The vault being constructed beneath K Street will accommodate the SMUD transformers. Standard practice for SMUD is to require that the transformers not be exposed in the public way. In some cities, such as San Diego, you will see transformers on the sidewalks..between building frontage and curb. ( In San Diego artists paint them to dress them up.) In Sacramento the SMUD transformer is typically on private property..and very seldom in the public way. Being as the primary electric service is on the K Street side rather than in the alley, there is nowhere to put the transformer on-site...the building fronts take up all of the on-site space on K Street. The vault seems disproportionately large because additional space is required for air flow and access. Putting the transformers underground requires a large volume of space and is very costly. In the case of these new venues on K Street, the vault, though costly, is the logical solution.

I understand that there are so many trees in sac that it takes about 15 years for the city to prune all of them...so each tree is on a 15 year rotation. Much of the work is now performed on a contract basis by private companies.

The US Bank tower is one of the best tall buildings in Sac. The Morton's addition unfortunately is too weak. Federal Courthouse is another of the best. The 500 Capital Mall tower doesn't hold it's own in comparison. Another David Taylor project, the Cosmopolitan, is very well executed.