PARKing Day - Friday, Sept 19th

Website: http://neighborhoods.org/sacparkingday

PARKing Day has returned to Sacramento for 2008! Join us at the corner of J and 20th in Midtown on September 19th from 7:00A-6:00P. Download the Event Flyer. We will again be converting a car parking space into a beautiful mini-park called Presley Park — complete with sod, park benches, and trees! We guarantee a good time :)

Another Sacramento park is being organized by VOX Café at the corner of Broadway and Land Park Drive (at R5 Records).

Why are we doing it, you ask? Well, contrary to what a local media outlet inferred last year, we are not a bunch of pot-smoking, hippie environmentalists looking to eliminate cars. We are a group of regular citizens, businesses, and non-profits that would like to see more urban space dedicated to parks and less space dedicated to the automobile. Did you know that in most cities roughly 70% of outdoor space is dedicated to the private vehicle? And while many consider Sacramento to be a "green" city, only 7.6% of the city is dedicated to open space for its people. Those figures are not acceptable to us!

Our goal is to educate others about the importance of green space in cities, and shock some people by demonstrating everything you can fit into one parking space. Some spaces are about 168 square feet in area—even larger than some families' bedrooms!

Please join us on September 19th! If you are able to volunteer, or would like more information, please contact:

J and 20 – Presley Park
Eric Fredericks – eric@neighborhoods.org or 916-669-0676
Michelle van Tijen – michellevt@gmail.com or 510-421-0240

Broadway and Land Park
Cynthia Kruschel cindyk@voxsac.com

For more information on how this idea came about, visit the National Parking Day website. Original concept by REBAR.

You can also:
Join our Planning Group
Join our Facebook Event Page
Join our Facebook Group
View some photos from Parking Day 2007
Read neighborhoods.org articles about Parking Day
SPREAD THE WORD!!

The new B Street Theatre

More renderings of the new B Street Theatre.

Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects

Services Employed: Architectural Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design

CLIENT GOAL: Design a flexible, high quality performance space for this innovative theatre company that has been recognized as one of northern California’s top professional theatres.

DESIGN RESPONSE: The project is on a half-block site in midtown Sacramento. There will be two performance venues for the B-Street Theatre on the ground floor and five floors of condos, approximately 95 units, above. The sale of the condo units will help to subsidize the construction of the theatre space. The full theatre space is approximately 50,000 sf - the thrust stage will have 250 seats and the proscenium will have 350.

500 Capitol Mall Granite & Glass

The granite and glass are going up quickly on Sacramento’s newest high-rise and using premium materials in the process. The granite for instance, has been mined in Brazil and then finished in Italy. Not since 1990 when the Well Fargo tower was built has granite been used for the skin of a building in downtown. The over all tower design has a bit of an 80’s feeling to me and looks fine so far. I’m curious to hear what others are thinking?

Railyards Awarded $17.9 Million

Both the city of Sacramento and The Railyards redevelopment project were awarded $17.9 million Proposition 1B transportation bond funds on Tuesday. The money will be used to extend 6th Street to the north and to construct a pedestrian tunnel at 7th Street. Construction of this portion of the project is slated to begin in 2009.

Back in July $47 million was awarded to the railyard redevelopment from the Proposition 1C bond program, the largest such award in the state.

Back in 2006 voters approved both Proposition 1B and 1C authorizing $2.85 billion in housing bonds for uses that included creating infrastructure and affordable housing near transit. The Sacramento Railyards development is said to be the largest urban infill project in the country. Plans ultimately call for creating a new neighborhood north on downtown Sacramento.

Project developer Thomas Enterprises commissioned a study that predicts the project will create 19,000 permanent jobs, 2,800 hundred annual construction jobs and result in an ongoing annual positive economic impact of $2.7 billion. Private investment in the project is expected to top $6 billion.

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/
2008/09/01/daily11.html?surround=lfn&brthrs=1
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It’s good to see money flowing and work continue at the railyards. Hopefully infrastructure work will start next year.

Sunset Skyline

Curtis Park Village Clean-Up

The good news is that contaminated dirt continues to be hauled off to Utah preparing the land for construction. The bad news is that the project won't be breaking ground by the end of the year as originally planned. The second part really isn't much of a surprise, but hopefully the clean up will continue and be completed.

