Midtown is a "residential area"? Isn't it mixed use, and that's the problem? The area around Marshall Park at 28th and J would seem to be a perfect example, and one mirrored all around the city. I'd be interest to see a zoning map of the Grid that shows what is zoned commercial and what is zoned residential.
Is the city plan aiming for a "vibrant mix"?

It should be noted that this matter was not actually discussed, Shawn made a short statement during the announcements section of the meeting. The NAG agenda committee will put it on the agenda for next month to facilitate a full discussion, but other than Shawn's statement there really weren't any opinions exchanged--although it sounds like they will be next month. Personally I think that divide is a lot narrower than Shawn makes it out to be.

First, Shawn is not the only person who attends NAG who puts on live music events. MNA held its annual "Jazz in the Park" event last weekend. I have put on a lot of shows over the years, including ones that took place on the street, just for starters. Lots of people who participate in central city neighborhood associations enjoy attending these events, as reflected by the positive comments and quotes of residents in articles about the Midfest and other public events. There were serious concerns about past events that were not so well run, and a desire to avoid those problems, but that is not the same as opposing any and all public music events. There are people who don't mind public events, but don't want their property vandalized or their houses vomited on.

Shawn also failed to mention that he is a board member of the Midtown Business Association, or MBA. Many of the people he brought to the NAG were business owners, including the owners of Cheap Thrills, Old Soul, and Paragary's. While most neighborhood associations are small, voluntary groups, including both businesses and residents, MBA is a professional organization with paid full-time staff.

Also, Kathleen: There are no such thing as NAG "members." NAG is not a membership organization, it is a gathering of community members, community organizations and city staff. The people who came out to NAG last night are no more and no less "members" than the folks who show up every month.

David: Mixed use neighborhoods are by definition residential neighborhoods--they are residential AND retail/commercial. If you look at the central city as a whole, it is "mixed use" when taken together but when you look closer there are different residential and commercial corridors. In most cases the commercial corridors are the old streetcar lines, and places where streetcar lines crossed, but there is often residential there too. If you go a block or so away from the streetcar line, the neighborhood becomes much more residential aside from the occasional corner store. These neighborhoods weren't explicitly defined as "mixed use," but they worked because one could easily walk from home to stores that carried the necessities of life, places of entertainment and recreation, and places of work. The newly implemented city general plan promotes mixed-use neighborhoods in certain defined places, most specifically the central city, while other neighborhoods outside the central city are more strictly residential-only or commercial-only aside from a few targeted points.

The definition of "mixed use" is important. Today, some folks in the central city business community seem to define "mixed use" as "both bars AND restaurants!"

bill the defensive nature is not apropriate.. shawn this and that etc. i have been active in my neighborhood assoc ( was once vice chair) as well as midtown business association. it has been 10 years of attending these meetings and on many counts i have been in line with the steadfast group of NAG attendees and otherwise reuglar neighborhod activists. However when it has come to entertainment venues , live music which includes the live music at bars and restaraunts as well my opinion that it is overall good for the city has been discounted . to the point that i am not included in neighborhood email loops any longer .. purposely excluded.. I have had enough . My opinon is just as valid as nay other residents my wife and i both are 10 year + homeowners , i have raised my now adult daughter here .. I count damn it !! all i have done is mobilize other residents whether they are business owner or not has nothing to do with it . ( some might think we have "more skin in the game" than a non busines owner).that have a similar belief on this are as I.. no one can discount one neighbors opinon over another .. I have been careful through this process not to discount yours or Mr. Burgua either.This isjust about fairness & openess for all the residents of our city

As a midtown resident of over 12 years, I'd like to participate. How can I get involved to help promote the use of midtown for events of all types as well as other things?

zen , (not that it matters ,, but i still want to know who you are :-) )
thank you for your comments .I replied to Mr burgs comments out of anger this morning and went to lunch feeling bad . I read my re read my statement ( it is all factual) Mr. burg makes it sound quite fluffy yet it has not been healthy communication for quite sometime nor transpearant and it was only my frustration during the midfest preperation time that was a last straw sort of moment ..
I am happy with the results.. there are more neighbors becoming engaged and possibly now we will force Mr. Cohn ( & staff) to actually mitigate the negative impacts that have upset a small group of neighbors for so long.. i.e. your comments of street lights , trash cans public restrooms parking restrictions etc. ( all of these things i have advocated at MBA for over 10 years ) I hoped i wouldnt have to jump back into this mess to create results. But obviously that is what it takes . I agree midtown needs more creative and diverse retail . This is all market driven ,, the more people coming to midtown the more this will happen , along with the return of many other more traditional retail services, ( hardware stores, housewares,food,clothiers etc.) I still want the worlds biggest apple store on K street , ESPN Zone maybe dave and busters, stike zone bowling alley all those cheesy suburban things...in additon to our fantastic independant retail that makes us midtown and downtown.. This will take more housing and in the case of K street or even other urban infill ,,subsidies to lower the cost of housing , we need to be below 300 per sq ft to make it affordable & to pencil for developers...omg now im rambling ..i told myself after reading Mr. burg's response to my reply i was done.. .. gnite all ,,,thanks to all for showing up ..."your voice is not heard if you do not speak"...oh Mike W.. "just show up "

