Sacramento Proposal/Approval/Construction Thread - III

[brandon12]

Another reason for shoppers not to come downtown. Isn't this one of the cool stores that's been mentioned as a regional draw for K St.? I guess not anymore.
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Urban Outfitters scheduled to open in Sacramento
Sacramento Business Journal - 2:35 PM PDT Thursday, March 22, 2007by Kelly JohnsonStaff Writer
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Urban Outfitters is going to make its Sacramento debut with a store in Market Square @ Arden Fair Shopping Center, the center's management company announced Thursday.

Urban Outfitters, which offers merchandise for the home and wardrobe for customers age 18 to 30, will take the 12,500 square feet formerly occupied by Virgin Megastore. The store is scheduled to open this winter, according to Fulcrum Management Group. Market Square @ Arden Fair is located next to Arden Fair mall in Sacramento.


Urban Outfitters Inc., founded in Philadelphia in 1970, operates under three brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People.

The company (Nasdaq: URBN) has 106 Urban Outfitters stores in the United States, Canada and Europe, 93 Anthropologie stores in the United States and eight Free People stores.

During the company's fiscal year ended Jan. 31, Urban Outfitters opened 14 new Anthropologie stores, two new Free People stores and 16 new Urban Outfitters stores. The company announced earlier this month that it plans to open at least 38 new stores during the current fiscal year.

For the fiscal year, the company made $116.2 million on revenue of $1.22 billion, a 12 percent increase and a record.

[sugit]

Yeah, they were supposed to go in the K Street project, more specifically the old Men's Warehouse location on the corner of 7th and K from what I heard somewhere (can't remember where though)

I know this has been a rumor for a while they would take this space at Arden, but I wonder if they were deciding over here and K Street and the delays on the 700 block caused them to go to Arden.

[downtownserg89]

NO!! not the urban outfitters! anything BUT the urban outfitters... god, this just ruined my day. seriously. i was soo looking forward for that store opening on k street. :hell:

oh well. arden is only a 5 minute drive from here.

so anyway, i was wondering.

every highrise being built had had some sort of drama, well i dont know bout 621cm, but the others could win an oscar award.

so i was wondering, did the other highrises have any drama behind them? like the dark vador tower, or wells fargo, etc. i wouldnt doubt it!

dramamento is the new name.

[enigma99a]

With all the questions looming over 601CM and 301CM, I would locate to Arden too.

[Trojan]

Yay I am very excited now... Arden keeps getting very good retailers.

This just shows how downtown needs to get its act together or they are going to lose all their stores to Arden or Roseville.

[TowerDistrict]

so does this end all the discussion of whether Arden is "urban" or not?

;)

[sugit]

OU target demographics are much different then what the most Aura and Towers residents would be.

IF (they still might open one on K Street) they were deciding between Arden and 700 block, I think it has more to do with the delays and troubles with that project more than Aura and The Towers, let alone built in traffic already at Arden.

[enigma99a]

OU target demographics are much different then what the most Aura and Towers residents would be.

IF (they still might open one on K Street) they were deciding between Arden and 700 block, I think it has more to do with the delays and troubles with that project more than Aura and The Towers, let alone built in traffic already at Arden.

Well, I gotta say this much. It sucks. And as our region's MSA closes in on 2.4 million, more retailers will be looking for a spot to locate. If downtown isn't ready, they will just go to Roseville or Arden even though those areas are already overwhelmed with traffic. And that hurts the chances of DT getting a second location. After looking at their locations on their website, I doubt we'll have two UO stores.

[sugit]

Looking at OU history, they don't open multiple locations in each city, but it seems as chains get older they tend to expand more.

Shoot, look at a place like American Eagle..one in DTP, Arden, Roseville, Natomas, Country Club, and Sunrise. Though they are in different price ranges.

[BrianSac]

NO!! not the urban outfitters! anything BUT the urban outfitters... god, this just ruined my day. seriously. i was soo looking forward for that store opening on k street. :hell:

oh well. arden is only a 5 minute drive from here.

so anyway, i was wondering.

every highrise being built had had some sort of drama, well i dont know bout 621cm, but the others could win an oscar award.

so i was wondering, did the other highrises have any drama behind them? like the dark vador tower, or wells fargo, etc. i wouldnt doubt it!

dramamento is the new name.

I've wondered the same thing about darth vader blgd, wells fargo, etc.

Speaking of K street mall, I'm still pissed at all those "Save the Tower" people. I think they are just plain ignorant for preventing the cineart theaters from being built on K St. All that time planning, and money wasted because of the "save the tower" people. The Tower theater was never in jeopardy. I think its disgusting that they dont rehab the seating and put in a bigger screen at Tower. The CineArts theaters would have added some spark and middle class dollars to K St mall. Instead all we have are 2yr old mock drawings of what could have been. Why does the city keep those drawing in the windows, anyway, its just a sad reminder of the idiots that prevent so much from happening in Sac. :hell: :rolleyes:

[Web]

Since i am on a roll.....

those drawings are in the windows because Mo Mohanna wants them to be!

He owns the purse strings and this is his K st.............it should be renamed Mo Street

[Fusey]

More like Mo' Money Street.

[sugit]

I've wondered the same thing about darth vader blgd, wells fargo, etc.

Speaking of K street mall, I'm still pissed at all those "Save the Tower" people. I think they are just plain ignorant for preventing the cineart theaters from being built on K St. All that time planning, and money wasted because of the "save the tower" people. The Tower theater was never in jeopardy. I think its disgusting that they dont rehab the seating and put in a bigger screen at Tower. The CineArts theaters would have added some spark and middle class dollars to K St mall. Instead all we have are 2yr old mock drawings of what could have been. Why does the city keep those drawing in the windows, anyway, its just a sad reminder of the idiots that prevent so much from happening in Sac. :hell: :rolleyes:

I hear ya, BrianSac. I can't stand those people. If they want someone to blame, they should blame Redding International for not fixing that place up.

I was a big time supporter of the CineArt as well. With that said, I think looking back, we get a better project now, IMO. I think the new live theatre with cabaret and other shows, restaurant, and lounge will add more to K Street. I just hope the prices are more inline with the Community Center Theater versus the Music Circus.

PLUS, CIM and Taylor are working on that 130 unit, 14 story condo project for the rest of the block, along with more "entertainment" retail and restaurants. There would have been no room for that in the old project. That portion is supposed to be hammered out by the end of the year. With CIM financing its own projects and Taylor's good rep with the council, I have to imagine that project looks good.

If the CineArt had come along, they would have played a lot the same genre of stuff The Crest does. I think with the project we have now, it adds some diversity to our little "theatre district" with the Imax, CCT, Crest, Memorial, Music Circus and now this.

I’d love to see the east side of K Street keep adding more theatres, restaurants and nightclubs, with the west side heavy on retail.

[BrianSac]

Since i am on a roll.....

those drawings are in the windows because Mo Mohanna wants them to be!

He owns the purse strings and this is his K st.............it should be renamed Mo Street

Its not just Mo, the city council cowarded to the "Save the Tower" Nimf*cks. Was Mo behind that campaign? The Land Park nimf*cks actually think just like Mo, keep Sac the same.....Broadway a pit, and K street a pit.

Downtown plaza: why the f*ck didn't they put a roof on it. You freeze in the winter and boil in the summer; that was a mistake from the beginning, and the materials they used were cheap, 10yrs later it looks like sh*t!.......cant they get anything right in Sac.....boy Im gruppy tonight!

Too bad Joe Serna died; he had a vision for Sac and could have made things happen for K St and Broadway.

[sugit]

I don't think Mo has a problem with Sac changing, he just wants to ass rape us along the way and will keep K Street a dump until he gets his money.

Like I have said, the sooner that slumlord owns less property in DT, esp K Street, the soon we will see the changes we all want.

I was in college when Serna passed away, but everything I read and heard says we lost a real leader and booster in this city.

[BrianSac]

I hear ya, BrianSac. I can't stand those people. If they want someone to blame, they should blame Redding International for not fixing that place up.

I was a big time supporter of the CineArt as well. With that said, I think looking back, we get a better project now, IMO. I think the new live theatre with cabaret and other shows, restaurant, and lounge will add more to K Street. I just hope the prices are more inline with the Community Center Theater versus the Music Circus.

PLUS, CIM and Taylor are working on that 130 unit, 14 story condo project for the rest of the block, along with more "entertainment" retail and restaurants. There would have been no room for that in the old project. That is supposed to be hammered out by the end of the year. With CIM financing its own projects and Taylor's good rep with the council, I have to imagine that project looks good.

If the CineArt had come along, they would have played a lot the same genre of stuff The Crest does. I think with the project we have now, it adds some diversity to our little "theatre district" with the Imax, CCT, Crest, Memorial, Music Circus and now this.

I’d love to see the east side of K Street keep adding more theatres, restaurants and nightclubs, with the west side heavy on retail.

I wonder who you or what will stop this project. :previous:

SEIU might sue based on faulty EIR's. Preservationists will have issues with something, idiots will complain they have to walk around a construction site, maybe a grand jury will find that the city did or didn't follow some idiot process.

