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Thursday, May 24, 2012
New development concept for Cal Expo unveiled
by Melissa Corker, published on June 24, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Storyline: Local Business
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A new concept for the redevelopment of the California Exposition & and State Fairgrounds was unveiled Friday, which includes adding 120,000 square feet to the exhibition space and building a new 10,000 seat amphitheatre.
A consulting team led by Andy Plescia of A. Plescia & Co. outlined the concept at a meeting of the Cal Expo Board of Directors and focused on ways to breathe new life into the fairgrounds which have been in use for nearly 50 years.
The consultant group, which included Plescia, Gruen Gruen + Associates and RCH Group, formed the redevelopment concept based on a year-long feasibility study covering site conditions, property values and real estate market conditions.
Cal Expo board members requested the study after they received an initial proposal to move the fairgrounds to Arco Arena to allow the existing Cal Expo site to be privately developed to help finance an arena downtown.
“Our whole focus has to be how we take Cal Expo into the 21st century,” said Norbert Bartosik, California Exposition and State Fairgrounds general manager.
In addition to the increased exhibition space and plans for a new amphitheater, key components of the renewal concept for Cal Expo include development of 125 acres of the site for sale to investors for residential, commercial, and retail use and increasing space for parking by 35 percent.
Consultants estimate the net value of the property to be between $55 million and $60 million, after deductions for infrastructure and resolving potential flooding issues.
Financing for the project is still being discussed, but would include proceeds from the sale of the property to investors and securing funds from a variety of public and private sources.
“What we saw today was just concept,” Bartosik said, “but it’s a vision for the future and we’re going to need everybody’s help to make it happen.”
The consultant team will return to the Board in August with additional details on projected costs and revenue for the development concept. Board members said that they will consider whether or not to move forward with the proposal after that meeting.
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Kamilos assumed all the risk betting on increasing land value at cal expo. Cal expo got a brand new facility in a better location for attendees, whether Kamilos succeeded or failed.
Cal Expo board...its not too late.
new vision for the Cal Expo site? Maybe we need a vision that is more beneficial to the residents of Sacramento.
Anyway, the whole idea of the State Fair in a state like California is absurd. Despite it's name the vast majority of Californians will never attend the state fair. I bet most have never heard of CalExpo and probably wouldn't attend if they did. Most Californians don't see Sacramento as anything other than an inconvenient place to conduct state business. Now some B&R full of slightly undeserved civic pride, will defensively try to convince me that I'm wrong. But they can not. I don't think denial ever makes things better and I want to live in a better city. Most of us understand Sacramento could be better but some think it will never ever happen and some people prefer Sacramento's cultural lags and ungentrified atmosphere- for some deep-seated reasons I not qualified to understand. But rather we like it or not Sacramento is the heart and soul of what is now a sizable metropolitan district. We need to start developing venues that are size-appropriate and ones which reflect a more diverse and sophisticated population.
Anyway, as many people know in last few years there's been some discussion around Sacramento regarding the need for a large center park. One proposal for the River District generated a good deal interest. Maybe it's time for the state to return Cal Expo to the City of Sacramento. Then we can develop the site that better matches the desires of the people of Sacramento. It could be the new site of the zoo. It could have new gardens, ball fields and courts, playgrounds and entertainment areas, maybe even a major sport arena. And the fairs and trade shows could still be held there. Since hosting the state fair is really doing nothing to boost our reputation in the state we need to reclaim the land make it work for us.