The Capitol Mall design competition is officially under way after the City Council gave the nod to seek worldwide and local ideas for ways to revitalize the space from Tower Bridge to the Capitol Tuesday night.

The project was approved without comment as part of the consent agenda, which is where items deemed not to be controversial are placed.

Competition organizers are looking to make the place a vibrant draw and focus on sustainability.

Ideas brought up in the conversation on a previous Sacramento Press article include adding a streetcar line, focusing on housing and retail on the first floors of office buildings, and bringing more events to the space.

And others suggested leaving it alone.

The competition will be administered by the American Institute of Architects Central Valley Chapter.

According to a city staff report, competition entrants will be encouraged to focus on sustainable features in the design.

The city staff report also states that entrants will be asked to produce a design that will make the space a vibrant destination, come up with catalyst projects that will help achieve that, make the space event-friendly and not block the view corridor from the bridge to the Capitol.

And one of the basic requirements: Make sure the design can realistically be implemented.

The competition’s total cost is $66,500, according to the staff report. Entrants will be charged $200.

A website has been set up for the competition and can be viewed by clicking here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell. Staff Reporter Melissa Corker contributed to this report.