What the f*uck's going on with R street, CADA, hello, are those lofts ever going to get built, what about that Ice Plant project-nightclub thing on R street, I bet, EIR's are holding that thing up. Dang, I need to get laid....:D

[TowerDistrict]

i'm kinda touchy when people refer to b'way as a pit - i'll just get that out a the way. b'way is a strip were private and locally owned neighborhood businesses thrive. ethnic restaurants, cafes, and local musicians are only increasing presence, while K Street suffers to attract national chains, and forces out local business. I'm not advocating the NIMBY responce you see raised elsewhere, I'm just saying that sometimes this city seems to trip on its own dick and makes the wrong moves.

i think sugit is totally right that K Central gets better as it has evolved, and we're in for something special. I hope the city and Mo can resolve things, but don't count on it coming easy. meanwhile, local private enterprise like Taylor working with CIM and yet again Paragary are moving quicker than the rest to create great urban districts that attract regional attention.

[econgrad]

so does this end all the discussion of whether Arden is "urban" or not?

;)


:laugh:

oops...I accidently posted twice. Sorry guys. Is there a way of deleting?

[econgrad]

:laugh:

Too funny. I can't concede though, sorry....
I agree about your opinion above Tower! :tup:

[BrianSac]

ethnic restaurants, cafes, and local musicians are only increasing presence,

Get real, TowerDistrict, Broadway has been the same for 20yrs or more, although I love and support the small businesses. especially the ethnic restaurants; it needs alot more than a hidden light rail station and auto parts stores. Im sure any big developer would not consider touching broadway, why.... Landpark Nimby power.

[greenmidtown]

Get real, TowerDistrict, Broadway has been the same for 20yrs or more, although I love and support the small businesses. especially the ethnic restaurants; it needs alot more than a hidden light rail station and auto parts stores. Im sure any big developer would not consider touching broadway, why.... Landpark Nimby power.

:rolleyes: Many businesses thrive on Broadway. You can eat at several Vietnamese, Thai, all-vegetarian, Ethiopian, Indonesian, Chinese, Seafood restaraunts all within a short walk. You have the classic Tower Theatre, a comic shop, javalounge coffee, tattoo shop, porn store, and a new comedy club. Tower records, books, and video have all been replaced already with local small businesses.

Broadway might have a different vibe but we need it. It's unique in a 'I can't find this culture/art/vibe in the suburbs sort of way.' Anyways, Broadway's on the periphery of downtown/midtown; revitalization efforts should focus on downtown.

[TowerDistrict]

john saca built on broadway. millenium is doing mixed-use on 1901. the tower spots have set empty only as long as it has taken to find the best tennants - not the only ones. 401 broadway has been approved in spite of the LPCA. and while you're in the other thread wondering why this city can't adapt better cyclist oriented streetscaping, the land park area got the ball rolling by converting a state highway into a two-way street with designated cyclist thoroughfares - that carried over into midtown just recently. the broadway lightrail station connects the entire south area neighborhoods along with city college, bus lines, parking and freeway access.

that's what i find funny. broadway doesn't need shit. the strip could use added investement, but this neighborhood doesn't rely on help from the city to renew itself. let's just compare 16th & broadway to 7th & k in three months time, eh?

[BrianSac]

:previous:
ya, like, didnt I say, "I love and support the small businesses. especially the ethnic restaurants :tup:

Broadway needs a 24hour comfort foods place, like a LA style Jewish coffee shop- restaurant, aka, Dupars, Canters, or how about a mel's drive-in, with a real 50's style drive-in, or a SF style Original Joes Italian Restaurant, another Bakery-Restaurant would be good too ;

[TowerDistrict]

i usually come off as more brash than i intend to be. obviously i love this neighborhood and am protective of it. i actually moved here from downtown. broadway has loads of potential in the future, but stands on it's own now. per a recent discussion with another forumer - the area can seem more intimidating than it really is if you don't live around here. and there are crime related problems now and then, no doubt.

as a side note - i hope to post some pics of a former streetcar line that used to run through my neighborhood next week. it's weird to know that just beneath the street lies the infrustructure that we're now trying to recreate 80 years later.

[BrianSac]

:rolleyes: Many businesses thrive on Broadway. You can eat at several Vietnamese, Thai, all-vegetarian, Ethiopian, Indonesian, Chinese, Seafood restaraunts all within a short walk. You have the classic Tower Theatre, a comic shop, javalounge coffee, tattoo shop, porn store, and a new comedy club. Tower records, books, and video have all been replaced already with local small businesses.

Broadway might have a different vibe but we need it. It's unique in a 'I can't find this culture/art/vibe in the suburbs sort of way.' Anyways, Broadway's on the periphery of downtown/midtown; revitalization efforts should focus on downtown.

:offtopic:
HEY, greenmidtown, I mentioned BERLIN in a prior post couple o' days ago. check out some BERLIN pics of mine:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=2711659#post2711659

[ozone]

:rolleyes: Many businesses thrive on Broadway. You can eat at several Vietnamese, Thai, all-vegetarian, Ethiopian, Indonesian, Chinese, Seafood restaraunts all within a short walk. You have the classic Tower Theatre, a comic shop, javalounge coffee, tattoo shop, porn store, and a new comedy club. Tower records, books, and video have all been replaced already with local small businesses.

Broadway might have a different vibe but we need it. It's unique in a 'I can't find this culture/art/vibe in the suburbs sort of way.' Anyways, Broadway's on the periphery of downtown/midtown; revitalization efforts should focus on downtown.

Broadway declined when it was cut off from the central city by Bus.80/Hwy.50 AKA the CCF and W-X Freeway. The only real way to revive Broadway is to repair some of the damage done by the freeway. We need to repair and/or re-establish the pedestrian connections between Broadway and Downtown-Midtown. X and W streets are for all intents and purposes high-speed, high-volume freeway access or frontage roads. If you can find a sidewalk that will take you under the freeway you’ll still feel like some weird alien intruder.

The so-called Tower District and Oak Park Central are the only areas of Broadway that have any real pedestrian quality and even it is pretty piss poor. Here is what I would like to see happen:

First a parking garage needs to be built over the large surface parking lot behind the Tower Theatre. Then the parking lot across from the former Tower Records needs to be turned into a cool retro-deco commercial retail center with a public gathering place on the corner so the shops and restaurants could open up to it. The sidewalks and crosswalks around the intersection of Land Park Drive and Broadway need to be re-designed. This would generate the pedestrian activity needed to make the Tower District really work.

Further to the west the outdated and crime-infested New Helvetia Public Housing needs to be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use and mixed-income community in more traditional urban forms. (EX. Columbia Point public-housing development in Boston)

O’Neil Park across the street needs to be turned into new Community Center and Public Market with new walkways and open sided sheds constructed to protect the venders and shoppers. This new market would be connected to the existing and highly successful weekend market under-the-freeway and to Southside Park. The whole area would be upgraded and new stop lights and safe pedestrian crossings put in on Broadway, W and X streets. Together this ‘West Broadway Market’ would combine a farmer’s market and an international-style flea market to make it an alternative shopping destination for the city center.

Further east the DMV’s huge parking lot completely destroys the street life. Here another parking garage needs to be built and shops and restaurants added to the ground floor. The Towe Ford Automotive Museum is looking for a new home and I can’t think of a better place for an automotive museum than next to the state’s DMV HQ. Here would be a great place for that retro-50's drive-in.

Well that’s some of my thoughts on Broadway.

[BrianSac]

:previous:

Thanks for those thoughts. Some good suggestions. Duh, I never thought of how much the freeway affected broadway. It's as if the freeway has always been there. I would like to see some color pics of the homes and buildings on X and W before the freeway.

[brandon12]

I think we should just get rid of W & X streets and add more lanes to the freeway. That would help more people get around.

jk, td.

[downtownserg89]

Its not just Mo, the city council cowarded to the "Save the Tower" Nimf*cks. Was Mo behind that campaign? The Land Park nimf*cks actually think just like Mo, keep Sac the same.....Broadway a pit, and K street a pit.

Downtown plaza: why the f*ck didn't they put a roof on it. You freeze in the winter and boil in the summer; that was a mistake from the beginning, and the materials they used were cheap, 10yrs later it looks like sh*t!.......cant they get anything right in Sac.....boy Im gruppy tonight!

Too bad Joe Serna died; he had a vision for Sac and could have made things happen for K St and Broadway.


haha, your censoring made me laugh.

[greenmidtown]

:previous:

Thanks for those thoughts. Some good suggestions. Duh, I never thought of how much the freeway affected broadway. It's as if the freeway has always been there. I would like to see some color pics of the homes and buildings on X and W before the freeway.

Freeways are the biggest problems in almost every city. In New York they built freeways on historic ethnic neighborhoods in the '60's. In Seattle the biggest reason their waterfront sucks is because they have a bunch of loud freeways over it and blocking it, essentially ruining what would otherwise be beautiful puget sound.

Portland took the bold move of ripping out a freeway to put in a long, pedestrian walkway overlooking the waterfront. In Vancouver they don't have any freeways connecting to the city.

The problem started in the 50's and 60's when America as a whole decided to abandon the inner cities and orient them to the suburbs. Only now are most cities recovering from the decades of damage inflicted by that policy. In my opinion the federal government should step in with some funding to rehabilitate inner cities. As long as the burden falls squarely on city governments with limited funding, all the bold moves we wish to see happen will come painstakingly slow. Just removing lanes in this city has been a decades long process!

[BrianSac]

:previous:

Yes, I now what you mean; I just never thought how the W/X affected Sactown; I-5, yes, but not the W/X.

Still need to find some pics of W/X, and Broadway before the freeway.

