Courting Disaster

In the current Feb/Mar Sactown Magazine there is well written piece by Rob Turner on the many reasons why the proposed superior county courthouse should NOT be built on Capitol Mall but instead built over at the other proposed site in the railyards. The list of reasons and examples includes the 2002 East End Project that was also a State funded project that ignored the pleas of the Sacramento review board and was not subject to any authority in how it was built... just how like this building will also be exempt to any design oversight. The article really nails it when it talks about how the area would also have a steady stream of felons and accusers at a site that should be reserved for something special.

The articles called "Courting Disaster" and I highly recommend picking it up or viewing it here.

Zwahlen Images Fresh New Look

I’m proud to announce that my photograph website Zwahlen Images has now gone live with a new look and more efficient method to view my photography. I still have many photos that I need to load into the “Archives” section, but in the mean time, please enjoy my new Masterhead slideshow where I have many of my favorite images rotating in random order.  Thank you for viewing both my blog and photography website, it keeps me motivated to continue posting new stuff when I know others out there also enjoy it too.

Gateway on Fremont Park

A $15 million proposal by Sukna Global Holdings has been chosen by CADA to development the East End Gateway Site 4, which is located across from Fremont Park. Named Gateway on Fremont Park, the proposed 30 for-sale luxury condominiums include 5th floor penthouse units that include panoramic views of Fremont Park. The Gateway Development Project includes street level retail space and 30 covered parking spaces.

The five-story, mixed-use developments would also include a farm on the roof that could grow crops and breed fish to possibly be served in the ground-floor restaurant. Condo price would start at $370,000.The proposals scheduled to submit a preliminary financing plan by June 27, 2011, a design program by September 27, 2011 and evidence of financing by October 27, 2011.

Sacramento Proposals of Times Past

Lot A on Capitol Mall 1989

A little over two years ago I started a thread on Skyscraperpage.com devoted to the many proposals that never saw the light of day in Sacramento and the many reasons why they failed. Scattered over seven pages, about thirty proposals (with more to come) and renderings detail the many reasons why they failed. Everything from tight financing forces, Federal government mandate, and limit height to protect the Capitol, it's a trip down memory lane and will make you wonder what our city could have been. A big one I still need to put together and post is from the late 1980’s when the Centrage project along along with many others as time permits me. Click here to check it out.


The Civic Tower 1990
North West corner of 10th & H Street



 

Steel Rises at Sutter Medical Center

About two weeks ago I noticed steel being erected for the Anderson Lucchetti Women’s and Children’s Center on Thirtieth Street. This should be the time when we start to see big changes as the frame for the 153.5 ft tall structure rises next to the Capitol Freeway. Sutters Midtown project can also be viewed by a web cam right here.

Broadway Triangle Development

Located along the north side of Broadway between 34th St & 3rd Ave in Oak Park, a request has been made to the Preservation Commission to develop a mixed use development consisting of 29 residential units and approximately 9,000sf of commercial space, 40 parking spaces, and several small urban park areas. Two of the structures involved in the project are existing historic structures, and several of the proposed new structures are to be constructed on vacant lots within the Oak Park Historic District. The parking for the project will be onsite garages and parking spaces as well as the introduction of on-street angled parking along 35th Street.

The proposed project is a collaborative partnership between Mr. Vrilakas and SHRA to activate the existing parcels, and further rehabilitate the Broadway Corridor and the Oak Park Historic District. This project requires a quicker timeline than most due to financing elements required to proceed with construction. The development team would like to break ground summer of 2011.

Railyard Update from Inland American

On Tuesday the 4th, the Sacramento City Council will receive their first update as to what Inland American plans to do with the Railyards since Inland took over last fall after foreclosing on Thomas Enterprises. I don't think Inland will propose much beyond finishing up the 5th &7th Street bridges and put off moving foward with the project till market conditions improve. With both retail and office vacancy rates high in the downtown and the Sacramento area, I can't envision Inland wanting to build anything while the markets are contracting. I think they will either sell off the land in pieces or build a smaller modified version of what was originally proposed. Talk is cheap, so until something is actually under construction, I would not believe much of what you hear.