Hotel Berry Overhaul

Today the Hotel Berry will have a ceremonial kick-off for long-overdue upgrades that actually began last December. According to Bob Shallit, next month workers begin updating 105 single-occupancy rooms, with a target completion date of next February. Initial work includes seismic retrofits, asbestos removal and some interior demolition.

The remodel will cost $24.8 million and will be paid for by local redevelopment financing, federal grants and a loan from U.S. Bank. Jamboree Housing Corp. acquired the 82-year-old building last year and intends to preserve the building's original exterior. That includes touching up a huge mural – promoting a one-time eatery called "Original Mac's – on the building's north side. Rents will run from $382 to $573 per month, depending on income level.

Track Relocation & Depot Retrofit

Today the City Council will approve additional funding for several sub-projects that are part of the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility (SITF or Intermodal) family of projects. These projects include Track Relocation (Intermodal Phase 1), Improvements to the Sacramento Valley Station (Intermodal Phase 2), and the Depot Retrofit Project. These additional funds will be for design and construction to the historic Depot and Intermodal site that provide upgrades and new development to enhance this area as a transportation center and retail, commercial, cultural and civic destination.

Track Relocation (Intermodal Phase 1) - is the top priority transportation project in the region. In 2010, bids came in above available funds. Since then the project has been redesigned and reissued for bid. In March 2011, the City will award the construction contract in order to maintain funding.

Intermodal Phase 2 - After Track Relocation, improvements to the existing station are planned to enable the station to function better. Phase 2 will incorporate components such as a transitway and circulation, site and parking improvements, passenger amenities and refurbishing of the Depot to foster greater use of the building. Built in the 1920’s, the existing Depot station requires seismic strengthening and structural upgrades to meet current building standards. This project will provide these structural improvements and will also provide accessibility and fire-life safety improvements. This project is currently in design and is planned to be under construction in spring 2011.

Track Relocation (Phase 1 estimated cost $56,169,000), improvements to the existing Sacramento Valley Station, which includes the current Southern Pacific Railroad Depot (Phase 2 estimated cost $21.9 million), and eventual transformation of the Station into a multimodal transportation center (future Phase 3 estimated cost $261.9 million).

SRO Project Breaking Ground Soon

This $47 million projects planned for the northwest corner of 7th & H Street has now received all needed entitlements and necessary financing to move forward with construction this March. The project will be funded with $25 million in 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits, $8,200,000 loan funded by Home Investment Partnership Program, a $6,859,695 capitol grant and $3,750,000 operating grant funded by Downtown Low Moderate Tax Increment Funds, and a land grant for the acquisition, construction and permanent financing of the 7th & H Project.

Developer and owner Mercy Housing California is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing quality affordable housing with supportive programs to low-income persons in California. Together, Mercy Housing California and Rural California Housing Corporation have been responsible for the construction of more than 2,900 affordable single-family self-help homeownership units and 124 multifamily rental properties with a total of more than 7000 units. Their portfolio includes 18 properties in Sacramento County alone.

This 7th & H Street project will include 122 studios (325sf) and 28 one bed room (500sf) units as well as sixteen parking spaces, retail and health clinic on the ground floor. This eight story 102 foot tall building’s designed to replace other single room occupancy (SRO) units in downtown that are going to be replaced with other developments in the future.

J-K-L Corridor Gets Expert Opinion

This week urban design experts will work with the Sacramento Mayor, city staff and the public to explore design options for a revamped J-K-L corridor as reported by Sacramento Business Journal. The team is in Sacramento as part of a partnership with the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD). The institute works to help transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be “chief urban designers” of their cities. MICD experts are on a three-day visit to Sacramento starting Monday. They will evaluate current plans for the J-K-L corridor, hear from stakeholders, tour the area and prepare recommendations for the future of the downtown corridor.

The recommendations are expected to be unveiled at a public presentation between noon and 1 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.

