Council for action on a Credit / Reimbursement Agreement for "turn-key" park development with the Township 9 Developer at a later date. Development of parks creates an ongoing cost for park maintenance and utilities based on the size of the park. The Project's Development Agreement requires that a Community Facilities District or other assessment district be formed and funded before the City will accept each park. The ongoing maintenance of each park will be fully funded by the District to offset any new impact to the Department's Operating Budget.

Timing: The Transit Plaza, North 7th Street Median, Riverfront Plaza and Riverfront Park are anticipated to be completed by mid-2011

DMV Headquarters Renovation

After deciding to remove asbestos applied between every floor when DMV’s Sacramento Headquarters Building East opened in 1962, the department launched an ambitious, concurrent renovation plan to completely remodel all six floors of the facility to improve energy efficiency and reduce ongoing operations costs. The remodeled floors feature energy-efficient glass, sunscreens and insulation systems, energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems, and water-saving restroom fixtures. The project will also ultimately add a solar, electricity-generating photovoltaic (PV) system to the building’s roof. The project was started in 2004 and expected to be finished in 2011. Located at 2415 1st Avenue.

Current exterior renovation photos taken last week.

Farmers’ Market on the Capitol Mall "Greens"

Starting Thursday, July 29, the first Capitol Mall Farmer’s Market will kick-off the “farm-to-table” movement and the popularity of Sacramento’s Certified Farmers’ Markets.

The Capitol Mall Farmers’ Market will be open every Thursday through September 30 on the “greens” of Capitol Mall between 6th and 7th Streets from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. To optimize access, Capitol Mall will be closed to traffic during the Farmers’ Markets from 5th to 7th Street East bound, 6th to 7th Streets West bound, and Sixth Street will be closed North bound from Capitol Mall to L Street. Ample parking is available in adjacent office towers, nearby pubic garages To and metered street parking on L and N Streets.

The Capitol Mall District was formed by five (5) property owners located on Capitol Mall including: One Capitol Mall, 300 Capitol Mall, 400 Capitol Mall, Bank of the West Tower, Plaza Five-Fifty-Five and U.S. Bank Tower. The District’s purpose is to sponsor and promote events that will energize and utilize the common areas (the “Greens”) of Capitol Mall for the enjoyment of the entire region.

For more about information about the Capitol Mall Farmer’s Market call 916-498-6215. To learn more about Sacramento’s Certified Farmers’ Markets visit: http://www.california-grown.com/ or Marika Rose, 916-601-9737, marikarose@surewest.net

Streetcar Planning Study

As part of the 2010 federal and state programming, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) awarded a grant in the amount of $310,000 in federal funds to the City of Sacramento for a Streetcar Planning Study. The City of Sacramento applied for these funds in order to perform a planning study that would evaluate the feasibility of alternative streetcar routes throughout strategic locations in the City, compare alignments for maximum economic, environmental and mobility benefits, and develop a priority list for funding and implementation.

This Tuesday the City Council will accept and appropriate funds necessary to begin the planning work. This funding may only be used for the proposed Streetcar Planning Study. The Sacramento Streetcar Planning Study Project  (T15115800) is funded with $310,000 of federal funds (Fund 3703) and $90,000 in local funds (Fund 2001) to be transferred from the Major Streets Improvement project (T15108000) into the Sacramento Streetcar Planning Study Project (T15115800). No general funds are planned or allocated for this project.

The Streetcar Planning Study will evaluate a wide range of potential streetcar options. The City of Sacramento 2030 General Plan focuses on higher density land uses in commercial corridors near job centers. Having a variety of transportation choices which include streetcars promotes accessible alternatives to the automobile and supports the City's economic, land use and transportation goals.

Sacramento Urban Pleasures

Back in early spring I was inspired, so I went out and got some new city photos. Please see more by clicking the link below.