Greyhound Bus Terminal

On August 1st a revised Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration for the new Greyhound Bus Terminal off Richards Blvd. was submitted for review. This is great since it has been nearly 19 years of bla, bla, bla, and nothing getting done. The proposed Greyhound Bus Terminal site would be located at 420 Richards Boulevard east of I-5 and 1.2 miles north or the current bus terminal site.



The Richards Boulevard Redevelopment Area, recently renamed the River District Redevelopment Area, was approved by City Council as a Redevelopment Plan area in 1990. Ultimately, the facility will be located permanently in the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility. The Intermodal remains the City’s preferred long-term location for Greyhound; however, the facility will not be developed for a number of years due to the need to secure substantial federal funding.



The proposed project consists of a 13,100 square foot building on approximately 1.74 acres.

R Street Improvment Project

Today the Design Commission will be reviewing the R Street Improvments planned between 10th & 13th Street. If this improvment project gets the nod from both the City Council and Design Commission, construction would start in Spring 2010.



The R Street Improvement Project will construct roadway and streetscape improvements on R Street between 10th Street and 13th Street. The project consists of replacing the asphalt concrete roadway section with Portland cement concrete, placing raised pedestrian walkways and valley gutters, installing industrial-looking street lighting, and providing 90 degree and parallel parking along R Street.



Summary of Proposed Project
• Railroad main and siding track minor adjustments
• Damaged cobbles will be replaced, if available.
• Distorted track segments will be replaced, if available.
• Historic buildings will be protected during construction
• Historic trees will be replaced where possible
• Gritty industrial raised walkway and streets are proposed
• Four inch high walkway provides ADA accessibility with minimal clutter.
• Pedestrian scale industrial lighting is proposed• Overhead electrical and phone to remain on south side of street
• Loading docks continue to function
• Plan accommodates future improvements (capitol lofts)
• Bulb-outs only on numbered streets.


http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/meetings/commissions/design/2008/documents/DesignCommissionMeetingPresentation6-19-08.pdf

Powerhouse Science Center at Jibboom Street

Also know as Sacramento Museum of History, Science and Technology which is planned for the Jibboom Street power station.

http://thediscovery.org/powerhouse/






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Looks like this is still plugging away. The city is entering into another ERN with the teams running the show. Looks like an all local team which I imagine many of them are doing pro bono.

Jibboom Street Powerhouse Station Site (Click for staff report)

Team: Carson Development, John F Otto Inc, Dreyfuss and Blackford, Lionakis Beaumont Design Group, Buehler & Buehler. Fundraising is being run by Bentz & Associates who seem to have a lot of experience in this type of thing.

The latest time table seems really aggressive. Hopefully they have some commitements all lined up to meet this time line:

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This sounds like something I sure would love to take my kid to, so I wish them all the luck in the world, and I'm sure I'll toss a few bucks their way since I'm positive they will need what ever they can get.

To sign up for more info down the road:
http://thediscovery.org/powerhouse/JoinUs/default.html

Movie in Fremont Park - September 19th - 5pm

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Celebrate CADA's 30th Anniversary and the Revival of Fremont Park!

Join the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA), Councilman Rob Fong, the City of Sacramento Parks & Recreation, and Local 522 of Sacramento Area Fire Fighters on Friday, September 19, 2008 from 5pm to 9:45pm for food, live entertainment and Disney's movie, "Enchanted." Fremont Park is located at 16th and P Streets and the public is encouraged to walk to the event or utilize the free bike valet provided by Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA).

Avoid the commute and enjoy barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs starting at 5pm! Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the movie, but come early as the seating area is limited to 200 people. Admission is free and the movie is anticipated to start at dusk (around 7:30pm).There will be a bounce house, balloon artist, face painter, carnival games and free fingerprinting for the children.

For more information about CADA's 30th Anniversary, contact Karen Fleming, CADA Communications Administrator at (916) 322-2114 or (916)384-7210.

Dim the Lights

Our modest skyline got a little darker last month. It appears that the Wells Fargo Tower has turned off its exterior lights and has now joined several other high-rises that also don't turn on their exterior lights. It's sad really, no sooner doe's the new US Bank Tower down the street turn on it's dancing LED lights giving Capitol Mall some life, the Wells Fargo tower turns it's lights off.