River District Specific Plan

This Tuesday the Sacramento City Council will pass several resolutions to move the River District plan forward. The resolutions will include 1) certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and adopting the Mitigation Monitoring Program for the River District Specific Plan, 2) a Resolution amending the General Plan land use diagram for various parcels in accordance with the River District Specific Plan; 3) a Resolution rescinding the Richards Boulevard Area Plan (RBAP) and Facility Element; 4) a Resolution amending the 2030 General Plan Circulation Element in accordance with the River District Specific Plan; 5) a Resolution adopting the River District Specific Plan, Design Guidelines, and Infrastructure Financing Plan; 6) a Resolution amending the Railyards Specific Plan relating to the future operation of 5th and 7th Streets; 7) a Resolution amending the Bikeway Master Plan in accordance with the River District Specific Plan; 8) a Resolution approving a Water Supply Assessment Report for the River District Specific Plan Project; 9) a Resolution rescinding the Discovery Centre PUD; 10) a Resolution adopting the River District Design Guidelines for the River District Design Review District; 11) an Ordinance establishing the River District Design Review District; 12) an Ordinance adopting the River District Special Planning District; 13) an Ordinance nominating properties in the River District Specific Plan Area as Landmarks and nominating the North 16th Street Historic District and its’ Contributing Resources for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources; and 14) an Ordinance rezoning various parcels in the River District.

The 773-acre River District area project proposes policies to support a transit-oriented mixed use urban environment that would include 8,144 dwelling units, 3.956 million square feet of office, 854,000 square feet of retail/wholesale, 1.463 million square feet light industrial, and 3,044 hotel units. The District is currently home to 386 residential units, approximately 5.07 million square feet of industrial uses, 384,000 square feet of retail/wholesalers and 1.312 million square feet of office. No timeline has been given as to when construction will begin.

Streetcar Planning Study

On Tuesday the 8th, the Sacramento City Council will adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional service agreement with Fehr & Peers to perform a Streetcar Planning Study for an amount not to exceed $310,000. The study would evaluate the feasibility of alternative streetcar routes throughout strategic locations in the City, compare alignments for maximum economic, environmental and mobility benefits, and develop a priority list for funding and implementation.

Since May 2006, the City of Sacramento has worked in partnership with the City of West Sacramento, Regional Transit (RT) and the Yolo County Transportation District (YCTD) to develop a streetcar project that will connect Downtown West Sacramento with Downtown Sacramento (Downtown Riverfront Streetcar line). Over the past several years, guided by a Policy Steering Committee (PSC) and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the initial phase of this streetcar project was designed. The first phase of this project will begin at the West Sacramento City Hall and end at the Tower Bridge. As part of this Streetcar Planning Study and working with these partners, theCity of Sacramento will complete the planning work and determine the alignment for the Sacramento phase of this project.

Courting Disaster

In the current Feb/Mar Sactown Magazine there is well written piece by Rob Turner on the many reasons why the proposed superior county courthouse should NOT be built on Capitol Mall but instead built over at the other proposed site in the railyards. The list of reasons and examples includes the 2002 East End Project that was also a State funded project that ignored the pleas of the Sacramento review board and was not subject to any authority in how it was built... just how like this building will also be exempt to any design oversight. The article really nails it when it talks about how the area would also have a steady stream of felons and accusers at a site that should be reserved for something special.

The articles called "Courting Disaster" and I highly recommend picking it up or viewing it here.

Zwahlen Images Fresh New Look

I’m proud to announce that my photograph website Zwahlen Images has now gone live with a new look and more efficient method to view my photography. I still have many photos that I need to load into the “Archives” section, but in the mean time, please enjoy my new Masterhead slideshow where I have many of my favorite images rotating in random order.  Thank you for viewing both my blog and photography website, it keeps me motivated to continue posting new stuff when I know others out there also enjoy it too.

