16 Powerhouse



16 Powerhouse - 1601 16th Street, Sacramento 95814

16 Powerhouse has an improved new design for the East End Gateway Site 4 directly across from Fremont Park off 16th Street between P St & Powerhouse Alley. This project has a proposed construction date for spring 2013, thus far, no info has been released stating how much it will cost or if the same developer who made the original design is also behind this proposal.

This project is being labeled as a green & sustainable net zero mixed use development featuring grey water and storm water recycling, solar hot water system, solar PV, Vertical Farm, R30 wall insulation, R50 ceiling insulation, Superior building envelope, Variable Refrigerant HVAC system, and LED lighting. The building includes 45 luxury rental apartments built to condo spec for when the market might be right for it. In addition, approx. 7,700 sq. ft. of ground floor restaurant & retail space, 45 parking spaces, onsite waste management, building management system to monitor energy usage, orientation to optimize daylight and natural ventilation, and automatic solar shades.

16 Powerhouse also has a Facebook page here.  Below is an image of what was originally proposed for the site by CADA

 

The 22nd Annual Chalk It Up to Sacramento Festival!

This Labor Day don’t forget to also check out Chalk It Up at Fremont Park. For three days Chalk It Up will host live performances by many musicians who donate their talents, food vendors and sponsors all to make this their best year yet. This year there will also be the return of Kids Create-A-Zone, where kids are led through activities by local professional artists.

For more information, please visit the website.

Labor Day Weekend • September 1-3, 2012

Fremont Park • 16th & Q Streets

Gold Rush Days 2012

Old Sacramento Gold Rush Days - Front Street

Gold Rush Days are a celebration of Sacramento's heritage.  This Labor Day Weekend Aug. 31st - Sept. 3rd., more than 200 tons of dirt pave the streets in Old Sacramento as this annual festival "turns back the clock," transforming Sacramento's historic district into a scene straight out of the 1850s. Hundreds of costumed performers take on the roles of celebrities, personalities and just plain folks, bringing history to life while bluegrass pickers and old-timey Musicians performed on several stages, evoking the vivid tunes of the times.

Events and performances throughout the district are FREE to the public. Please click here for the entertainment schedule.

Hoofing It to the New Rail Platform

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Over the weekend I went out to the new rail platform to take a closer look at the track relocation project, also known as "The Path to Progress." Walking from the Sacramento Valley Station Depot to the new platforms took about five or six minutes and was about a quarter mile. I found myself thinking while shuffling out to the new platform that this is far less convenient for everyone. Even with the covered pathway; the weather is going make this hike even more of a chore with baggage in hand. Something else to consider, if you did not use the restroom before leaving the main depot., you better be prepared to hold it because this $50 million project does not include any at the new platform.

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

The new platform was built anticipating an intermodal depot would be built close by shortly after completion. There are currently only vague conceptual plans for the new intermodal depot with no additional funding to build it. So this barren hike from the old depot to the platform will now be many passengers first and last image of Sacramento for years to come. The city recently won a federal grant to rehabilitate the current depot with work expected to start next summer.

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

Walk to the platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814






New train platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814

New train platform - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Looking back at the depot - 401 I St. Sacramento 95814



Downtown Plaza Sold

Local press is reporting that JMA Ventures of San Francisco has purchased Downtown Plaza today for about $22 million from Westfield Group LLC. and plan on transforming it into an urban destination. The mall was originally built in 1971 and redeveloped in 1993 costing $157 million. At nearly 1 million-square-feet and covering six city blocks in downtown Sacramento, the new owners will have a big job getting bring new life into the diminishing shopping complex.

City officials seem to have lots of ideas, like turned the inside out so that it connects better with the city on J and L streets. They also have talked about rebuilding Fourth and Fifth streets through the mall and possibly allowing cars back on K Street in the plaza. I personally would not take too much advice from the city and how to revitalize the mall, just look at their track record thus far on K Street, both the 700 & 800 blocks are barren and after nearly three decades  of social engineering, K Street in downtown is still about the same.

In other news at the Downtown Plaza, lenders have foreclosed on the building housing Macy's men's and furniture store at 600 K St., though the store remains open and will continue to operate as usual for now, according to people working in the store.

Finished La Valentina Project

La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814

The final touches are being taken care of at the new La Valentine apartments and judging by their Facebook page, they have a steady flow of new tenants moving in too.  This $27 million project has 81 units of affordable housing adjacent to the Alkali Flat/La Valentina light rail station.  

La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814



La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814



La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814

La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814



La Valentina Apartments - 429 12th Street, Sacramento, California 95814

Seventh & H SRO Construction Activity

Seventh & H

With just a few more bricks to lay, “Seventh & H” looks pretty sharp for an affordable housing project. The eight-story, $47.4 million, 150-unit being built by Mercy Housing is the first new structure going up in the railyards redevelopment project area.

Seventh & H

Seventh & H

626 I Steet, Sacramento 95814



626 I Steet, Sacramento 95814

This project when completed will consist of 108 units for occupancy by extremely low income elderly persons in September 2012. See before photos here.

East End Gateway 2 & 3 Construction Activity

East End Gateway Site 3

For the next two weeks at Site 2, the contractor will be laying out and beginning to install plumbing, laying out the mechanical system, laying out and framing the third floor walls, floor joists, and laying out and framing fourth floor walls

East End Gateway Site 2

At Site3, the contractor will be laying out walls on the newly-poured concrete deck above the first floor, removing the shoring that supported this floor during concrete pouring, begin framing the second floor, and install the plywood decking for the third floor. Work to lay out the building’s mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems will begin.

East End Gateway Site 3

East End Gateway Site 3

Look north down 16th Street at East End Gateway Site 2 & 3



Panoramaic view of East End Gateway Site 2 & 3

Work began on this project at both the SW and NW corners of 16th and O Streets January 12th and is expected to cost $26 million. The project includes 13,000sf retail along 16th street, 84 apartments, and 93 parking spaces. The architect for the project is Stantec, Developer: Ravel Rasmussen Properties and Separovich/Domich Real Estate, General Contractor: West Fork Construction, Inc., and expected to be completed by mid-2013.