DMV Headquarters Upgrade

We can now see the glazed panels of opaque and transparent glass being placed over the current brick exterior. The $127 million project has now been upgraded for seismic stability and energy efficiency that will extend its life another 50 years. This 1960’s structures in it's last stage of a 13-year renovation.

First layer of dual-skin facade

New Central Plant

Old Exterior

Rendering of finshed building

Downtown Plaza for Sale… again

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Westfield Group of Australia has begun seeking buyers for the Sacramento mall and 16 other underperforming centers in seven states.

Westfield's goal: Take advantage of an uptick in the economy to sell the properties, then use the proceeds to reinvest in more successful centers, such as its Galleria mall in Roseville.

Westfield officials had no comment. Neither did Evercore Partners, a New York-based advisory firm that's been hired to market the mall portfolio.

The news comes almost two years after city officials asked Westfield to find a buyer if it wasn't going to make long-discussed improvements. Westfield officials said then they'd sell "under certain circumstances."

It would be big surprised to me if the 39-year-old mall finds a buyer, but there could be some harsh finical forces at play that make it so Westfield has to shed the dead weight.

K Street Mall Traffic

Tonight the Sacramento City Council will act to approve the implementation of a $2.7 million project  reintroduceing cars back onto K street between the 8th & 12th Streets.

The project includes:
• Two-way traffic
• Passenger Drop-offs (no parking)
• New signalized crossing at 11th and K streets
• Addition of edge treatments (possibly bollards, planters or street furniture) to fill large gaps
• ADA improvements at intersections

In my opinion, this is a terrible idea. The city has now thrown away another opportunity to provide pleasant, pedestrian, patio, public space for new businesses. The focus on K Street should be creating more affordable places to live with reasonable prices and removal of trouble makers and bums that have made this stretch of street worse than it really is. A densely populated area will change the atmosphere and draw more new business into the area. I’ve said all this before, so it really does not matter at this point.

Ordinance Amendment: Pedestrian Malls

Powerhouse Awarded $7 Million

The Powerhouse Science Center has been awarded a $7 million grant to pay for the first of three buildings in its planned $50 million science museum on the banks of the Sacramento River. The money comes from Prop. 84, a 2006 bond measure that provided $5 billion for water-quality projects, including public access to natural resources. The center is expected to open in 2013.

Railyards Preferred Site for New Courthouse

The city block bounded by H Street, 5th Street, G Street and 6th Street is now the preferred site for the new Sacramento Criminal Courthouse, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) announced today. The site, Lot 41-Railyards, was endorsed today as the preferred site by the project advisory group, which includes members of the Superior Court of Sacramento County, city and county officials, and the AOC. The block, part of which is currently a city parking lot, is at the southernmost end of the Sacramento Railyards project, near existing court facilities and key justice partners, with ready access to transportation, including Amtrak, light rail, and bus service.

The Railyards site has received strong support from community leaders, including a June 2010 resolution by the Sacramento City Council and the County of Sacramento in favor of the site for the new courthouse, because it would jump-start vertical development and provide an opportunity for a landmark building in the area. The city is working with the Railyards owner, Inland American, to relocate railroad tracks that currently run through the site.

“The Railyards is the most appropriate site for the new state criminal courthouse due to its close proximity to the county jail, sheriff’s department, District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office, as well as transit services, bail bond, and law offices,” said Supervisor Susan Peters.

The AOC recently published its draft environmental impact report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which includes two sites: the Railyards site and 301 Capitol Mall. The AOC will accept public comments on the draft EIR through May 24, 2011; a public meeting on the draft EIR is planned for May 4, 2011. The AOC must conclude its environmental review, complete due diligence and acquisition negotiations, and secure approval by the State Public Works Board before site acquisition can be completed and architectural design can proceed. The local architecture firm of Nacht & Lewis and the global firm of HOK already have been selected to design the proposed new courthouse.