Gateway on Fremont Park

A $15 million proposal by Sukna Global Holdings has been chosen by CADA to development the East End Gateway Site 4, which is located across from Fremont Park. Named Gateway on Fremont Park, the proposed 30 for-sale luxury condominiums include 5th floor penthouse units that include panoramic views of Fremont Park. The Gateway Development Project includes street level retail space and 30 covered parking spaces.

The five-story, mixed-use developments would also include a farm on the roof that could grow crops and breed fish to possibly be served in the ground-floor restaurant. Condo price would start at $370,000.The proposals scheduled to submit a preliminary financing plan by June 27, 2011, a design program by September 27, 2011 and evidence of financing by October 27, 2011.

Sacramento Proposals of Times Past

Lot A on Capitol Mall 1989

A little over two years ago I started a thread on Skyscraperpage.com devoted to the many proposals that never saw the light of day in Sacramento and the many reasons why they failed. Scattered over seven pages, about thirty proposals (with more to come) and renderings detail the many reasons why they failed. Everything from tight financing forces, Federal government mandate, and limit height to protect the Capitol, it's a trip down memory lane and will make you wonder what our city could have been. A big one I still need to put together and post is from the late 1980’s when the Centrage project along along with many others as time permits me. Click here to check it out.


The Civic Tower 1990
North West corner of 10th & H Street



 

Steel Rises at Sutter Medical Center

About two weeks ago I noticed steel being erected for the Anderson Lucchetti Women’s and Children’s Center on Thirtieth Street. This should be the time when we start to see big changes as the frame for the 153.5 ft tall structure rises next to the Capitol Freeway. Sutters Midtown project can also be viewed by a web cam right here.

Broadway Triangle Development

Located along the north side of Broadway between 34th St & 3rd Ave in Oak Park, a request has been made to the Preservation Commission to develop a mixed use development consisting of 29 residential units and approximately 9,000sf of commercial space, 40 parking spaces, and several small urban park areas. Two of the structures involved in the project are existing historic structures, and several of the proposed new structures are to be constructed on vacant lots within the Oak Park Historic District. The parking for the project will be onsite garages and parking spaces as well as the introduction of on-street angled parking along 35th Street.

The proposed project is a collaborative partnership between Mr. Vrilakas and SHRA to activate the existing parcels, and further rehabilitate the Broadway Corridor and the Oak Park Historic District. This project requires a quicker timeline than most due to financing elements required to proceed with construction. The development team would like to break ground summer of 2011.

Railyard Update from Inland American

On Tuesday the 4th, the Sacramento City Council will receive their first update as to what Inland American plans to do with the Railyards since Inland took over last fall after foreclosing on Thomas Enterprises. I don't think Inland will propose much beyond finishing up the 5th &7th Street bridges and put off moving foward with the project till market conditions improve. With both retail and office vacancy rates high in the downtown and the Sacramento area, I can't envision Inland wanting to build anything while the markets are contracting. I think they will either sell off the land in pieces or build a smaller modified version of what was originally proposed. Talk is cheap, so until something is actually under construction, I would not believe much of what you hear.

Old Sacramento - Gold Rush Days

I took this set late summer during Gold Rush days in Old Sacramento. I plan to have them up on my website soon, but until then please follow this link here.
 

Inland Begins to Layout Railyard Plan

Inland Real Estate Group who took over the defaulted railyards last October will appear before the City Council this Tuesday to discuss some of their plans. According to The Sacramento Press; Dean Stermer of Inland said that "Our primary job is to complete the work that's ongoing right now" and that “item authorizing Interim City Manager Gus Vina to appropriate $7.5 million in federal funds and transfer $1.5 million from the city's State and Federal Grant Match Project for railyards access improvements to Richards Boulevard and Interstate 5. The contract is expected to be awarded in March. The total cost of the project is estimated at more than $10 million."

The City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday will be the council's last for 2010.

La Valentina Station Groundbreaking

Please join Domus Development, the City of Sacramento, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, community leaders and local residents as we mark a new chapter in the life of Alkali Flats and take steps toward transforming an abandoned, blighted area into an attractive, convenient neighborhood.