Some positive examples of what you mention above: SF's Embarcadero is open and beautiful now that the Embarcadero frwy is gone. Also, the Oak/Fell Street, Octavia Blvd area is so much better now that the freeway is gone. Ciao, taking the bikes up to Nevada City. :D

[Majin]

What's with the recent fad of posting in bold?

[downtownserg89]

What's with the recent fad of posting in bold?


DUDE! i was sooo gonna point that out like last week, but i forgot. its the latest trend! hop on the bandwagon

[snfenoc]

OMG!! This is like totally the most boringest thread of all times! LOL! OMG! LOL! Like totally!








OMG!








LOL!

[econgrad]

Broadway declined when it was cut off from the central city by Bus.80/Hwy.50 AKA the CCF and W-X Freeway. The only real way to revive Broadway is to repair some of the damage done by the freeway. We need to repair and/or re-establish the pedestrian connections between Broadway and Downtown-Midtown. X and W streets are for all intents and purposes high-speed, high-volume freeway access or frontage roads. If you can find a sidewalk that will take you under the freeway you’ll still feel like some weird alien intruder.

The so-called Tower District and Oak Park Central are the only areas of Broadway that have any real pedestrian quality and even it is pretty piss poor. Here is what I would like to see happen:

First a parking garage needs to be built over the large surface parking lot behind the Tower Theatre. Then the parking lot across from the former Tower Records needs to be turned into a cool retro-deco commercial retail center with a public gathering place on the corner so the shops and restaurants could open up to it. The sidewalks and crosswalks around the intersection of Land Park Drive and Broadway need to be re-designed. This would generate the pedestrian activity needed to make the Tower District really work.

Further to the west the outdated and crime-infested New Helvetia Public Housing needs to be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use and mixed-income community in more traditional urban forms. (EX. Columbia Point public-housing development in Boston)

O’Neil Park across the street needs to be turned into new Community Center and Public Market with new walkways and open sided sheds constructed to protect the venders and shoppers. This new market would be connected to the existing and highly successful weekend market under-the-freeway and to Southside Park. The whole area would be upgraded and new stop lights and safe pedestrian crossings put in on Broadway, W and X streets. Together this ‘West Broadway Market’ would combine a farmer’s market and an international-style flea market to make it an alternative shopping destination for the city center.

Further east the DMV’s huge parking lot completely destroys the street life. Here another parking garage needs to be built and shops and restaurants added to the ground floor. The Towe Ford Automotive Museum is looking for a new home and I can’t think of a better place for an automotive museum than next to the state’s DMV HQ. Here would be a great place for that retro-50's drive-in.

Well that’s some of my thoughts on Broadway.

Damn! Did you think of all this on your own? Run for Mayor.... :cheers:

[Trojan]

I was downtown last night and went out to dinner at Mason's for fun. After that, I was walking along the K Street Mall in Cathedral Square and I was thinking that this area could be INCREBILE. K Street is beautifully anchored by the State Capitol, the Sacramento Cathedral, three theaters including IMAX, the Crest Theatre, and the Community Center. Also, a few blocks away include the Hyatt and the Sheraton Grand. Again, the lightrail runs right through K Street, offering an easy and urban way around. What else could be at K Street's disposle? If this situation was in Los Angeles or any other city, K Street would be a premiere shopping and urban district.

Anyways, just my rant on what K Street could be. I can just imagine one of the larger buildings on K Street being renovated into a large department store and the other stores would include restaurants, boutiques and other stores. Just imagine easily taking the lightrail into K Street, going to dinner, possibly seeing a movie, and then shopping one of the many stores along K Street. Couldn't be beat!

K Street could capture the ambiance of other outside retail areas such as Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade... Whatever... don't know what the city is thinking when K Street could be one of the best urban districts in California.

[brandon12]

^Well said.

[downtownserg89]

OMG!! This is like totally the most boringest thread of all times! LOL! OMG! LOL! Like totally!








OMG!








LOL!


a registered sex offender would talk like that.

[ozone]

I was downtown last night and went out to dinner at Mason's for fun. After that, I was walking along the K Street Mall in Cathedral Square and I was thinking that this area could be INCREBILE. K Street is beautifully anchored by the State Capitol, the Sacramento Cathedral, three theaters including IMAX, the Crest Theatre, and the Community Center. Also, a few blocks away include the Hyatt and the Sheraton Grand. Again, the lightrail runs right through K Street, offering an easy and urban way around. What else could be at K Street's disposle? If this situation was in Los Angeles or any other city, K Street would be a premiere shopping and urban district.

Anyways, just my rant on what K Street could be. I can just imagine one of the larger buildings on K Street being renovated into a large department store and the other stores would include restaurants, boutiques and other stores. Just imagine easily taking the lightrail into K Street, going to dinner, possibly seeing a movie, and then shopping one of the many stores along K Street. Couldn't be beat!

K Street could capture the ambiance of other outside retail areas such as Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade... Whatever... don't know what the city is thinking when K Street could be one of the best urban districts in California.

I feel your pain. I totally agree with you that in almost any other city K Street would not be in the poor condition it is in. However, I'm not sure it's entirely the fault of the City. Still when a burned-out shell of a building is allowed to remain on K Street for years then I'd have to say that the city certainly shares the blame...along with a handful of property owners and some pretty clueless & tasteless mechants.

Whenever I've suggested to a merchant that maybe the problem is that they don't provide the products people they are trying to attract want and/or that it's displayed poorly they always look at me like I'm from another planet. A lot of "business people" are pretty dumb (self included). Then there's all those low or no-income SROs that are allowed to be concentrated in and around K Street, a run-down Schizophrenic shopping mall (I guess it minics the street's most consistant user) and the cheap costco recycle cans just top it off. But you're 100% correct it could and should be better. I also agree with BrianSac that the DP needs to have a roof over it in our climate. Hopefully things will change but in the year I've been back in Sacramento I can't say that I've seen one councilmember on K Street and I'm on K Street almost daily. I used to see the former mayor Joe Serna on K Street all the time. I've only seen Co. Sup Roger Dickerson. You can't find a solution if you don't first know the problem.

OK that's the end of my rant now.

[sugit]

I was downtown last night and went out to dinner at Mason's for fun. After that, I was walking along the K Street Mall in Cathedral Square and I was thinking that this area could be INCREBILE. K Street is beautifully anchored by the State Capitol, the Sacramento Cathedral, three theaters including IMAX, the Crest Theatre, and the Community Center. Also, a few blocks away include the Hyatt and the Sheraton Grand. Again, the lightrail runs right through K Street, offering an easy and urban way around. What else could be at K Street's disposle? If this situation was in Los Angeles or any other city, K Street would be a premiere shopping and urban district.

Anyways, just my rant on what K Street could be. I can just imagine one of the larger buildings on K Street being renovated into a large department store and the other stores would include restaurants, boutiques and other stores. Just imagine easily taking the lightrail into K Street, going to dinner, possibly seeing a movie, and then shopping one of the many stores along K Street. Couldn't be beat!

K Street could capture the ambiance of other outside retail areas such as Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade... Whatever... don't know what the city is thinking when K Street could be one of the best urban districts in California.

A lot of the buildings on K Street actually used to be department stores. Ward, Sears, Weinstocks, Woolworths, Kress. I think the Kress screams turns me back to a department store.

I think Cathedral Square itself on K and 11th could be a great street performer, market and vender center

What you would like to see exactly what I would like to see as well. The east side where IMAX, the Crest Theatre, and the Community Center Theatre, and the soon to be 10th and K Theatre keep adding theaters, bars/clubs/lounges and cool restaurants. The west side from DTP to 8th or 9th streeet big retail shopping.

I think it seems to be heading this way, it's just taking a LONG time...par the course though.

[BrianSac]

Then there's all those low or no-income SROs that are allowed to be concentrated in and around K Street, a run-down Schizophrenic shopping mall (I guess it minics the street's most consistant user) and the cheap costco recycle cans just top it off. But you're 100% correct it could and should be better. I also agree with BrianSac that the DP needs to have a roof over it in our climate. Hopefully things will change but in the year I've been back in Sacramento I can't say that I've seen one councilmember on K Street and I'm on K Street almost daily. I used to see the former mayor Joe Serna on K Street all the time. I've only seen Co. Sup Roger Dickerson. You can't find a solution if you don't first know the problem.

OK that's the end of my rant now.

Downtown Plaza: It was designed by the guy who designed San Diego's Horton Plaza, It works in San Diego, but not in Sactown because its cold, foggy and rainy here in the winter, hello; and it gets real hot sometimes in the summer, hello again. What were they thinking. Even parts of Horton Plaza are completely covered.

SRO: Let them stay, they have to live somewhere. Most of them are harmless. It will be a political nightmare to run them out. Just dont allow NEW SRO's in and around K Street Mall. OR put the SRO's up and down broadway, close to the LandPark NimF*cks. OR when the Kings leave town, house them at Arco. JUST KIDDING

[BrianSac]

A lot of the buildings on K Street actually used to be department stores. Ward, Sears, Weinstocks, Woolworths, Kress. I think the Kress screams turns me back to a department store.

I think Cathedral Square itself on K and 11th could be a great street performer, market and vender center

What you would like to see exactly what I would like to see as well. The east side where IMAX, the Crest Theatre, and the Community Center Theatre, and the soon to be 10th and K Theatre keep adding theaters, bars/clubs/lounges and cool restaurants. The west side from DTP to 8th or 9th streeet big retail shopping.

