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

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

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

Downtown Commons Tower - Looking south 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 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

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 
Embassy Suites by Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade

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

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.  

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Downtown Commons, 660 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Golden 1 Center Nears Opening Night

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95822

After passing it’s building inspection and unveiling a $8 million piglet sculpture at the Golden 1 Center, the arena is nearing opening night when Paul McCartney plays two concerts this upcoming weekend. The new $557 million arena has a lot to show for the price tag; hopefully the public will see a net return on the cities investment of $212 million. The main video board will 84 feet long with 6,100 square feet of screen. Free wi-fi connections will cover the arena as well as the plaza surrounding the arena. The term “iconic” currently describe the new venue and I sure hope it exceeds expectations. This city needs a huge success here, we will know for sure in about ten years if vast private investments are made on the streets of J, K, L surrounding the Golden 1 Center.

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95822

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95822

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk,
Sacramento, CA 95822

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk,
Sacramento, CA 95822

Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95822



Golden 1 Center - 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95822



 

Whole Foods Out in Midtown

Is this a sign of things to come or just another project that cannot get its act together? Either way it sucks because this much-anticipated mixed-use project in midtown has lost a major tenant who was going to occupy the ground floor of a six-story building. Pappas Investment has not made any comments as to why Whole Foods has pulled out of the project, but a spokeswoman for Whole Foods has said that a series of milestone were not reached that were written into the lease so Whole Foods choosing to step out of the lease. Phase one of the project began last week with foundation work beginning for a six story-parking garage on Capitol Ave. Phase two of the project was to included Whole Foods and 97 apartment above the grocery store beginning construction in late 2017.

SacBee article 

Out Of Money For Courthouse Construction

Last Thursday two dozen courthouse construction projects in 26 counties across California were delayed indefinitely, including Sacramento’s because of budget shortfalls. As reported by The SacBee, the 2008 bond SB1407, which was signed into law to fund $5 billion to rebuild courthouses has fallen short of reaching that goal by $1.4 billion by a combination of declining revenue from court fines and fees. In addition, in 2012 the Governor diverted funds from the courthouse bond to backfill the state’s budget and those funds have never been returned.

Sacramento’s proposed courthouse has always received the shaft throughout this whole process. After being down sized in budget and overall project size two times, now it’s unlikely Sacramento will ever see a new courthouse EVER. Really, unless fines and fees pickup and the state returns those diverted funds Sacramento will never see a new courthouse built under this current fines and fees program.

Thank you Governor Jerry Brown, the city does not need another abandon project but now we can add this one to the pile.

Golden 1 Center Costs Rise

The latest construction costs for the Golden 1 Center have reached $556.6 million. As reported by The SacBee, the price has risen by $21.7 million in just a month and $79 million increase since breaking ground in October 2014. The original cost was to be $447 million, so the total increase in price to around $109 million. The Kings Chairman Vivek Ranadive and the rest of the team’s owners are paying for additional costs, the city’s subsidy capped at $255 million.

It’s been said that the increases aren’t cost overruns, but represent the costs of design changes like the team’s practice facility downtown, instead of leaving it at the site of the old arena in Natomas, added $30 million. Additional costs also represent dollars spent renovating the former Downtown Plaza, now known as Downtown Commons.

The building is scheduled to open with a pair of Paul McCartney concerts Oct. 4 and 5.

Centrage Project Time Machine

Centrage Project proposed in 1988

What is now becoming McKinley Village was once the proposed site for the Centrage Project, an alternative to suburban sprawl. Back in 1988 this $500 million, European-style self-contained community outraged neighboring east Sacramento residence and the Sacramento Old City Association. Centrage was a high density, transit oriented development that was to be built out over 10 years. At full build out the project would consist of 750,000 square feet of office space, 230,000 sf of retail, 1200 residential units, 250 room hotel, amphitheater, movie theater, 4.5 acre lake, greenbelts, bicycle paths, tennis courts, swimming pools, other outdoor recreation areas, and parking for around 6000 cars. Originally 8 highrises were proposed ranging from 26 to 10 stories. In an effort to satisfy anti-Centrage folk, towers were reduced in size but the opposition were not happy demanding that 50% of the 48 acres be turned into parks and open area. Centrage was one of the most controversial developments in recent Sacramento history, but after nearly a 5 year of heated debate and several reductions in size to win over local residences and City Council, the project was abandon. Below are a couple renderings showing what might have been.

Original rendering of Centrage Project proposed in 1988

Revised plans removed one of the eight planned towers for the project and reduced the size of some of the remaining seven, 26 to 19  story building (one), 16 story buildings (two), 18 to 12 story building (one), 11 to 8 story building (one), 10 story building (one), eliminated one 10 story building, 8 story building (one), 2-6 story building (12)

Centrage Project site plan proposed in 1988

Centrage Project building height comparison 1988

Centrage Project rendering showing originally proposed height of 26 story tower
later reduced to 19 stories looking west from the Capitol Freeway

Centrage Project map overview

Today the 48 acre parcel located between E Street and the Capitiol City Freeway resembles a sprawling suburban neighborhood that's not unique or interesting in any way.

McKinley Village currently under construction 

Updated Railyard Plans

Proposed Kaiser Hospital Tower in the Railyards

Next week the Planning and Design Commission will look at Railyards proposed plan related to Major League Soccer and Kaiser Permanente hospital tower. A couple items that stood out to me in the revised plans were the new hospital building would comprised approximately 658,000 sf with the main hospital tower rising up to 14 stories in the center of the block, to a maximum height of approximately 230 feet with a helistop on the roof. A parking garage would be built on the western edge of the project with approximately 1,500 parking spaces.

Surface 

The proposed Major League Soccer Stadium would be constructed initially with seating for 19,621 attendees and the capacity to accommodate concerts with an attendance up to 21,500 people. As shown below, surface parking would be used in the interim before parking structures are constructed of approximately 4,000 spaces.

To review the report click here.