Leland Stanford Mansion - 800 N Street, built between 1856 and 1872, Lightrail stop at 8th & Capitol Mall

Sacramento Urban Pleasures
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=183257

I'll have them up on my website soon http://www.zwahlenimages.com/

Tower Cranes for Sutter Expansion

It's quite a site to see a couple of tower cranes rise in Sacramento these days, but it's even more impressive is to see them at the east end of midtown. With the four story Sutter Capitol Pavilion medical offices almost finished up, the nine story Ose Adams Medical Pavilion tower has now become the focus of the project. It's expected that foundation work continuing till the end of the year with the tower rising early next year.

Sacramento Zoo Feasibility Study

This Tuesday the City Council will look over a two year study by the Community Development Department Zoo feasibility study. The Sacramento Zoological Society Long Range Planning Committee had identified Sutter's Landing Regional Park as their preferred site for a modest expansion of the zoo, but alternative sites have also been located for a future zoo.

Cost Premium of Construction on former landfill:
Construction costs will be significantly higher (to account for ground settling and special drainage treatment); thus, it is expected that construction of a zoo on this site would cost $625K/acre ($30 million total for a 50 acre zoo) above the "normal" costs of constructing a zoo on a site without landfill issues.

In addition to Sutter's Landing Regional Park, the consultant conducted preliminary evaluations of other potential sites:
• Natomas Joint Vision: This land area has no land use entitlements or habitat conservation permits.
• Arco Arena area: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Job Corps / Delta Shores Regional Park: The southern portion of the Job Corps site has not yet been surplused by the federal government
• North Natomas Regional Park: Already programmed for other uses
• Haggin Oaks Golf Course: This would require reconfiguration of the existing golf course and there may be competition from other potential users
• Cal Expo: This site is part of the Convergence proposal
• Granite Regional Park - east basin: This site is.difficult to evacuate in the event of drainage pump failure
• Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course: This site would require reconfiguration or elimination of the existing golf course.

The study emphasized that:
• The decision and actions to move forward with a zoo of the future are long range planning activities (a 20 year timeframe).
• There are no imminent plans to move or expand the zoo; options are provided for preliminary consideration.
• The community and PRC workshops are an important step in exploring those options for the long term future of the zoo.

The Feasibility Study concluded that:
• The current 14 acre site of the Land Park zoo is not sustainable for the future. The changing exhibit requirements, increasing operating costs, and stagnant revenues, are resulting in a zoo that offers fewer exhibits. Parking is limited and cannot fully accommodate visitors on weekends or during busy seasons.
• Sutter's Landing Regional Park is not well suited for a zoo. The site poses a number of tough challenges (e.g., building new access roads and constructing zoo facilities on a former landfill).
• Initial findings are that other sites are potentially better suited for a future zoo.
• Physically, Land Park could potentially accommodate a modest expansion.

City Picks D&S and Taylor for K Street Development

treeI truly feel the right choice was made here.
One thing that bothered me listening to the meeting last night was it seemed as though people felt we would be settling for a lesser plan and aren't hitting (or at least trying to) a homerun by choosing this plan.
I feel this plan IS a homerun. There was no safe plan, if that was the case, those two blocks would have been developed a long time ago. These plans give us the best chance to see a remarkable change quickly.
One other point: I thought Jason Boggs from Shady Lady made great points regarding one of the key difference between the Rubicon and D&S proposal (other than finances) that was overlooked by a lot of people, The Kniting Factory.
The place was just too darn big and didn't fit what the cities music scene has needed for a long time. A midsize, and most important, LOCAL run venue in the heart of the city. I have complete confidence what they put togther will be a lynch pin in that section of K Street for a very long time.
Memo to Taylor and D&S...you better get this done now. No excuses.
__________________________________________________
Sacramento council picks lower-cost plan for K Street Mall
The decades-long effort to revitalize downtown Sacramento's K Street got a second wind Tuesday night.
The City Council voted 5-4 to negotiate with two development teams proposing to build more than 200 housing units, shops and restaurants along two downtrodden blocks of the K Street Mall.
The vote spurned a more elaborate proposal by developer Rubicon Partners to bring a year-round market similar to San Francisco's Ferry Building, a music venue and a 10-story housing complex to K Street. That plan faced at least a $50 million funding gap.
For more:
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/13/2888769/council-votes-to-negotiate-with.html