Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "mixed-use"

Groundbreaking for new mixed-use development in Midtown

2012-01-13T01:49:29Z

Ground broke on a new mixed-use retail and residential development in Midtown Thursday, and work is set to be complete on two vacant former state lots at 16th and O streets by mid-2013.

“We’re going to get 84 market-rate apartments, 13,000 square feet of retail, and we’re going to have another chunk of Sacramento with a nice infill, pedestrian-friendly development,” said City Councilman Rob Fong, whose district contains most of downtown and Midtown. “It’s the kind of live-work space that really is a nice fit for the city.”

The project – with one four-story and one five-story, mission-style building – is a partnership between the Capitol Area Development Authority – a joint powers group between the state and city formed in 1978 – Ravel Rasmussen Properties and Separovich/Domich Real Estate Development.

The approximately $24 million project includes $1.5 million in funding from CADA, which also provided the two lots. The developers brought in $5 million and financed another $17 million, said Scott Rasmussen of Ravel Rasmussen Properties.

“We’re hoping to get some small public improvement grant money from SMUD as well,” he said.

Across the street from the Fremont Building and a few blocks away from Fremont Park and the popular restaurant Hot Italian, Rasmussen said the location is a prime spot.

“It’s a dynamic location, and it may be kind of the new center for downtown and Midtown,” he said.

The 84 apartments are expected to rent for between $1,200 and $1,500 and will be one- or two-bedroom units. The 13,000 square feet of retail space will likely house between five or six tenants, Rasmussen added.

Rasmussen declined to comment on the nature of the tenants, saying that while some outreach to businesses has been made, it is too early to speculate on which ones will eventually be a part of the project.

“I hear one of the retail users is going to be some sort of restaurant with patio dining,” Fong said, adding that it’s too early in the process for specifics.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui was in attendance at the groundbreaking, saying the project shows progress for the city.

“It shows that we’re doing things in Sacramento, and we know that we’ve had a hard time, but things are getting better slowly,” Matsui said. “It’s going to provide a livability and a sense of community.”

She added that the new plan in urban development – reverting to plans from a century ago – is to make living and working space that is walkable and easily accessible to bicycles.

“I think that by next year, we’ll find real progress,” Matsui said. “People (will be) walking around and enjoying themselves here. That’s the goal.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

800 K Street Plan at Preservation Commission

2011-03-02T02:13:31Z

This Wednesday, March 2, the City of Sacramento's Preservation Commission will review and comment on plans for the 800 block of K Street. This plan follows the February review and comment for the 700 block of K Street, (a project of D&S Development and CFY Development) by the Preservation Commission, later presented to Design and Planning Commission.

City of Sacramento Preservation Commission

Wednesday, March 2, 5:30 PM, City Council Chambers, New City Hall, 915 I Street, Sacramento

Agenda for the Preservation Commission meeting can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=144

This project, selected last summer as one of two projects for the 700 and 800 block of K Street, is presented by David Taylor Interests, Domus, CIM and Zeiden Properties. After input by the city of Sacramento, the project now includes 200 apartments (the original plan called for 110) varying in size from 450 to 1100 square feet, and 20,000 feet of retail space, on a lot of approximately 1.1 acres. Two new buildings will be constructed, at 800 K Street and 801 L Street, and the historic Bel-Vue Apartments/American Cash Apartments building will be restored and renovated. The 800 K Street building will be six stories tall, not including a basement parking level at Sacramento's original street level. The 801 L Street building will be five stories. Affordability levels will vary within the project, ranging from low and moderate income to market-rate units. Potential tenants for the ground floor retail units were not specified in the staff report.

The complete report for the 800 Block proposal can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=144&meta_id=218914

This item will be received for review and comment, most likely to be followed by presentations to Design Review and Planning Commission in the coming weeks.

This month's Preservation Commission will also feature public hearings on two items: a recommendation for the Broadway Triangle project, a mixed-use project planned for Broadway between 34th and 36th Street that will include several landmark buildings in the Oak Park/Broadway historic district, and a recommendation for district signs, art, and bicycle furniture for the R Street Corridor between 10th and 13th Street.

Details about the Broadway Triangle project can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=144&meta_id=218908

The R Street streetscape plan can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=144&meta_id=218910

The Preservation Commission will also review a staff report regarding whether or not to recommend the California State Printing Plant on North 7th and Richards Boulevard to the City Council as a city landmark. Staff report can be found here:

http://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&event_id=144&meta_id=218912

Pictures accompanying this article were taken from the City of Sacramento staff report, linked above.

Development sought in North Sac

2011-02-11T05:41:09Z

The Sacramento Planning Commission gave the green light to plans to re-zone parts of North Sacramento to attract future development.

The commission made a recommendation, Thursday night, to the City Council to vote on plans that will allow for more commercial development near a Regional Transit line.

City staff formally refer to the plans as the Northeast Line Implementation Plan. Areas near a light rail line that has stations at Globe Avenue and Del Paso Blvd, and at Arden Way and Del Paso Blvd, are the focus of the proposals. The city’s plans also cite areas around Royal Oaks Drive and Arden Way.