The new courthouse, 405,000 square feet and up to 16 stories tall, would provide 44 courtrooms (35 to be relocated from the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse and 9 for new judicial positions), would consolidate most of the court’s criminal operations, and would centralize court operations from other downtown leased facilities. The proposed project includes a renovation of the Schaber Courthouse, and the AOC is also making plans for public parking options as a part of the project.

The proposed project is funded by Senate Bill 1407, enacted by the state Legislature in 2008 to authorize up to $5 billion for 41 new and renovated court facilities using court user fees, without impact on the state’s General Fund. This project was ranked as an “immediate need” in the judicial branch’s capital-outlay plan, making it among the branch’s highest-priority infrastructure projects. The project is expected to generate economic benefit in the form of thousands of jobs, both those directly related to the construction effort and others indirectly affected by it. Construction is scheduled to start in early 2013 and be completed in 2015.

More about the project is on the California Courts website: www.courts.ca.gov/2761.htm

Downtown On-Street Bikeway Project

Phase One

Despite the substantial number of bicyclists in the Downtown area, there is a lack of planned bikeways for this area of the City.

City staff is initiating this project to determine appropriate locations for additional bicycle access in the downtown area and to implement those improvements. Phase 1 will be comprised of bikeways that can be added to the existing street system without removal of any vehicle or parking lanes. Phase 2 will include conversion of one-way streets from three to two one-way lanes with both left and right side bike lanes. This phase also requires an environmental assessment of the reduction in travel lanes. The project purpose is to make downtown streets more complete by restriping the streets to add new on-street bikeways.

Phase Two

The Central City Two Way Conversion Project has an unobligated balance of $631,419. Approval of the transfer of local transportation funds (Fund 2001) in the amount of $629,000 from the Central City Two Way Conversion Project (T15008000) will be sufficient to plan, design and implement bicycle enhancements for Phases 1 and 2 in the downtown area.

City staff has recommend that the City Council approve the project and will be discussed this Tuesday the 12^th.

City Budget Woes

It’s crunch time again and the City of Sacramento is now seeking public input on the upcoming 2011-2012 budget with an online survey. The City is also hosting a community Budget Open House at City Hall on Saturday, April 9. Attendees are invited to stop by anytime between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to learn about the City’s budget and provide input on budget priorities and solutions. Results from the survey will be presented to the City Council in early May as part of the proposed budget process.

The open house will take place in the New City Hall lobby at 915 I Street in downtown Sacramento.

Sacramento is suffering from the prolonged economic recession. As a result, the City is anticipating a budget deficit of $35 to $40 million. This projected shortfall represents the need to reduce the $237 million net General Fund operating costs by nearly 20 percent. Although the City has initiated several budget-saving strategies over the last several years, next fiscal year’s budget will represent the fifth consecutive year of budget reductions because expenditures are growing at a faster rate than available revenues to pay for those services.

An online “Budget Input Survey” has been posted to the City’s web page, http://www.cityofsacramento.org/, and will be open through April 23. For more information about the city budget, download the Budget 101 fact sheet.

L Street Lofts Foreclosure

Developer Sotiris Kolokotronis mixed-use loft project at 18th and L streets has now been scheduled for a foreclosure auction April 13 on the courthouse steps. With only 22 of the 92-unit condominium sold, L Street Lofts LLC has defaulted on a $33 million loan held by OneWest Bank. This foreclosure sale might be one of the biggest bargains in midtown with prices tumbling as much as 50% or more off current asking prices. I’m sure several investors will be waiting to get a piece of the iconic midtown building.

Update 10/22/2011: It was foreclosed on and still has not yet been sold. I understand they would like over $20,000,000 which is higher then the current value according to local developers. The foreclosed value (the loan amount) was about $28,000,000. No one purchased the building at the courthouse so the bank got it.

Federal Funds Secured for Station Retrofit

The Sacramento Valley Station has locked in $10.4 million by the California Transportation Commission to structurally retrofit the depot with work expected to begin this summer. The $11 million project will have the remaining about due to paid for by federal funds, making up the difference.