I think it seems to be heading this way, it's just taking a LONG time...par the course though.

I'll be in an old folks home by the time K Street Mall takes off.
Here's my solution: Open the street to auto traffic, like midtown's Jstreet. My theory: outdoor malls dont work in the Sacto valleyl. Its too damn wet, & too damn cold in the winter; and too damn hot in the summer. When was the last time K street worked....when all those departments stores mentioned above had access to auto traffic. K street mall has NEVER been successful as a pedestrian mall; NEVER.

Why does Santa Monica's outdoor pedestrian mall work?

Two reasons: 1. Because it has 8, count'em 8 gigantic parking structures attached to both sides of it. Almost nobody walks TO the pedestrian mall in Santa Monica. They will not even walk 4 blocks down the hill to the beach/boardwalk. The two are completely separate and it does not matter; it works.

2. The weather; it never rains in southern california(not like up here); more importantly; it almost never gets above 82 degrees; a natural ocean breeze, constantly, cools it on summer and fall days.


MY 3CENTS

[innov8]

Downtown Plaza: It was designed by the guy who designed San Diego's Horton Plaza, It works in San Diego, but not in Sactown because its cold, foggy and rainy here in the winter, hello; and it gets real hot sometimes in the summer, hello again. What were they thinking. Even parts of Horton Plaza are completely covered.

SRO: Let them stay, they have to live somewhere. Most of them are harmless. It will be a political nightmare to run them out. Just dont allow NEW SRO's in and around K Street Mall. OR put the SRO's up and down broadway, close to the LandPark NimF*cks. OR when the Kings leave town, house them at Arco. JUST KIDDING


SRO on K Street are one of several reasons why developers are balking to build
in that area. Saca has also said they need to be move before he will build any of his other
proposals as well... and I'm sure other developers echo the same thoughts.
I work within blocks of this troubled areas... they really need to go, to many
in a small area.

[rtgeisreit]

Does anyone have an update on the status of the city's lawsuit against Mo?

[Phillip]

Then the parking lot across from the former Tower Records needs to be turned into a cool retro-deco commercial retail center with a public gathering place on the corner so the shops and restaurants could open up to it. The sidewalks and crosswalks around the intersection of Land Park Drive and Broadway need to be re-designed. This would generate the pedestrian activity needed to make the Tower District really work.Yes, that parking lot at 16th and Broadway really stands out as a spot where something good for Broadway could be done. I can picture a 4 or 5 story apartment there, something like 1801 L with retail and restaurants on the first floor. It would be so good for the new stores coming into the Tower spots and for the theater.

That lot used to be an overflow parking lot for the Tower stores across the street. Towards the end there wasn't much need for overflow parking and I don't see many cars parked there now. Prime real estate going to waste. Who owns that anyhow? Does anyone know if there are any plans for that site?

I also think it's too bad the retailers who took the spots nearest the Broadway light rail stop aren't places where light rail users would go---an auto parts store, a Catholic bookstore. That buildling west of the Broadway lightrail would have been a fantastic spot for Urban Outfitters, imo. Its target demographic is standing right there waiting for the train five days a week. Urban could have anchored a whole strip of "cool shopping" from the light rail to Resurrection Music, mixed with the ethnic restaurants and a couple new coffeeshops.

That said, I don't think of Broadway as a "troubled" street, in dire need of help. It could be better. Everything could be better. But it's a magnet as it is, drawing regular and repeat customers from all over town. The roster of restaurant tenants is remarkably stable for such a high turnover business and there aren't many vacancies along the entire strip.

[BrianSac]

SRO on K Street are one of several reasons why developers are balking to build
in that area. Saca has also said they need to be move before he will build any of his other
proposals as well... and I'm sure other developers echo the same thoughts.
I work within blocks of this troubled areas... they really need to go, to many
in a small area.

OK, Agreed, but where are you going to put them? They really do need a place to live. Can we bus them to SF or Reno?

[Phillip]

Further to the west the outdated and crime-infested New Helvetia Public Housing needs to be demolished and replaced with a mixed-use and mixed-income community in more traditional urban forms. (EX. Columbia Point public-housing development in Boston)

As housing projects go I really don't think New Helvetia looks bad. I like the brick and the staggering of two story townhomes and one story flats. Ample greenspace. If they were regular apartments I think they'd be sought after just as they are. (I don't know what they're like on the inside.)

Is New Helvetia really crime-infested or are you saying that just because it's public housing? I don't walk those blocks but I drive past a lot and really I don't see gangs of thugs hanging around or obvious drug dealing or prostitution. It looks like a fairly sedate place, near as I can tell, and I don't hear stories on the news about trouble there, like at some of the other projects in town, near Franklin, or in Oak Park.

The worst housing projects often seem to be the ones with the highest densities, especially the highrises. Packing people in seems to breed trouble and that's not an issue at NH. There are broad expanses of well maintained lawn for the kids to play on at Helvetia and people sitting out on their front stoops watching the cars go by on Broadway.

Plus where would all those people go? The project extends south a couple blocks. It's much larger than what you see driving past on Broadway. I'm guessing 500 or so people live there?

Even if New Helvetia was torn down that south side of Broadway would remain a pedestrian dead zone for several blocks, with Target's windowless wall and the large cemetary. New Helvetia extends that dead zone a couple of blocks, but I don't see it as a major impediment to Broaday's overall vitality.

Btw, I never new that project was called "New Helvetia" until you posted the name.

[BrianSac]

Btw, I never new that project was called "New Helvetia" until you posted the name.

I think the name, "New Helvetia" is a great name for a business, or as a second name for Sacramento. It should be used more often. Besides "River City" and all the other names used to describe Sactown, "New Helvetia" stands out as unique and different. The "Camellia City" is good too.
Helvetia - (Area of Switzerland, Roman roots)

I agree with you about that housing project it doesn't seem that bad. I could be wrong, though.

[Phillip]

Helvetia - (Area of Switzerland, Roman roots)
I haven't seen many Swiss or Roman looking people there. Maybe they live in the units towards the back.

[BrianSac]

I haven't seen many Swiss or Roman looking people there. Maybe they live in the units towards the back.

:haha:
You probably already know this, but John Sutter,(Sutters Fort) of one Sacramentos founding fathers was Swiss. Sacramento was know as New Helvetia for many years in the 1800's. The name lives on. There used to a really cool coffeehouse called New Helvetia.(19th and L). They restored an old Firehouse. Its now Mulvaney's Building and Loan Restaurant.

[Web]

ok I can say the blocks around 8th and K look like crap.....vacant buildings and who owns these or who did? one or two slum lords......stop blaming the "people" and start blaming the owners who cant even suppy air conditioning to these SRO's.....I sense Mo owns them also.....

[ozone]

As housing projects go I really don't think New Helvetia looks bad. I like the brick and the staggering of two story townhomes and one story flats. Ample greenspace. If they were regular apartments I think they'd be sought after just as they are. (I don't know what they're like on the inside.)

Is New Helvetia really crime-infested or are you saying that just because it's public housing? I don't walk those blocks but I drive past a lot and really I don't see gangs of thugs hanging around or obvious drug dealing or prostitution. It looks like a fairly sedate place, near as I can tell, and I don't hear stories on the news about trouble there, like at some of the other projects in town, near Franklin, or in Oak Park.

Plus where would all those people go?

My understanding is that housing project has had a lot of crime in the past. I know there was an quite an effort by the City and SPD to clean in up. How effective it has been I don't know.

As far as the built environment..I believe they were originally built as temporary housing after WWII so I would say they are pretty sub-standard. The repetative, low-density design completey isolates it from the surrounding community and is basically sub-urban.

As far as where the people who live there now go. They could be offered new units at the same site. I'm suggesting mixed-income -included in that would low-incomers. Almost everyone agrees today that concentrating low-income people, isolating them from people of different classes and upbringings breds more crime and dispair.

[ozone]

SRO: Let them stay, they have to live somewhere. Most of them are harmless. It will be a political nightmare to run them out. Just dont allow NEW SRO's in and around K Street Mall. OR put the SRO's up and down broadway, close to the LandPark NimF*cks. OR when the Kings leave town, house them at Arco. JUST KIDDING

Of course, "they" need to live somewhere, however, it's about the concentration of them in one area that is the problem. I think one solution to the SRO problem could be that "in order to provide fair housing" the SROs could be encouraged to provide units for a mixture of incomes. Maybe the City could provide loans to SRO's to upgrade their property provided that a certian percentage of the units were set aside for moderate incomers and a certain percentage remained for low incomers. The rents at the SROs that recieved the loans from the City could be rent-stablized to ensure that downtown has afforable housing. This way downtown would have a great mix of incomes and lifestyles -something that all great cities have. If we did that then some of the new urbanites who would like to live downtown but can't afford luxury condos and won't tollerate the conditions in a typical SRO dump will be able to find acceptable housing downtown.

There could also be regulation that says one SRO has to be so many feet from another SRO.

[sugit]

Does anyone have an update on the status of the city's lawsuit against Mo?

Decision is due back from the courts anytime now.

With regard to SROs, I too think the problem is too many in one spot.

I know the new owners of the Marshall want to turn it into something other than an SRO, but they have to wait until the city builds replacement ones. There is a no net unit loss policy the city has.