With transit-friendly living and LEED designed efficiencies like net-zero energy use, projects like La Valentina represent creative new thinking in how California cities and towns can prepare for a growing population.

Confirmed speakers include Sacramento City Council Member Steve Cohn, La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, and William J. Pavão, Executive Director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee. Other special guests invited.

Fresh hot espresso drinks will be available, courtesy of Old Soul Coffee. It's a tasty salute to things to come, when La Valentina brings a brand new café to the neighborhood.

When: Thursday, December 9th at 2:30 pm
Where: 12th Street between D & E Streets, Sacramento

Please RSVP to Erin Kelly at erin@domusd.com.

Township 9 granted $1.3 million

One of the few large infill projects still moving forward in the Sacramento area got another financial boost by the state yesterday; this time from the State's Housing and Community Development's Catalyst Projects for California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program in the amount of $1.3 million. With the combination of several other grants received thus far, the project has lined up $52 million in total grants with $30 million from Proposition 1C and $20 million in infrastructure grant funds.

Township 9 is a 65acre planned mixed use community located in the City's River District and adjoining the southern boundary of the American River. The Light Rail Green Line Station is currently under construction and will begin operations in early 2011. The first major building to begin construction at Township Nine will include 180 apartment units and ground floor retail with the rest of the project constructed incrementally over the next ten years. Township Nine is also expected to achieve Gold status for The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED™ for Neighborhood Development program. The total projected cost to built out this project estimated at $1.7 billion.

Needed K Street Entertainment Coming Soon

The date of January 12, 2010 has been chosen for the opening of George Karpaty vintage Dive Bar, pizza restaurant and upscale night club. Developers David S. Taylor and CIM Group received a city subsidy of $5.4 million to renovate the buildings with Taylor spending nearly that much again on the buildings and the tenant would invest about $1.7 million. The subsidy money came from a pool of proceeds by the sale of the downtown Sheraton and are earmarked for downtown development. Entertainment venues include the Frisky Rhythm Dance Club, Pizza Rock and Dive Bar which will have warm water 100,000-pound aquarium with an occasional visit by a mermaid or a merman.

Will IBM Help Sacramento?

I think this might be helpful and the City should look into this.

Deficits and cramped budgets are plaguing local governments around the country this year. Almost half a million dollars worth of technology and consulting services would be a more than welcome gift for most cities – and this is exactly what IBM is offering with its new Smarter Cities Challenge.

The pro bono program will grant 50 North American cities up to $400,000 in technology and consulting resources to help find solutions for local issues. IBM is now encouraging Sacramento to apply for the grant by December 31.

The grant could be used to make Sacramento greener and more sustainable, or to improve citizen engagement with our city. It could help build out our infrastructure in ways that are both creative and effective, or it could just assist with Mayor Johnson’s plans to improve government and foster economic development.

To learn more about the program, you can visit the Smarter Cities website.

It’s an open question: how could $400,000 in technology-based services from IBM benefit Sacramento?

If you ran the city, what problem would you solve? Is there a project you would help?

Sacramento Prints

Treat yourself or someone you know to some unique images of Sacramento by taking advantage of my special deal on prints. From now till the end of December, my vast Sacramento photo gallery will lower its print prices by $5 (per print) from the regular price listed below till the end of 2010. All prints would be made on a Photo Quality Luster paper with the option of also mounting them on Matt Board for additional $10.00 (which I recommend). Other canvases are available, so feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Please look at my galleries here and here.

8x10 inch Print $35.00
11x14 inch Print $38.00
16x20 inch Print $40.00
16x24 inch Print $40.00
30x40 inch Print $63.00
36 x 48 inch Print $82.00
40 x 60 inch Print $103.00

When choosing a print, please attach the photo or photos to an email describing the size of the prints and if there are any additional instructions. Once I have confirmed the order it will take about two weeks till the prints are ready. Please send orders to michael@zwahlenimages.com.