LivingInUrbanSac

Thursday, January 05, 2017

Downtown Commons Nearly Tops-Out Photos

With the 16th floor now compete, the Downtown Commons Tower will only need to rise a little taller to top-out at 233 feet which is top of the mechanical penthouse.

Downtown Commons Tower nearing it's full height -
View from West Sacramento

Downtown Commons Tower pedestrian plaza under construction

Downtown Commons Tower nearing it's full height - Looking east on J Street

Downtown Commons Tower - Looking east at 5th & J Street

Downtown Commons Tower - Looking south at 5th & J Street

Downtown Commons Tower - Looking west at 6th & J Street

Downtown Commons Tower - Looking west at 7th & J Street

Golden 1 Center on K Street looking west

Golden 1 Center & Downtown Commons on K Street looking northwest

Downtown Commons on K Street looking northwest

Downtown Commons Tower pedestrian plaza under construction

Downtown Commons on K Street looking northeast

Golden 1 Center in the plaza

Downtown Commons and Golden 1 Center on K Street looking northeast

Golden 1 Center along L Street

Downtown Commons and Golden 1 Center on 5th Street looking northeast

Downtown Commons and Golden 1 Center as seen from
Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade

Downtown Commons and Golden 1 Center as seen
from West Sacramento

Monday, November 14, 2016

Capitol Mall Rain Garden

Ahhh, imagine... this is a feel good concept not based on reality in the November issue of Comstock Magazine. For starters, the creek is shown flowing six blocks running the entire stretch of Capitol Mall. For that to happen the creek elevation would have to drop approximately 20 feet below street level for the water to go from one end to the other.

Imagine Capitol Mall Rain Garden - by Comstock Magazine November 2016

If Sacramento’s Capitol Mall transformed from a long patch of lawn into a rain garden, the new amenity would provide welcomed environmental benefits. A rain garden is a designed depression that collects rain runoff for landscaping. Mimicking a river, a recycling stream also provides terraced seating as a retreat from the urban environment, while maintaining the line of site between the Capitol building and Tower Bridge. Below, huge tanks add critical storage for the city’s combined stormwater and sewage system, reducing occasional pollution released into the Sacramento River during storms. Native plants would be drought-friendly and offer habitat for beneficial insects, such as bees.

To learn more about water in California and other ideas to address drought, read Water: More or Less, by Rita Schmidt Sudman and Stephanie Taylor. For excerpts of the book click here.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Colliers Sacramento 3Q Office & Research Report

Sacramento’s Colliers International third quarter report found that the downtown market was preforming well while suburban growth has takes off. As reported by Colliers, office real estate absorption is positive and vacancies went down. The downtown office vacancy market is the lowest it’s been in 5 years, but it’s suburban expansion that continues to meet growing demand. Third quarter rental absorption was 372,254 sf, while only 80,899 sf was in the downtown market.

This rosy report then brings up the question, what’s going on with the Vanir Tower on J Street. It was proposed two years ago in November, yet nothing has been submitted to the Planning and Design Commission even though a news report in November of last year said it could be built taller. I’ve seen this game before, at this point the developer only appears to be looking for free publicity.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Community Center Theater Renovation

Full Expansion of Community Center Theater and Convention Center

The City Council has voted to move forward and update the 40-year-old center adding 41,000 sf, replace seats, renovate the lobby and dressing rooms. The $83.4 million renovation could begin as soon as the 4 quarter of 2018 and completed by 2021. While work is being done, the Memorial Auditorium would be used for performances during the construction period. In addition, the Memorial Auditorium will also receive an upgrade estimated to be $16.2 million, and Phase 1 of the Sacramento Convention Center estimated to be $170 million.

The projects would be paid for by the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) which is a 12% charge for all people who occupy a hotel in Sacramento. The structure of the TOT would be supported by revenue bonds.

Only conceptual designs were provided for the City Council.

http://sacramento.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=22&clip_id=3876

Friday, October 07, 2016

Office Bldg. Acquired For Convention Center Expansion

The City of Sacramento has agreed to buy the rest of a three story office building located a next to the convention center on 15^th Street. According to the Sacramento Business Journal, a planned expansion of the convention center would demolish and replace the building with a new east entrance and accommodate a planned expansion

Sacramento City Council will get a report on the city’s conceptual plans for the expansion of the convention center and renovation of the Community Center Theater at a meeting on Oct. 11. Decisions will be made later this year or early next year after new Mayor Darrell Steinberg takes office.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Downtown Commons Construction

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Moving at the rate of one floor a week, the tower currently stands 12-stories tall. The exterior will looked more finished in the coming months as precast and windows are fixed to the building. On the west end of the former mall, demolition is currently clearing out the remaining courtyard of the previous structure.