The good news is CADA is planning "efficiency" units at 16th and N street that would take the place of some on K Street. The bad news is considering the snails pace CADA works at, who knows when they will be completed

[BrianSac]

Of course, "they" need to live somewhere, however, it's about the concentration of them in one area that is the problem. I think one solution to the SRO problem could be that "in order to provide fair housing" the SROs could be encouraged to provide units for a mixture of incomes. Maybe the City could provide loans to SRO's to upgrade their property provided that a certian percentage of the units were set aside for moderate incomers and a certain percentage remained for low incomers. The rents at the SROs that recieved the loans from the City could be rent-stablized to ensure that downtown has afforable housing. This way downtown would have a great mix of incomes and lifestyles -something that all great cities have. If we did that then some of the new urbanites who would like to live downtown but can't afford luxury condos and won't tollerate the conditions in a typical SRO dump will be able to find acceptable housing downtown.

There could also be regulation that says one SRO has to be so many feet from another SRO.

I wonder how SF deals with this issue? or Portland? or Seattle?

[SacRising]

East End Gateway project could be back on track

Sacramento Business Journal - 11:38 AM PDT Monday, March 26, 2007


SKK Developments and Ravel Rasmussen Properties have entered 60-day negotiations for a contract to develop two high-profile projects in midtown Sacramento.

The Capitol Area Development Authority's board has chosen the developers for the East End Gateway project at 16th and O streets. CADA administers 42 blocks of state-owned land in a joint powers agreement with the city of Sacramento.

SKK Developments is considering 70 condominiums, 4,300 square feet of retail and 102 parking spaces on the northeast corner of the property. Ravel Rasmussen would develop 45 apartments, 7,200 square feet of retail and 59 parking spaces on the southwest corner of the property.

Each company submitted proposals for both sites, but CADA decided to divide the projects between SKK Developments and Ravel Rasmussen. CADA officials and the companies will negotiate for the next two months.

Loftworks LLC was the original developer for the project, but canceled its plans in October 2006. Fast-rising construction costs that greatly cut into profits and possibly create a loss "killed the project," said developer Mark Friedman, co-managing member of Loftworks.

[BrianSac]

:previous:

This is good news. I was looking forward to the Freidman project.

I wonder how long it will take to get to get to the construction phase.....at least 2 years from now, maybe more, considering revisions to plans, CADA and city approvals, and of course another EIR.

[sugit]

East End Gateway project could be back on track

Sacramento Business Journal - 11:38 AM PDT Monday, March 26, 2007


SKK Developments and Ravel Rasmussen Properties have entered 60-day negotiations for a contract to develop two high-profile projects in midtown Sacramento.

The Capitol Area Development Authority's board has chosen the developers for the East End Gateway project at 16th and O streets. CADA administers 42 blocks of state-owned land in a joint powers agreement with the city of Sacramento.

SKK Developments is considering 70 condominiums, 4,300 square feet of retail and 102 parking spaces on the northeast corner of the property. Ravel Rasmussen would develop 45 apartments, 7,200 square feet of retail and 59 parking spaces on the southwest corner of the property.

Each company submitted proposals for both sites, but CADA decided to divide the projects between SKK Developments and Ravel Rasmussen. CADA officials and the companies will negotiate for the next two months.

Loftworks LLC was the original developer for the project, but canceled its plans in October 2006. Fast-rising construction costs that greatly cut into profits and possibly create a loss "killed the project," said developer Mark Friedman, co-managing member of Loftworks.


I went to that meeting on Friday. The only bad news is that SKK wanted both sites, or neither. So that'll have to be hammered out over the next two months. I have to imagine he said that for leverage to get both sites.

If SKK does develop at least one of the site, he was very adamant about breaking ground this year, or no later than mid next year. Based on how fast L Street Lofts happen, it seems like he has the ability to do it as well. He said he does not want to be still working on the projects 2-4 years from now. From the concept rendering I saw, it looked about 6-8 stories.

From what they said, the projects most likely won't need a new EIR, just maybe a couple modifications for the SKK one since it will be denser. The Ravel one is around the same size as the previous one by Loftworks.

Also, in regard to the other two sites for the East End Gateway, they are hoping to have a DDA in place with Lambert Development within 6 months for site 4 at 16th and P for about 40 units, retail and underground parking.

Site 1 at 16th and L is going to be a mid-high rise, with Otto Construction the contractor. Details still being worked out though.

Lambert made an interesting comment when he spoke. He made mention that even though Aura and The Towers have been having problems and may not happen, it has shown lenders that there is a market for these type of projects and what people are willing to pay for them.

It sounded like they had a good beat on financing for the two projects.

[BrianSac]

I took these construction pics of the Le Rivage Hotel and Scotts Seafood Restaurant, Sunday, Mar 25, 2007:


103-Luxury Hotel with Sacto River Views

I remember when this project was called Captains Table. A Sacto Nimby group held this project hostage for about 6 years. It was orginally conceived about 12 years ago.

Its nice to see it finally come together.


You will need to Scroll side to side on some of these pics. I never know how the pic will be sized after posting on this site. I need posting skills, :yes:

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7483/img2108bb8.jpg


http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/170/img2121zu9.jpg


http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5039/img2128ad9.jpg


http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5494/img2109kr0.jpg

[innov8]

Thanks for the photos BrianSac :tup:

I would recommend posting them in a smaller size... these appear to be 4 times
to big for the screen. Try 800 x 532 pixels or 600 x 450 pixels like in the
first pic along the bike trail.

That area has been fenced off so long that I forgot that they were actually
going to build anything there.

[ozone]

:) I went to that meeting on Friday. The only bad news is that SKK wanted both sites, or neither. So that'll have to be hammered out over the next two months. I have to imagine he said that for leverage to get both sites.

If SKK does develop at least one of the site, he was very adamant about breaking ground this year, or no later than mid next year. Based on how fast L Street Lofts happen, it seems like he has the ability to do it as well. He said he does not want to be still working on the projects 2-4 years from now. From the concept rendering I saw, it looked about 6-8 stories.

From what they said, the projects most likely won't need a new EIR, just maybe a couple modifications for the SKK one since it will be denser. The Ravel one is around the same size as the previous one by Loftworks.

Also, in regard to the other two sites for the East End Gateway, they are hoping to have a DDA in place with Lambert Development within 6 months for site 4 at 16th and P for about 40 units, retail and underground parking.

Site 1 at 16th and L is going to be a mid-high rise, with Otto Construction the contractor. Details still being worked out though.

Lambert made an interesting comment when he spoke. He made mention that even though Aura and The Towers have been having problems and may not happen, it has shown lenders that there is a market for these type of projects and what people are willing to pay for them.

It sounded like they had a good beat on financing for the two projects.:)

I'm really excited about this. 16th Street is basically the boundary between Midtown and Downtown and these projects along some of the others, new or in the works, will really create a nice urban look and feel along 16th Street. As the center (R-H) is built-up then it's move out. Hopefully we'll see some similar development going towards Broadway but I doubt much will happen without some type of transportation improvement. Still I'm stoked.

[BrianSac]

Thanks for the photos BrianSac :tup:

I would recommend posting them in a smaller size... these appear to be 4 times
to big for the screen. Try 800 x 532 pixels or 600 x 450 pixels like in the
first pic along the bike trail.

That area has been fenced off so long that I forgot that they were actually
going to build anything there.

My pleasure, :yes:

Thanks for the recommendations.

[sugit]

:) :)

I'm really excited about this. 16th Street is basically the boundary between Midtown and Downtown and these projects along some of the others, new or in the works, will really create a nice urban look and feel along 16th Street. As the center (R-H) is built-up then it's move out. Hopefully we'll see some similar development going towards Broadway but I doubt much will happen without some type of transportation improvement. Still I'm stoked.

I've really been excited for 16th street for years now, long before all the big projects came along in the CBD. There are a ton of projects in the hooper for one long continued stretch of urban street down 16th. There are already some nice pieces in place (minus the East End Complex), just need to connect the dots now. The 4 East End Gateway sites, Crystal Ice, Firestone Building, Unity Center, L16, old Young's Fireplace will all close the gaps. I just hope its sooner gather than later.

[arod74]

Speaking of the Firestone building, whatever became of the plans for the refurb on that property. I walked past it the other day and its sad to see it wasting away for what is a primo piece of downtown real estate as a parking structure with a capacity of about 6 freakin cars.

[brandon12]

^I just met my new favorite bar tender this weekend. His name is Henry Deveer-White and he works at R15 3 nights a week. He's been in the bar business about 15 years. We got to talking and he's opening up the Irish bar in the old Firestone building in about "13 months" he said. He's talking to lawyers, architects, etc every day and moving full steam ahead. He said all of the retail space will go live simultaneously. I was pretty impressed with what he had to say.

So although we might not see contruction activity at the site right now, rest assured that preparations are well under way and continuing every day.

[sugit]

In addition to the Irish bar, CPK, Fleming Steakhouse, and possibly Roy's will round out the building. I thought it was supposed to have broken ground by now, but guess not. As long as it's still moving forward, which it sounds like it is.

[BrianSac]

The 4 East End Gateway, Crystal Ice, Firestone Building, Unity Center, L16, old Young's Fireplace will all close the gaps. I just hope its sooner gather than later.

Yeah, I wish I knew when these were going to break ground, especially, Crystal Ice.

Also, why haven't the Crocker Art People not begun their expansion?

