Demolition begins On Capitol Annex

The term "Demolition by Neglect" fits the current state of the Capitol Annex that is now being demolished. For decades the State failed to properly maintain and upgrade the Capitol Annex, therefore it is now in disrepair and needs to be torn down. State legislators for nearly 70 years didn't even do the minimum to keep the structure up to code or make any upgrades throughout the life of the structure. The budget to replace the Annex is currently $1.4 billion, as you know, this estimate will be way under budget when the project is completed in five or six years. It was only three years ago when the proposal was estimated to be $775 million. The State doesn't even have a rendering of the replacement building to show the public, just another reason why public trust of all politicians is at an all time low. 

19J Demolition of Site

Demolition of building at 19th & J Street making way for
Mohanna Developments 11 story mixed-use building

The self-financed 11 story mixed-use apartment project started demolition of the site last Friday. The project would have 173 residential units and 6,600 sf of ground floor retail.

I’m surprised the city’s planning commission approved demolition without a solid date for when construction would begin. The central city has a terrible track record of clearing a portion of a block anticipating construction only to see it sit there empty for years or even decades. Mo Mohanna track record for finishing what he started is dismal as well. Back in 1978 his company built some homes in Rocklin, other than that his own website does not offer more than proposals that never were built. 

Demolition of building at 19th & J Street making way for
Mohanna Developments 11 story mixed-use building

Demolition of building at 19th & J Street making way for
Mohanna Developments 11 story mixed-use building

Demolition of building at 19th & J Street making way for
Mohanna Developments 11 story mixed-use building

Demolition of building at 19th & J Street making way for
Mohanna Developments 11 story mixed-use building

The cost of the project has not been stated but Mohanna Development bought the site last year for $2.5 million. I estimate the construction costs for the building to be around $50 million. Hopefully Mohanna will be able to build the project as planned, the central city could use some more housing. 

Ice Blocks Demolition

Future site of Ice Blocks project on R Street, Sacramento

After a fire destroyed the bones of the former Crystal Ice Block building last November, developer Heller Pacific is forging ahead with revised plans to develop the three block site. The land is now cleared and construction has begun at Block One next to Safeway.

This $80 million development will have 145 residential units, 46,966SF retail space, 100,631SF office space, 17,000SF for restaurant. 

Renderings of Ice Blocks on R Street, Sacramento

Time lapse Video of Downtown Plaza Demolition

On Wednesday the Sacramento Kings officially kicked off construction of their $477million downtown arena with plans to have it ready for the 2016-17 season. The Sacramento Bee has a great time lapse video showing demolition of the former Downtown Plaza from July through October 2014. 

Time lapse Video of Downtown Plaza Demolition 4:48.

The Former Downtown Plaza

Panoramic photo from L Street at the former Downtown Plaza 10-12-2014

At an amazing pace, the Downtown Plaza is all but torn down. You can now easily see buildings on J Street while standing on L Street where the mall use to be.

Please click on the photo to view the image larger.

Downtown Plaza Demolition

Downtown Plaza Demolition

In a matter of 54 days, the corner of L and 5th Streets has been leveled and it looks as if prep work for the new arenas foundation have begun. That orange square in the lower left of the photo looks as if a tower crane might rise from there?

The above photo is a screenshot of a livecam you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWuS8hM_5D8 

Downtown Plaza Demolition

 They are wasting no time tearing through walls of Downtown Plaza. Please click on panoramic photos to enlarge.

Downtown Plaza Demolition panoramic photo 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition 8-29-2014

Downtown Plaza Demolition panoramic photo 8-29-2014

Arena Cam

This arena cam has a great view of demolition at the Downtown Plaza. Downey Brand Arena Cam link.

Downtown Plaza Demolition

Downtown Plaza, Sacramento, CA

This morning about 60 Turner Construction workers gathered at Downtown Plaza to officially start demolition work making way for a new arena. As reported by the Sacramento Business Journal, relatively little work will be visible for the first few weeks and the first buildings will actually start coming in down in two to three weeks. 

Old Sacramento Savings Demolition

On the corner at L and Fourth streets, the weathered former Sacramento Savings building started demolition with a bulldozer this last Tuesday.  Signs were posted on the building over three years ago that demolition was planned, but this was its last week.

The privately owned bank with the Pony Express rider logo had been in business since the 1870s, growing to more than 40 branches across the Central Valley and into the north state before First Interstate Bank acquired the lender in the mid-1990s. First Interstate was later bought by Wells Fargo.

Known as the ugly duckling of downtown buildings in the 1960s and 1970s, the building at 424 L Street will soon become a parking lot with no other plans in the near future.