Two other notable towers downtown that should also have their lights on is the CalEPA building and the Federal Court House on I Street. Both building have pleasing displays around their crowns and really make our city twinkle at night when on.

The Elks Building off J Street was first lit-up about six months ago and I really like what they have done. It’s good to see that one of our historical landmarks can get so much love by its owners.

14th and R Update

I've had a chance to tour the building three times now as it has progressed, I personally love it. (See pictures below)

I'm sure I can't appreciate or criticize small details of a reuse project like this, but a great project for R Street.....now if Capitol Lofts would get going.

As a resident in that area, I'm just as stoked to have a new small specialty type market. I love cooking so I think this place will fit the bill for me perfectly.

I have some high hopes for the remaining retail spaces as well. I think we are in for some cool stuff.

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Bob Shallit: Old bakery project in Sacramento anything but Wonder bread, developer says
By Bob Shallit - bshallit@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, August 12, 2008

There's a lot to like about the condo-retail complex rising inside a former Wonder Bread bakery warehouse in downtown Sacramento.

But Bay Miry, of the project's D&S Development team, is proudest of an unlikely element: the loft staircases.

Some are spiral, some cantilevered, some made of wood, others of concrete.

No two are alike. Same goes for the "true loft" housing units, which are under construction and range from 550 to 900 square feet. They're on the market for $215,000 to $390,000.

"One thing we've learned in this market," says Miry, while touring the 95-year-old brick complex at 14th and R streets, "is you can't do cookie-cutter."

Sales have been impressive, considering the slow pace elsewhere. Even though the condos won't be finished until next spring, Miry says deposits are in for seven of the 12 units, which will have brick walls, polished concrete floors, exposed beams and ceilings that rise as high as 22 feet.

The first-floor retail space also is getting interest, the 27-year-old Miry reports. One lease has been signed for a specialty grocery, he says. And deals with two eateries are pending.

What accounts for the relatively quick sales of the condo units? Primarily it's their R Street location in a hot neighborhood adjacent to light rail, says D&S principal David Miry, who is Bay's dad.

The area, he says, "is the city's future for mixed use (projects) and entertainment."

Crystal Cream Project Pushes Forward

The old Crystal Cream & Butter Co. site on D Street will soon submit plans to build 217 homes without subsidies. The closely packed proposed single-family homes are shooting to build them at a price of $125 per square foot. The developer (MetroNova Development LLC) believes that this can be done with innovative design. The project will also include 90,000sf of office space designed to be sold on the “D” Street side.



The Alkali and Mansion Flats Historic Neighborhood Association has approved the design with demolition work already started at the site. The projects expected to go to the city planning commission in September and then on to the design commission shortly after that. The Creamery site still needs to be rezoned from industrial to a mix of housing and commercial. If the City Council approves the project, construction could start by spring.

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/08/11/story3.html

The "Good" Green Project

Last week I got to see the "Good" project in West Sacramento and I really like how this new Eco-urban community is turning out. As I walked around the model, I saw signs everywhere talking about high efficiency products and recycled materials being used to build the homes.

The location of the project is really convenient too... it's two minutes from downtown and the Rivercats are just around the corner. Another eye catcher of the project are several giant oak trees at the corner of the development. In the next few years, they will be incorporated into the community and part of a community garden for all residence to use.

Click HERE to learn more about The Good Project @ 4th & B Street in West Sacramento.

The Metropolitan's Approved

A positive step forward was made today in the approval of John Saca’s Metropolitan Tower. With all Design Commission board members blessing and the City Council approval yesterday, there was no drama other than a few minor recommendations.



The tower was approved consisting of 190 condo units and 190 hotel rooms along with ground floor retail and restaurant space. The approved high-rise would rise 410’ to the roof and 435’ to the top of the spire.

Since November of last year, a few changes were made to the exterior like a grander/taller lobby, more precast concrete giving it a bolder civic look and a darker color. Over all, the high-rise now has a more traditional look. The original design was sleek and modern and most all the design commission members said that they really like it... but some where between November and today, the design was taken back to a more traditional style.



This tower is still quite a ways from breaking ground. With the current housing mess and credit crunch gripping the nation, Saca’s probably several years away from breaking ground.

I really like the darker color and additional use concrete giving the building more contrast. Good luck John, you're going to need it.

Second Saturday

Independence Day festivities