Good news: Sutter seems to really be making progress. The area, next to Biba's restaurant building, has been demolished/cleared for the main women's and childrens hospital.

[greenmidtown]

I've really been excited for 16th street for years now, long before all the big projects came along in the CBD. There are a ton of projects in the hooper for one long continued stretch of urban street down 16th. There are already some nice pieces in place (minus the East End Complex), just need to connect the dots now. The 4 East End Gateway sites, Crystal Ice, Firestone Building, Unity Center, L16, old Young's Fireplace will all close the gaps. I just hope its sooner gather than later.

what's so absurd is that they painted on the building on R st. facing 16th, "just what midtown has been waiting for." Just how fucking long does Midtown have to wait!! It's bad enough it takes developers years in this city to break ground but some of them choose to be sadistic about it! I'm just waiting for some kid at the 16th st. light-rail stop to tag it since it still looks like shit!

[Bob Lablaw]

Good news: Sutter seems to really be making progress. The area, next to Biba's restaurant building, has been demolished/cleared for the main women's and childrens hospital.

Heh. I grew up about two blocks from the Sutter "campus", back in the days when a Stop 'n Shop/Raley's shopping center occupied the block where the current hospital sits. I remember when that parking garage next to Biba was constructed, along with Sutter's power plant on 29th/Capitol. I used to pass by this location every day on my way to Sutter Middle School. It's somehow jarring to see a structure (even something so simple as a parking garage) that I once watched being built, being torn down for something even newer. Reminds me that I'm getting older...

[urban_encounter]

Also, why haven't the Crocker Art People not begun their expansion?


This was on the city council agenda last Tuesday...


5. Agreement/Contract: Crocker Art Museum Expansion and Renovation Project (CF61)

Location: 216 O Street (District 1)

Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution 1) authorizing the Crocker Art Museum Association (CAMA) to execute an agreement with Rudolph & Sletten, Inc. for pre-construction phase construction management services for the project in the amount of $183,308; and 2) authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Rudolph & Sletten, Inc. for public improvements in an amount not to exceed $1,850,000. Contact: Lial Jones, Director, Crocker Art Museum, (916) 264-5423; Cynthia Kranc, Facilities Manager, (916) 808-2258, General Services Department.


It sounds as if that long delayed project might finally be showing some signs of life...

We'll see how long it takes for construction to actually begin though.

[urban_encounter]

The brownstones are coming
East Coast icon offers urban chic on compact lots
By Jim Wasserman - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1


Fifty-eight town houses are being built on 3 acres at 21st and U streets. Prices for the three-story, brownstone-style homes are projected from the mid-$400,000s to the $800,000s. Neighborhood amenities include a new Safeway and several restaurants.



Sacramento home builders are tapping that venerable icon of East Coast architecture -- the brownstone -- to stir sales for nearly 100 new three-story town houses coming to midtown.

They don't look like much now as construction begins. But as the new homes begin to sprout on vacant land in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, builders say they'll evoke a classic brownstone ambience with their sturdy stone exteriors, second-story kitchens and living rooms and third-floor bedrooms.

The vertical, narrow homes are a key in the push for higher density housing in the region -- with up to 43 units per acre compared to the five or 10 per acre common in the area's suburbs -- and new examples of how in-fill projects are being used to turn the concept into reality.

"We were looking for something with urban cachet and it evolved very quickly into the brownstone concept," said Kevin Noell, partner in Metro Nova Communities.

Noell, a San Diego builder, and his development partners Tony Giannoni and Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis plan 58 brownstone-style homes on 3 acres at 21st and U streets in a project dubbed Tapestri Square. Three models are under construction.

None of the new Sacramento homes will be exact replicas of the brownstones that populate the streets in eastern cities like New York and, increasingly, some Western cities such as Portland, Ore. Neither do they share common walls, a standard feature of the homes that originated as multistory European row houses.

But they do mimic the narrow widths common to homes built in urban areas: The buildings at Tapestri Square range from 16 1/2 feet wide to 24 feet wide.

Tapestri Square is being built in an area with increasing shopping amenities. A Safeway grocery store and numerous restaurants are just blocks away; the Capitol is about a 15-minute walk from the project.

John Packowski, marketing principal of PHA Architects, said the idea for the buildings' look evolved as he walked past brownstones on the Upper West Side of New York City and later in Chicago.

"It's a modern adaptation of a traditional style," Noell said. "The verticality, the relatively narrow unit, is actually part of the ambience."

Most of the homes include the traditional walk-up to the main second-floor living area and the sitting stoops that give residents of brownstones a sense of neighborhood life.

Prices at Tapestri Square will range from the mid-$400,000s to the $800,000s for three-story homes ranging from 1,200 square feet to 2,600 square feet. The plan is to snag people downsizing from bigger single-family homes after their children are grown.

"That was the idea, to appeal to a somewhat older buyer who typically has an older, bigger home and furniture they don't want to part with. It can travel down with them," said Packowski, the architect.

About a mile away behind Trinity Cathedral at 27th and N streets, Sacramento-based Loftworks also is clearing ground to begin 32 three-story residences called Sutter Brownstones. The plan is to attract employees of nearby Sutter Hospital and others who "want to live more closely to the amenities the city is beginning to offer," said Mark Friedman, a Loftworks partner with Michael Heller.

Friedman hired the architectural firm LPA Sacramento Inc. and a Portland architect to blend older brownstone features and a more contemporary look for the town houses.

Tentative prices for the town houses, which range from 1,150 square feet to 1,700 square feet, are $415,000 to $650,000. The first units likely will be available at the end of November, Friedman said.

Both partnerships say the appeal of brownstone-style features will compete with proposed high-rise condo developments to the west in downtown Sacramento, including the Towers, Third Street and Capitol Mall, and Aura Condominiums at 601 Capitol Mall.

Analysts say the new housing is part of downtown Sacramento's long transition to an urban center with more for-sale homes, office buildings and entertainment offerings. Densities that range from about 20 per acre at Tapestri to 43 homes per acre at Sutter Brownstones also win praise -- and predictions of quick sales.

"The thing we're seeing is that 30 to 40 percent of the population seem to want what I refer to as walkable urbanism," said Christopher Leinberger, a fellow with the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and director of the University of Michigan's graduate real estate program.

Leinberger, who recently addressed the Downtown Sacramento Partnership about revitalizing the city's urban core, said there is always pent-up demand for such housing because too little has been built. That also makes it more expensive.

In Rancho Cordova, Atlanta-based Beazer Homes is giving the brownstone concept a slightly more suburban twist for its Capital Village development. The builder plans 248 brownstone-themed homes in a community of 800 houses. Some are three stories and others two stories, said Sacramento division President Brendan O'Neill.


He said the brownstone theme fits for the homes' vertical architectural features and tiny lots that place the homes three feet apart. That's to help comply with the region's push toward putting more of its newcomers onto less space, he said.

The models are nearly finished with grand opening scheduled in mid-April. Prices range from $304,000 to $382,000 for 1,365 square feet to 2,200 square feet.

As the brownstone theme is unveiled downtown and in Rancho Cordova, three-story residential units of all kinds are springing up across the metro area -- with plenty more to come, analysts say, as expensive land prices also push housing ever more vertical.

In West Sacramento, builders are marketing at least three new triple-story projects that bear some resemblance to those in midtown. Those include Sacramento-based Leonard Development's 25-home River's Side at Washington Square and Fairfield-based SBB Associates' 34-unit Harriet Lane town house development. Regis Homes of Sacramento also is building 104 three-story houses at its Lofts at Ironworks.

The three-story concept is spreading far beyond the Sacramento's urban core, as well. Chicago-based Kimball Hill Homes plans an unspecified number of three-story single-family houses at its 168-home Somesert infill project on Franklin Boulevard in south Sacramento.

"A lot of this is going back to the higher density to get better efficiency out of your land use," said Mike Paris, the builder's Sacramento division president. "We have to go vertical in order to do that."

[arod74]

:previous: Take it for what its worth, but I was told on a recent private tour by one of the higher ups in management for the Crocker that they expected site work to begin in June. By the way much thanks to Rob and co at Sactown magazine for their sponsorship of the Ansel Adams exhibit. Make sure you check it out everyone!!! :)

[BrianSac]

The brownstones are coming
East Coast icon offers urban chic on compact lots
By Jim Wasserman - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1


Fifty-eight town houses are being built on 3 acres at 21st and U streets. Prices for the three-story, brownstone-style homes are projected from the mid-$400,000s to the $800,000s. Neighborhood amenities include a new Safeway and several restaurants.



Sacramento home builders are tapping that venerable icon of East Coast architecture -- the brownstone -- to stir sales for nearly 100 new three-story town houses coming to midtown.

They don't look like much now as construction begins. But as the new homes begin to sprout on vacant land in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, builders say they'll evoke a classic brownstone ambience with their sturdy stone exteriors, second-story kitchens and living rooms and third-floor bedrooms.

The vertical, narrow homes are a key in the push for higher density housing in the region -- with up to 43 units per acre compared to the five or 10 per acre common in the area's suburbs -- and new examples of how in-fill projects are being used to turn the concept into reality.

"We were looking for something with urban cachet and it evolved very quickly into the brownstone concept," said Kevin Noell, partner in Metro Nova Communities.

Noell, a San Diego builder, and his development partners Tony Giannoni and Eleni Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis plan 58 brownstone-style homes on 3 acres at 21st and U streets in a project dubbed Tapestri Square. Three models are under construction.

