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.