The City Council is expected to vote on the plans next month. The commissioners approved the plans but did not comment on them.

In an interview earlier on Thursday, Greg Sandlund, an associate planner for the city, said, “We just see this area having tremendous potential.”

The areas around the light rail line are unique, Sandlund said. “It’s the only corridor outside of the Central City where you have light rail running along a commercial corridor,” he said.

***

In other light rail news, Regional Transit is making headway on work to bring a light rail extension from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes River College.

As part of its extension, the agency intends to purchase parts of the backyards of 47 homes, according to Diane Nakano, assistant general manager of engineering and construction for RT.

Nakano said the environmental process is expected to run until May.

View Northeast Line Implementation Plan in a larger map

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Stepping Out In Midtown: Beyond the Valet of the Dilettante

2009-10-26T02:58:15Z

Three young women navigated the west sidewalk of 18th Street last Friday evening. The one in front says to her friends behind her, "Last time we were down here, I was thinking I might like to live here." The Friday night scene was crackling, with loud music filling the air and cars filling the streets.

"Yeah," says her friend, "but you'd need a place with a driveway. There's actually a lot more of them than I thought." The third woman says, "You wouldn't have much of a back yard."

The trio crossed 18th Street at Capitol and stopped to reclaim their car from the valet. The street parking or East End Parking Garage may have been closer to whichever business they were coming from, but the valet represents the convenience and perceived safety that many local visitors opt for.

Even those who think that they "might like to live here," bring their suburban expectations with them. "You'd need a place with a driveway." Or you'd need a place in Midtown that was not overrun with too many businesses, which are given too many parking waivers, so that rightful residential street parking becomes impossible.

"You'd need a place with a driveway," or a place with parking provided where it historically has been in Midtown -- in the alley. "You wouldn't have much of a back yard." Traditionally, Midtown residences have deep front porches and shallow green setbacks, that match the others on the block, enough to catch the Delta breezes. In the back is a deeper yard, many with a parking garage at the alley. The deep lots and alleys provide a buffer to the overimpaction of bars and restaurants surrounding them.

Many businesses move into Midtown and immediately want parking waivers, so that they don't have to meet the parking requirements that their business is legally responsible for. This impacts the street parking that is available for residents and other businesses. The overuse of parking waivers and the dependence on valet parking as a solution to Midtown's parking woes, actually exacerbate the problem.

Valet parking reinforces the attitude that patrons need to park as close to the door of their destination as possible. It reduces the number of people who are parking on the street or in public parking garages and walking a few blocks.

Valet parking perpetuates the illusion that it is not safe or realistic to look for parking further from the door and walk. Yet, that's what the displaced residents have to do, when visitors, valets and restaurant/bar employees fill up the nearby parking.

More people walking on the streets encourages more people walking on the streets. It also increases public safety, where the valet service does not. Better lighting and signage at the available and inexpensive public lots will also encourage more people to use them.

The more transit options that are available, the more lighting that is provided, the more that people see others walking around Midtown and the more that public parking garages are well lit, affordable and highly visible; the more new visitors may broaden their expectations of what their Midtown experience -- or even living here -- has to offer.

photos: Marion Millin

The River District Overview

2009-07-15T03:20:30Z

With 773 Gross Acres 675 Land Acres, the River District has a lot of room to develop it own identity becoming a mixed-use urban environment featuring residential, office and commercial services. Currently both Township 9 and the California Lottery Headquarters are breaking ground in an effort to revitalize the area. These major projects and others will serve as catalysts bring development, jobs, public transit and cultural amenities to District and paving the way from a primarily light-industrial commercial district to a distinctive, mixed-use neighborhood that will connect Sacramento to its rivers.

Process & Timeline
April – August 2009
Community Outreach
Chapter Writing for Specific Plan
Policy Development
Special Planning District Update
Historic Resources Survey
September 2009 - Infrastructure Finance Plan – Public Review
October 2009 - Public Draft EIR
January - 2010 Final EIR
Jan-Feb 2010 Public Hearings

Vision & Guiding Principles
- Maximize Connectivity –North/South and East/West.
- Create a Sense of Place.
- Encourage Sustainable Development.
- Build Infrastructure that Provides a Balanced Approach to Regional Traffic Issues.
- Stimulate Economic Growth.
- Provide a Variety of Urban Living Options.
- Support regional strategies that seek to improve social conditions
- Encourage Mixed-Use Development.
- Provide Enhanced Community Facilities and Amenities.
- Engage the Rivers and Foster Open Space Opportunities.
- Create a Walkable District.

Goals for the River District Specific Plan
- Specific Plan will include the following:
- Land Use Plan and Zoning with Heights
- Circulation Plan
- Infrastructure / Public Facilities
- Financing Plan
- Nexus Study (Downtown/Railyards/River District Costs)
- Program Level Environmental Impact Report Design Guidelines (Central City Urban Design Guidelines)

Marshall Park residents riled over festivals

2009-05-19T19:59:57Z

Some Midtown residents are a little pissed to hear last-minute news that another big festival is coming on the heels of a Cinco de Mayo event that didn’t go as well as hoped – and that more are coming.