None of the new Sacramento homes will be exact replicas of the brownstones that populate the streets in eastern cities like New York and, increasingly, some Western cities such as Portland, Ore. Neither do they share common walls, a standard feature of the homes that originated as multistory European row houses.

But they do mimic the narrow widths common to homes built in urban areas: The buildings at Tapestri Square range from 16 1/2 feet wide to 24 feet wide.

Tapestri Square is being built in an area with increasing shopping amenities. A Safeway grocery store and numerous restaurants are just blocks away; the Capitol is about a 15-minute walk from the project.

John Packowski, marketing principal of PHA Architects, said the idea for the buildings' look evolved as he walked past brownstones on the Upper West Side of New York City and later in Chicago.

"It's a modern adaptation of a traditional style," Noell said. "The verticality, the relatively narrow unit, is actually part of the ambience."

Most of the homes include the traditional walk-up to the main second-floor living area and the sitting stoops that give residents of brownstones a sense of neighborhood life.

Prices at Tapestri Square will range from the mid-$400,000s to the $800,000s for three-story homes ranging from 1,200 square feet to 2,600 square feet. The plan is to snag people downsizing from bigger single-family homes after their children are grown.

"That was the idea, to appeal to a somewhat older buyer who typically has an older, bigger home and furniture they don't want to part with. It can travel down with them," said Packowski, the architect.

About a mile away behind Trinity Cathedral at 27th and N streets, Sacramento-based Loftworks also is clearing ground to begin 32 three-story residences called Sutter Brownstones. The plan is to attract employees of nearby Sutter Hospital and others who "want to live more closely to the amenities the city is beginning to offer," said Mark Friedman, a Loftworks partner with Michael Heller.

Friedman hired the architectural firm LPA Sacramento Inc. and a Portland architect to blend older brownstone features and a more contemporary look for the town houses.

Tentative prices for the town houses, which range from 1,150 square feet to 1,700 square feet, are $415,000 to $650,000. The first units likely will be available at the end of November, Friedman said.

Both partnerships say the appeal of brownstone-style features will compete with proposed high-rise condo developments to the west in downtown Sacramento, including the Towers, Third Street and Capitol Mall, and Aura Condominiums at 601 Capitol Mall.

Analysts say the new housing is part of downtown Sacramento's long transition to an urban center with more for-sale homes, office buildings and entertainment offerings. Densities that range from about 20 per acre at Tapestri to 43 homes per acre at Sutter Brownstones also win praise -- and predictions of quick sales.

"The thing we're seeing is that 30 to 40 percent of the population seem to want what I refer to as walkable urbanism," said Christopher Leinberger, a fellow with the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and director of the University of Michigan's graduate real estate program.

Leinberger, who recently addressed the Downtown Sacramento Partnership about revitalizing the city's urban core, said there is always pent-up demand for such housing because too little has been built. That also makes it more expensive.

In Rancho Cordova, Atlanta-based Beazer Homes is giving the brownstone concept a slightly more suburban twist for its Capital Village development. The builder plans 248 brownstone-themed homes in a community of 800 houses. Some are three stories and others two stories, said Sacramento division President Brendan O'Neill.


He said the brownstone theme fits for the homes' vertical architectural features and tiny lots that place the homes three feet apart. That's to help comply with the region's push toward putting more of its newcomers onto less space, he said.

The models are nearly finished with grand opening scheduled in mid-April. Prices range from $304,000 to $382,000 for 1,365 square feet to 2,200 square feet.

As the brownstone theme is unveiled downtown and in Rancho Cordova, three-story residential units of all kinds are springing up across the metro area -- with plenty more to come, analysts say, as expensive land prices also push housing ever more vertical.

In West Sacramento, builders are marketing at least three new triple-story projects that bear some resemblance to those in midtown. Those include Sacramento-based Leonard Development's 25-home River's Side at Washington Square and Fairfield-based SBB Associates' 34-unit Harriet Lane town house development. Regis Homes of Sacramento also is building 104 three-story houses at its Lofts at Ironworks.

The three-story concept is spreading far beyond the Sacramento's urban core, as well. Chicago-based Kimball Hill Homes plans an unspecified number of three-story single-family houses at its 168-home Somesert infill project on Franklin Boulevard in south Sacramento.

"A lot of this is going back to the higher density to get better efficiency out of your land use," said Mike Paris, the builder's Sacramento division president. "We have to go vertical in order to do that."

I took this Sunday for 'all ya 'all. This must be one of the models. I want one of these!

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5073/img2133ew8.jpg

[TowerDistrict]

in regards to the brownstones article - this is one of the best idiot Bee comments in a long time....

troutnut at 6:23 AM PST Tuesday, March 27, 2007 wrote:

GREAT!!! MORE TRAFFIC!!!

Why can't our planning commissioners get it thru their heads, we need roads for these people to drive on before they build MORE housing."

[TowerDistrict]

Please join the City of Sacramento- Economic Development Department, Walker Macy, and Wallace Roberts and Todd (WRT) as we present preliminary design options for the Promenade and refined land use plans for the Docks Area. A Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) is also being prepared for the Docks Area Master Plan and Promenade. This workshop will also act as an additional scoping meeting where additional environmental concerns that have not already been relayed may be expressed. Your continued involvement in our series of workshops to shape and influence the Docks Area is appreciated. Light refreshments will be served at this meeting.

Docks Area Master Plan & Promenade Design workshop

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
(11th & K Streets, above the Pyramid Brewery Company)

For questions regarding the meeting, please call (916) 808-7223.

[greenmidtown]

in regards to the brownstones article - this is one of the best idiot Bee comments in a long time....

:twoguns: :dead:

the problem with the Bee is that it gets sent out to all the Hillbilly Methtopia's in the Central Valley and foothills where you wonder how people can even read.

I dig the Brownstone's though. And the location, location, location!! this neighborhood will definitely appreciate in value.

[urban_encounter]

Please join the City of Sacramento- Economic Development Department, Walker Macy, and Wallace Roberts and Todd (WRT) as we present preliminary design options for the Promenade and refined land use plans for the Docks Area. A Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) is also being prepared for the Docks Area Master Plan and Promenade. This workshop will also act as an additional scoping meeting where additional environmental concerns that have not already been relayed may be expressed. Your continued involvement in our series of workshops to shape and influence the Docks Area is appreciated. Light refreshments will be served at this meeting.

Docks Area Master Plan & Promenade Design workshop

Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814
(11th & K Streets, above the Pyramid Brewery Company)

For questions regarding the meeting, please call (916) 808-7223.



Talk, talk, talk................


Make a decison already. How many public workshops in regards to the riverfront/docks do you need????

It's no wonder the riverfront is still littered with weeds and empty beer cans. .

[BrianSac]

Talk, talk, talk................


Make a decison already. How many public workshops in regards to the riverfront/docks do you need????

It's no wonder the riverfront is still littered with weeds and empty beer cans. .

Seems as if they are looking for something to delay or stop the project. It would not take much. Maybe the anti-growth people will find a threatened or endangered species on the site....just give THEM more time....maybe interest rates will go up or the economy will tank......then they will have another excuse. Sacramento, the "Can't Do City", "City of Puny Shoulders", "The Big Lazy"(borrowed from ozone), "The City that Always Sleeps".

This workshop will also act as an additional scoping meeting where additional environmental concerns that have not already been relayed may be expressed.

[ozone]

in regards to the brownstones article - this is one of the best idiot Bee comments in a long time....

troutnut at 6:23 AM PST Tuesday, March 27, 2007 wrote:

GREAT!!! MORE TRAFFIC!!!

Why can't our planning commissioners get it thru their heads, we need roads for these people to drive on before they build MORE housing."

Did you really expect anything different from a trout nut at 6:23 in the morning?
:frog:

[goldcntry]

Talk, talk, talk................


Make a decison already. How many public workshops in regards to the riverfront/docks do you need????

It's no wonder the riverfront is still littered with weeds and empty beer cans. .

And THAT, my friend, is exactly what's wrong with the Yahoo's over in the I Street Palace! No one wants to stand up and take a firm, believeble stand. I blame Mayor Wishy-washy-what's-her-face and certain others on the city counsel and board of Sups for the loss of my hair from constantly pulling it out in frustration.:hell:

It would be a pleasant change to have fresh minds and forward thinkers than these hold-outs locked in their 60's and 70's mentality. Preservation of icons of the past, blending them with a 21st century Sacramento.


*sigh*:rant:

[TowerDistrict]

there is still much land aquisition to be done in order to start development. there are two concepts from last year that have been refined, and should be presented again. this project is only a couple months behind schedule, though it may seem like it's taken forever. and delays don't have much to do with the city, rather than other multitude of private companies and the federal and state organizations that all currently have control over what happens to the site. not to mention the clean up required of the site, the railroad tracks running through it, and the leveee it's sits behind.

quite frankly, i'm surprised it's progressing at all. I'll see what the developer thinks of their timeline now - but about 8 months ago, they planned on breaking ground by the end of this year.

I'm kinda intrigued by the race between the railyards, township 9 and the docks - which all seem to be hitting at the same exact time.

[urban_encounter]

Sacramento, the "Can't Do City", "City of Puny Shoulders", "The Big Lazy"(borrowed from ozone), "The City that Always Sleeps".


"The city that always sleeps"...