I really don't want the cheezy suburban stuff - that's why they are in the suburbs. Midtown has lost much of its neighborhood serving retail in recent years as rents have gone up and parking has gotten really bad in some spots. It is not just about coming to Midtown to get drunk - it's about creating conditions that make people want to stay and put down roots and invest in our neighborhoods. The city has all its zoning maps online and you'll see in Midtown: RMX -Residential Mixed Use - note the first word (Residential); C-2 - General Commercial, R-3 -Residential Only, & NC- Neighborhood Cooridor. You'll see large swaths of Midtown that are R-3 - Residential Only. Even C-2 and RMX necessitate adequate buffer zones to protect the peace in residential areas. A diverse mix is a good thing for sure, of which bars/ clubs, etc. are a part but not the only part. Unfortunately in recent years, nightlife has gotten out of balance and over the top in some areas. Being frustrated at Midfest -which did go on - is one thing but to attack neighborhood associations (all volunteer and neighbors helping each other) is unfair as most are not out to squelch anything. Residents are also customers and supporters of events in our neighborhoods. Some neighborhood assns simply have the audacity to ask business owners to act responsibly, follow a few rules and not treat our neighborhoods as a free-for-all. While we need to finish the streelights and keep our few public restrooms open, that will not keep drunks from vandalizing property and vomiting and urinating in people's yards. Good security, crowd control and not overconcentrating everything in Midtown in conjunction with a better balance with Downtown - might be a good idea. I ran a club night in Midtown and I always had good security and respect for my neighbors. Not too hard if you care about your neighborhood and your business. . .

didnt attack anyone ( not even close ) iam all volunteer ( how dare anyone imply ontherwise )
and have been forever!! and once again this is about equality of opinions..

out

There are at least two major elements that have contributed to Midtown's success: 1) Traffic Calming; and 2) Strategic planning of the area as a mixed use collection of neighborhoods, each with identity, but each linked to each other as a special community. My mother used to own a number of infill apartment buildings in Midtown, and I used to represent her firm at community meetings, and was even a charter member of the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association around 1990 or so. Traffic was unbearable at the time, and Midtown was just plain junky. But with long fought for traffic calming efforts, the area saw an amazing transformation both in character and in property values. Heather Fargo was instrumental in supporting these efforts, and when she finally ran for Mayor after the death of Joe Serna, it was the strategic ideas advanced by her and others that formed the basis for Midtown's renaissance and revitalization as a mecca for the the arts, both lively and more serious, and I believe she merits at least some of the credit for Midtown's vibrancy. All successes, however, have drawbacks. Yes, the influx of commercial uses in the area could have been better planned, but there is considerable potential for remediation. I have faith that Midtown will continue to be an engine for Sacramento's economy and livability that can expand outward to include areas, such as Oak Park, that have been left significantly out of the Midtown success story, even despite the millions that have gone into revitalization efforts that have just flopped, including those carried by the current mayor and his farcical ilk of urchins...

RE: "ideally the city would have instituted traffic calming on the entire grid." Those were the plans and Capital Ave Winn Park area was schedule or the next phase. But two things stopped that. Resident supporters in that area told me 1. that they and their neighbors were seriously divided and 2. Councilman Cohn told them that he would not advocate for them based on the existing division and related acrimony. So he offered a substitute which is now PARTIALLY implemented.

applauding traffic calming. wow. a project that made navigating boulevard park tedious and inefficient for the benefit a few streets worth of traffic at the expense of those living just outside the calming zone. while i agree that the road diets and two lane conversions have been a solid idea the roundabouts and poorly planned half street closures are bogus.

as for the urination and front yard vomiting. i have heard this thrown around so many times that i would really like documentation of some actual cases of it occurring. i have a hard time believing it's as rampant as everyone makes it out be. having worked and lived in midtown/downtown for years i experienced constant incidents of urination and defecation as a result of this city's large homeless population. far more than any tinkling bar patrons.