At a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting Monday night, Marshall Park residents and others living nearby expressed frustration they were kept out of the loop on “Midfest 2009,” an event scheduled to be held at Marshall Park on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31.

They were notified Saturday by a Midtown Business Association (MBA) team going door-to-door announcing that the event will be happening just a few weeks after neighboring businesses held the first big Cinco de Mayo festival in the 2700 block of J Street. The notification was accompanied by an unofficial survey asking residents whether they approved of the event.

Now they’re also hearing about plans to continue these events once a month in Marshall Park.

“The main thing is this was sprung on people suddenly,” said Margaret Buss, a Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association board member. “This just came up. That is why everybody was up in arms about it. No one had heard anything about it.”

The City Council needs to update the approval process for special events permit requests and make sure the process is consistent for all events, said Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Cohn, who represents the Third District.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of requests until recently," he said. "Now it’s really taken off."

The MBA, one of Midfest’s organizers, is working with the city to modify special events requirements so neighbors are notified well in advance even for smaller-scale events like this, said Aja Uranga-Foster, an MBA staff member.

Midfest will feature a beer garden run by Paragary Restaurant Group, which owns adjacent Centro Cocina Mexicana restaurant and bar; live music; and sport demos by the Sacred City Derby Girls and Midtown skateboarders. The event is being touted as a fundraiser collecting money for a park fountain and several other organizations.

Residents have been told that several business-sponsored events have contributed money to the fountain fund. But the city says there is no money in the fund yet, said John Paul Olafson, who lives on 28th Street across from Marshall Park in the house closest to Centro.

“Our neighborhood has been promised a lot of things that have never happened,” said Olafson, who’s concerned about the plan to shut down his street for Midfest’s sports demonstrations. He’s worried that the 600 to 700 people who often show up for Derby Girls events will take over his yard and block access to the driveway.

Several older residents said the music is more than an annoyance; they’re worried their ears are being physically damaged by the loud music. Some have researched the issue online or talked with audiologists covered in their healthcare plans. They questioned why city ordinances over such things as noise aren’t being enforced in this area.

The first big Cinco de Mayo festival was not as bad as it could have been, residents said, but it still caused many of the same problems they’ve fought for years: a dirty neighborhood, parking problems and too-loud music that rocked people’s walls and eardrums until late Tuesday night.

Centro and other bars and restaurants operating in the 2700 block of J Street hosted the block-long event. One block of 28th Street was shut down for an outdoor music stage. Residents who didn’t want to party on a Tuesday night or who had to work the next day couldn’t escape the noise even six blocks away.

“The businesses have clearly won and the residents have clearly lost,” said Suzy Tyler, who lives next to Olafson. Her apartment building was the closest residence to the Cinco de Mayo music stage. “For whom are we making this city livable? 'Cause it’s not working for me.”

Signs said parking was restricted after 6 p.m. on nearby streets to residents with proper permits. That seemed to cut down on crowded parking and related problems, but violaters weren't towed, said Tyler and other residents. They question why provisions made to help buffer neighbors in these situations are apparently not getting enforced.

During the Cinco de Mayo festivities, Neighborhood Services Inc. provided security guards and picked up 90 pounds of trash from the event in the area between 26th, the J Street alley, 28th and H streets, said owner Charles Ortner.

His company was hired by bar and restaurant owners in the 2700 block. Randy Paragary, who owns Centro, and Danny Torza, who owns Harlow’s, “step up to the plate” and pay for the services, he said.

Two other businesses haven’t paid their share toward Neighborhood Services Inc. since January, leaving Ortner $30,000 in debt to the Sacramento Police Department, which provides supplemental police officers on weekend nights. Ortner didn't disclose the names of those establishments.

Paragary offered to put residents on 27th and 28th streets, between I and J streets, up at downtown's new Citizen Hotel on Cinco de Mayo. A Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association leader suggested using a cheaper hotel, said an association leader. Ultimately, the Vagabond Inn was offered just a few blocks from the event.

Organizers for the Sunday portion of Midfest – who also carried out some of the Midtown surveys – said most of the people they spoke with seemed to be OK with the event. They didn’t say how many of those lived in the three residential blocks fronting Marshall Park.

“However, they didn’t seem to be OKwith the Cinco de Mayo party,” said Shiree Cano, executive director for events for the T & M Organization for the Arts, one of the nonprofits to benefit from funds raised at Midfest. Surveyed residents complained about broken glass, public drunkenness, people vomiting and more.

“We are a family festival," she said. "We are closing at 8, not 4 in the a.m. I want to assure everyone we’ll clean up everything."

Cohn is planning to meet with Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association members to discuss the Cinco de Mayo event. The way businesses run these events will have a big impact on their requests for future special event permits, he said.

“Clearly, there is a lot of discontent from a lot of people," he said. "Not just from Cinco de Mayo, but other events."