Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Midtown's 15Q Project Up For Review

15Q mixed-use project planned for 1430 Q Street 


















D&S Development will go before the Planning and DesignCommission on Thursday to request approval of 15Q, an 8 story mixed use building. Located in the R Street Corridor, this 73 residential unit is asking for permits to exceed the maximum density and height for the district.

This mixed-use project also includes 97 parking spaces on levels 1 through 3, total building square footage 158,355, total height of 97.6”, and zero streetsides setbacks.

The Planning and Design Commissions staff has recommended approval of this project. The site is currently a paved parking lot.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Press Building Project

Press Building Mixed use 20th & Q Streets














This Thursday the 26th, the Planning and DesignCommission will review and comment on the Press Building project. This proposal includes reuse of an existing parking garage and constructing a five story mixed-use structure over the garage. The project includes 253 residential units

Press Building Mixed use 21st & Q Streets














The project site is currently used by the Sacramento Bee and its employees for parking across 21st Street from their main offices. The garage was completed in 1990 and consists of two levels. No estimated cost to build has been released. Here's a link to six previous concepts that were far more interesting than the current design. 

Press Building Courtyard view













Press Building Midtown Aerial

Monday, May 23, 2016

Vanir Tower Re-activated

After sitting dormant for over 18 months, the Vanir Tower has been “re-activated” with the city Planning and Design Commission. The Vanir Group is hoping to go to the Planning and Design Commission in June or July of this year for review and comment.

This proposal has been considered inactive by the city since at least November of last year, nearly one year after the original plans for the tower were withdrawn to make minor modification.  About a week after I made the post about its inactive status, the Vanir Group made local headlines, saying the proposed tower could get taller because of interest from potential tenants.

The Vanir Group did not respond to my request for comment.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Office Towers For Sale

As reported by the SacBee’s Bob Shallit, two office buildings on Capitol Mall are now on the market.  One of downtown’s newest office buildings, completed in 2008, known as the U.S. Bank Tower asking around $170 million for a 25-story 366,000 SF building. Located at 621 Capitol Mall, David Taylors property is said to be fully tenanted and was originally build for $132 million.

621 Capitol Mall, U.S. Bank Tower, Sacramento, CA























Another office on the market just down the street at 520 Capitol Mall is an eight-stories building with 82,401 SF and built in 1963 for $3 million. Updated in 2003, today they are asking $28.6 million.

520 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA
















Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Eyes On Downtown Commons (DOCO) Construction

Screen shot of Downtown Commons from http://www.golden1center.com/live/















Downtown Commons (DOCO) Construction
update as of May 4, 2016


  • Raising rebar columns in area near 5th street at level 2 
  • Forming columns for wall in area near 5th street at level 2
  • Pouring concrete for columns on deck arena near 5th street at level 2   
  • Pouring concrete for slab on deck near the scientology building at level 2
  • Placing columns on deck near the scientology building at level 2
  • Pouring concrete on deck behind area facing the scientology building at level 2
  • Placing rebar on deck near arena ramp area at level 2
  • Pouring concrete for slab on deck near arena ramp area at level 2
  • Pan Pacific Installation of 18” pipe supports
  • Striping Deck forms


Screen shot of Downtown Commons from http://www.golden1center.com/live/













Screen shot of Downtown Commons from http://www.golden1center.com/live/
















Screen shot photos from Golden 1 Center live camera.

Also, watch the DOCO Drone Cam from 2/22/2016

Monday, May 09, 2016

Yamanee Project in Midtown

Yamanee mixed-use condominium proposal 25th & J St 

















This proposed mixed-use multi-story condominium building will soon receive the Planning & Design Commissions approval at its May 12th meeting, but its decision is appealable to City Council. The Yamanee project is a multi-story, mixed-use condominium building that proposes 14,494 square feet of ground-floor and mezzanine commercial uses and 134 for-sale residential units rising up 179ft. The project is located at the southeast corner of 25th and J Streets in the General Commercial zone and located in the Midtown Commercial overlay zone.

Despite a long list of comments opposing the Yamanee, the commission saw “significant community benefit” that include, Quality in Design, Home Ownership Opportunities, Infill, Sustainability, Decreased Dependency on Cars, Increases Pedestrian Connectivity, and Open Space/Gathering Spaces. Because of these values, the Yamanee is consistent with many General Plan goals and policies that make it an asset.
Yamanee mixed-use condominium proposal 25th & J St 























One of the key issues some thought made this proposal out of scale with the surrounding area was its massing and height. But like many other complaints made to the commission, this was dismissed by pointing out that a “9-story building immediately across J Street also helps in transitioning the height of the building to the neighborhood located north of the site”.

Looks like this might get a green light to build, but will it get started before the market takes a dive? How many times have we seen this scenario leaving great projects like this on the drawing board?