:haha:

[northbay]

Did you really expect anything different from a trout nut at 6:23 in the morning?
:frog:

funny as hell!

[creamcityleo79]

Just curious to know if anyone knows who is doing the construction that is going up in Rancho Cordova on International and Zinfandel. There seems to be some semi-urban townhomes/rowhomes or maybe just an apt complex going up there. At least they are putting housing in the middle of that stale business park area at all. From a distance it has been very very exciting to see the progress they have made in Rancho Cordova with revitalizing that new city. I expect big things from them in the future...well, big for a suburb! :)

[sugit]

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when I read this forwarded email to me.....shocking huh?

"Thank you all for your continued assistance and support on the K Street Streetscape Improvements project. As most of you know, when this item was pulled from the March 13th City Council agenda we had anticipated bringing the project back to City Council for consideration sometime in the first three weeks of April - we had set a new date of April 17th. However, since then we have started to explore alternatives to relocation of the Regional Transit (RT) platforms. We would like to hold another public meeting and present in a couple of public forum to solicit feedback and comments once these alternatives have been found feasible. As a result, we envision the project going forward for approval at a later date. We will work on scheduling public meeting(s) and on rescheduling the item for City Council, relevant to any new alternatives. Please stay tuned for confirmation of all upcoming dates, times and locations."

[arod74]

Sacramento, the "Can't Do City", "City of Puny Shoulders", "The Big Lazy"(borrowed from ozone), "The City that Always Sleeps".

Those are great Briansac :lmao:. You just about made me crap my pants. How about Sacramento, "Land of Missed Opportunity. Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses ....... and we will all house them around K street." This is alotta fun....

[innov8]

Geeze... the K Street Streetscape Improvement Project is a project where
nobody else is responsible for pulling the trigger to make it happen except the
City Council it's self... and they still don't have the balls to 'just do it' already.

SOS must have made an impression :shrug:

[creamcityleo79]

Found my answer...in case anyone is interested...

http://www.beazer.com/findHome/communityChoice.asp?LocationID=19&MetroID=3&MapNum=5

[goldcntry]

Just curious to know if anyone knows who is doing the construction that is going up in Rancho Cordova on International and Zinfandel. There seems to be some semi-urban townhomes/rowhomes or maybe just an apt complex going up there. At least they are putting housing in the middle of that stale business park area at all. From a distance it has been very very exciting to see the progress they have made in Rancho Cordova with revitalizing that new city. I expect big things from them in the future...well, big for a suburb! :)


Hey Neukickman... I believe they are being built by Beazer Homes. Speaking as a Beazer owner, I recommend them... :hahano: ...for your enemies.

Oh.. you beat me to it!

[ltsmotorsport]

in regards to the brownstones article - this is one of the best idiot Bee comments in a long time....

It's always an adventure reading the comments on sacbee.com, but that was downright comical. :rolleyes:

[TWAK]

blimp at sac executive

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4864/031807131200ag6.jpg

[bennywah]

^
isn't the last chance city loan meeting for aura today/night?

[sugit]

It was moved to next week. His option to buy Lot A runs out on the 31st though. Your guess it as good as mine on the outcome of this...

[urban_encounter]

It was moved to next week. His option to buy Lot A runs out on the 31st though. Your guess it as good as mine on the outcome of this...


I'm glad his option runs out on the 31st.

End the drama eitherway...

Though I'm guessing that when all is said and done, we'll find out that Nassi didn't have his financing locked up as he said he did.

It doesn't take much to figure out how I'm guessing this ends...

[urban_encounter]

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when I read this forwarded email to me.....shocking huh?

"Thank you all for your continued assistance and support on the K Street Streetscape Improvements project. As most of you know, when this item was pulled from the March 13th City Council agenda we had anticipated bringing the project back to City Council for consideration sometime in the first three weeks of April - we had set a new date of April 17th. However, since then we have started to explore alternatives to relocation of the Regional Transit (RT) platforms. We would like to hold another public meeting and present in a couple of public forum to solicit feedback and comments once these alternatives have been found feasible. As a result, we envision the project going forward for approval at a later date. We will work on scheduling public meeting(s) and on rescheduling the item for City Council, relevant to any new alternatives. Please stay tuned for confirmation of all upcoming dates, times and locations."



:lmao:

This is absolutely hilarious..........

It's offical; Sacramento is now offically Talkramento.

The city's new motto should read..

Welcome to Talkramento

Pull up a chair and let's talk for the next 20 years about your ideas, because city leaders have none of their own.

[BrianSac]

:lmao:

This is absolutely hilarious..........

It's offical; Sacramento is now offically Talkramento.

The city's new motto should read..

Welcome to Talkramento

Pull up a chair and let's talk for the next 20 years about your ideas, because city leaders have none of their own.

Urban Encounter,

:yes: now thats orginal, TALKramento, i like that.

Seriously, I really want Sactown to move up a notch to become a "2nd Tier National city, to use your words.

If Aura or Sac Towers dont get built I'm moving. It would just be too painful to know what could have been. Not to mention the lack of a first-class arena.

Where are the "Save the TowerS" people when you need them......Save the TowerS....Saca's Towers.

[urban_encounter]

Seriously, I really want Sactown to move up a notch to become a "2nd Tier National city, to use your words.

If Aura or Sac Towers dont get built I'm moving. It would just be too painful to know what could have been. Not to mention the lack of a first-class arena.





Well said Brian...(Although moving might be a bit drastic unless you're moving somewhere that will have the option of highrise residential living and then I completely understand)..;)

I think one of the reasons why I still follow Talkramento (uhhh) Sacramento development so closely, is because i want to see it reach it's untapped potential. There so much character to build on and so many people there either don't care or don't realize it. I've never lived anywhere, where the people were as apathetic about the collective good of the region. Nor have i lived anywhere that talked and studied things to death the way Sacramento does.

It's no secret, that I'm no longer holding my breath for Aura nor the Towers.. And while failure by those two projects wont make or break Sacramento, I do think that it will set the prospect of highrise residential housing, back in Sacramento another 10 years (at least).

I just seriously doubt that anyone else locally or nationally will step up and attempt to build something that failed so miserably, despite strong sales for Aura and decent sales for the Towers..

(Especially Aura).. Good gravy, if a tower 65-70% pre sold prior to the first shovel of dirt being turned, can't get financed or constructed in Sacramento, then residential highrises just aren't in Sacramento's future.

What would be the threshold for future lending requirements by banks?? 90%of the units presold???

How much would a developer have to charge to make a project pencil out?
Nassi said $400 a square foot in Sacramento, but I believe many of the units are selling for $600 a sf..

There's only so much that people are willing to pay to live in a highrise in Sacramento.

The fat lady hasn't sung yet on either project. Although the sound of silence, might mean that she's preparing to take the stage...


BTW a new arena in Sacramento (will never happen)...

The Kings will relocate in a few years.

Only then will people who opposed a new arena beign to understand, what an arena and team were worth to Sacramento.

[sugit]

I just seriously doubt that anyone else locally or nationally will step up and attempt to build something that failed so miserably, despite strong sales for Aura and decent sales for the Towers.

Actually, the head of Lambert Development out of SD said the East End Gateway project they have planned at 16th and L has become their top priority. It not as high end (or big) as the other two, but it still shows people are very interested in this city.

As I said easier, he stated that even though The Towers and Aura are having problems, the sales prices have caught the eye of lenders.

Even Catherdral Sqaure is still moving forward. They just went to Design Review for comment and review and the EIR is nearly done.

The Towers and Aura are as high end as high end can go, esp for this city. Nassi said he needs $400 a square to make a profit before construction prices when nuts. For a project like Aura (and Towers for that matter), with the intricate architecture, features and amenites, I'm sure that number is much higher now. I still think somehow at least one of these gets built. After that, I don’t think we see an ultra high-end condo project like these for a while. The more moderate projects, maybe in the 10-20 story range will be the norm. You guys know my take on that, as long as they are dense, mixed use and fill the streets with people, that's perfectly fine with me..and we keep seeing infill in midtown.

I remember people where complaining about 800J Lofts (still the only major housing project built in DT) being a waste and that Saca or Nassi would put up a 30 story building in a heartbeat, we now know that isn’t as simple as it sounds. At around 180 an acre, 800J is no sloutch on the density side.

In the meantime, at least we are seeing midtown really come into its own, even moving into parts of DT. The rest of DT is stilling crawling along though. Unfortunetly, we missed the highrise condo boom.

[sugit]

Seriously, I really want Sactown to move up a notch to become a "2nd Tier National city, to use your words.

I've always thought the same. I just don't see "Tier 1" in the cards, but there is no reason this city can't be a upper 2nd tier city

[greenmidtown]

Urban Encounter,

:yes: now thats orginal, TALKramento, i like that.

Seriously, I really want Sactown to move up a notch to become a "2nd Tier National city, to use your words.

If Aura or Sac Towers dont get built I'm moving. It would just be too painful to know what could have been. Not to mention the lack of a first-class arena.

Where are the "Save the TowerS" people when you need them......Save the TowerS....Saca's Towers.

their are many great things about this city that aren't dependent on luxury high-rises being built. many great European cities have few if any skyscrapers. Frankfurt is the 'Manhattan' of Germany with many skyscrapers but hardly anyone will claim they prefer it to Berlin. If we don't get these built Sac will still be a great city. The in-fill projects aren't slowing down and the vibe of this city will only get better as more urbanites fill those residences.