Park Improvements for Cesar Chavez Plaza

Starting February 6^th, the City will begin the first of three phases to improve the plaza. The first phase will cost $91,000 in an effort to maintain the park’s remaining significant historic features and characteristics.  Existing funding is available to construct proposed park improvements from Quimby Act and Park Impact fees. Construction of the improvements is expected to be completed by Winter 2012.

City to Consider Entitlement Extension

With hopes that the worst real estate downturn would be over by 2012, the City is now hoping a third extension won’t be needed in 2015. According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the City of Sacramento will soon mull over another three-year extension of already obtained building entitlements that are soon set to expire.  Staff from the Community Development Department is tentatively set to ask the City Council to approve the extension at its Jan. 24 meeting.

With hundreds of projects stalled throughout the city due to the real estate market collapse and the inability to achieve financing, this second extension just might be what the city needs when the economy improves. If these projects are still viable, they could be a few months from breaking ground because they would be considered “shovel ready.” Typically, entitlements can take 18 months or longer to acquire, this includes environmental, design and other approvals a project needs.  Depending on the size of the project they can cost a few thousand to tens of thousands.

In midtown, a project like the Tribute Building by Michael Heller Jr. at 20th Street and Capitol Avenue might still be doable if this extension is renewed. I would think that most if not all the proposed residential high-rise towers planned will not get built unless they received subsidies, like most of the current projects under construction in the grid. A second extension just might be what gets developers out in front when economic winds finally change.

Dine Downtown Restaurant Week

Experience the best of Downtown Sacramento’s dining scene during the award-winning Dine Downtown Restaurant Week. For 10 days only, local chefs will create special three-course dinner menus for only $30 per person.

Dine Downtown 2012 will kick off on Monday January 9th and continue through Wednesday January 18th.

Click here to see all the great restaurants to choose from.

For More Info: (916) 442-8575

State of Downtown 2012

Join the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and local community and business leaders for the 14th Annual State of Downtown breakfast on January 17, 2012 as we identify priorities for downtown revitalization. You’ll hear from Mayor Kevin Johnson and keynote speaker Larry Baer, President and CEO of the San Francisco Giants.

State of Downtown 2012 | Vision to Reality
With a sound strategy and unified vision, large-scale public projects have the power to transform downtown districts into vibrant city centers.
Date: January 17, 2011
Time: 8:00 – 10:00 am
Place: Memorial Auditorium • 1515 J Street

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Larry Baer, President & CEO of the San Francisco Giants
One of sports’ leading visionaries, Larry Baer, President and CEO of the San Francisco Giants, will discuss his role as one of the driving forces behind the vision for AT&T Park and the success of its reality and how Sacramento can learn from his story. View his full bio.

Click here to buy tickets

Table of 10 (breakfast included): $650
Floor Seat (breakfast included): $65
Gallery Seat (program only): $25

Or call the Downtown Sacramento Partnership at 916.442.8575

East End Gateway Sites 2 & 3 Groundbreaking: Thursday, January 12th 10:30am