Point East Towers
Point East Road and Folsom Blvd.
Developer: D&S Development
Architect: Ed Kado
36-Stories 424 ft, 485 Condo Units, 19K Retail
778 Parking Spaces
Gross Acres: 2.43
Bob Shallit: On the Horizon
High-rise condos planned near Cordova RT station
By Bob Shallit - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, May 21, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1
A local development company last year completed a renovation of the historic Sheepherder Inn on the edge of Rancho Cordova.
Now D&S Development is looking to dwarf that project -- and everything in its vicinity -- with two, 36-story condo towers right next to the "The Sheep," on Folsom Boulevard, east of Sunrise.
Plans recently were submitted for the 485-unit project that would feature 10-foot ceilings, two workout facilities and a swimming pool placed on a bridge connecting the two towers, with glass portholes on the pool bottom so swimmers can see people walking below them.
"We like to push the envelope and do projects that are unique and good for the community," says Bay Miry, an official with D&S, which has taken on numerous local residential and retail projects but nothing close to this scope.
Miry says he expects the approval process to take about two years. After that, construction will begin if the current housing slump has turned around.
It will, sooner or later, he says. "We'll be ready for the next cycle," he says.
The project -- called Point East Towers -- is being pitched as a transit-oriented development, linked to a light-rail station across the street.
The developers envision people buying units at a not-yet-determined discount to the high-rise condos being proposed downtown, then using light rail to commute to their jobs.
The proposal so far has been "well-received," says the county's principal planner, Tricia Stevens.
But project architect Ed Kado, who encountered opposition to his design for a downtown office building topped by a Parthenon replica, suspects this one may spark some controversy.
"People will ask, why are they sticking those (tall towers) up in no-man's land," he says.
His answer? The project will bring recognition to Rancho Cordova and meet regional goals of putting high-density housing near light-rail stations.
"You're going to see concentrated activity (around the stations) and it won't be long before that activity goes vertical," he says. "We're just ahead of the game."
By the way, Kado says his design has plenty of eye-catching features. None is Greek.
"There won't be a Parthenon on the top," he says.
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