The project calls for reinforcing the building to meet seismic standards as well as needed upgrades to meet modern accessibility standards. The city already has completed a structural investigation and engineering.

According to the Sacramento Business Journal; the Sacramento Valley Station is being turned into an intermodal hub that will handle Amtrak and Capitol Corridor service as well as light rail and bus services. The retrofit project is just the beginning of the larger project to create a hub for transportation.

City officials are seeking another $20 million federal allocation to put utilities and plumbing on the second and third floors of the depot to convert those to Class A office space. It’s all part of Phase II of the intermodal station project.

Phase I, the track relocation, took a major step forward at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Granite Construction was awarded a $41.5 million contract at for the related track relocation project..

Work on the retrofit project is expected to begin this summer and wrap up by the fall of 2013.

The Gateway on Fremont Park

Tomorrow the Design Commission will look over this project in an advisory roll. CADA (which is exempt from requiring Planning and Design Review entitlements from the City) is requesting a review and comment in the form of Advisory Conditions for Approval.

This proposed building will accommodate 5,847 square feet of commercial space and 30 residential units. The proposed 30 units would include 11 one bedroom units and 19 two bedroom units ranging in size from 925 square feet to 1,535 square feet.

24th & T Courtyard Condominiums

This Thursday members of the Planning Commission will approve this controversial six condo project that has surrounding neighbors overwhelming opposed believing it will overburden the on-street parking in the neighborhood, and that the proposed architectural design does not blend with the surrounding buildings. The developer has meet with many of the neighbors to discuss the project in response to concerns over the original proposal for apartment units, so the developer is now requesting condominium units.

The design concept of the buildings is to echo the Prairie style mansions and some of the Art Deco apartment buildings in the neighborhood and by adding interest to the existing buildings with Tudor and Craftsman style architecture. The proposal also adheres to policies within the 2030 General Plan, the Central City Community Plan, Zoning, Multi-Family Design Principles, and Smart Growth Planning Principles.

The Commission has final approval authority for approval of the proposal but its decision is appealable to City Council.

19th & Q Neighborhood Park Site Meeting

Please join councilmember Steve Cohn along with City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation staff to begin discussion on the cleanup and future design of the 19th and Q Street Neighborhood Park site. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 from 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the CADA Courtyard, 1322 O Street. The meeting will include information on an EPA Brownfield Grant that was awarded to clean-up the future park site and we will begin discussion on what neighbors would envision for the future park. We encourage you to bring children to this meeting! For more information, contact Tin-Wah Wong at 808-5540 or twong@cityofsacramento.org (info provided by CADA)

Update: 800 Block Project

800 K Street

Yesterday a bigger refined proposal was presented to members of the Preservation Commission in what I believe does a better job of integration into the existing cityscape. This proposed project is a collaborative partnership between David Taylor Interests, Domus Development, and SHRA in an effort to build 200 residential units, 22,000 square feet of retail space,184 parking spaces, and the rehabilitation of the historic Landmark Bel Vue structure.

801 L Street

The City Planning Commission is also scheduled to initially hear this project as Review & Comment on March 10, 2011, and again for final review on May 12, 2011. The final hearing for the project before the Preservation Commission will be at a later date in May.

Historic Landmark Bel Vue structure

Zero-energy Homes Coming to R Street

With groundbreaking anticipated for May, this infill project located at 2500 R Street will feature 34 single-family homes with a LEED™ Platinum rating. Each home will contain a solar storage system using the latest in smart grid technology, solar generation and energy storage capability. The goal is to ensure each home generates as much clean energy as it uses, maximizing homeowner utility bill savings.

Pacific Housing Inc. (PHI), a California nonprofit dedicated to developing quality affordable housing, is developing the 2500 R Street project. PHI has selected Sunverge Energy which is located in Stockton as the primary renewable energy technology partner for this project. Here is a product data sheet offering more specifics about this energy solution called Sunverge Solar Integration System (SIS).

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.