Fantastic article. Melissa, you did a great job demystifying the complex process of redevelopment in California. Thanks!

That's very fascinating. I had no idea that the highway was originally placed near the river because the city wanted a Macy's downtown. I suppose it's just difficult for me to imagine the railyards (and the Richards blvd area, for that matter) as integrated into the downtown area. But as you mentioned, the increased desirability of the midtown-downtown area has made previously undesirable areas healthier, and may result in the development of the railyards and the Richards blvd area. Are there any examples of how the blight of an elevated highway could be creatively minimized? If the railyards are developed, I can't help but think that highway 5 would have similar effect on the surrounding area as the Embarcadro Freeway did in San Francisco.

Although I really like the idea of the expansion Sacramento's city center, I can't help but think that it will be very tough for the railyards to overcome decades of poor urban planning. The project is boxed in on the west by highway 5 and on the north by an industrial area. Both act as a barrier to the river, which decreases desirability of the land. Also, the far northwest portion of the midtown-downtown grid is not the most desirable part of the district, which makes me skeptical that the city would naturally grow into the area. If I were a developer, the only reason I would want to take the chance and build in the railyards is if the land were much less expensive than infill in surrounding area, or if there was some other incentive. Otherwise, it would make more sense to simply buy a block or two near R street and develop mid-density mixed used property there.

Given the state of our economy, I wouldn't be surprised if this project continues to face financial difficulty during the next few years. I hope that it continues to move forward, however. The city's focus on infill development is wise considering the escalation of transportation costs and the increased social desirability of urban life.

I agree that Matisyahu's performance was lackluster - the arrangement of his songs did not suit the large venue. It felt like a third of his audience evaporated before he finished his set.

CORRECTION: Jeff Walker and Requel Apodaca are not licensed architects, they are designers.

For more photos, visit: anthonybento.com

thanks everyone! it's a great event for families.

Really nice photo Kati. Have you thought about shooting RAW? It'll preserve the shadows much more effectively when you increase their luminosity. Either way, great photo, and thanks for sharing!

Thank you Ali! I took them with my iphone. :)

More so than any other building, MARRS represents in my mind the birth of a new urban life in midtown. It seems to be at or near the center of most midtown festivals and activities. Also, if anyone is interested in the comedy spot (one of the new tenants in the building), you can read my article about the club at: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/17447/Comedy_Spot_brings_laughter_to_midtown

Really great story Suzanne! Your coverage of the Nestle plant, and the issues surrounding it, has been incredibly comprehensive and is a great service to our community.

Thanks Greg! It's a great venue, I recommend it.

cool article jonathan. it looks like a great new addition to midtown/downtown's growing array of music venues.

CFF website: http://www.cafirefoundation.org/go/cff/about-ca-fire-foundation/california-firefighters-memorial/the-2009-memorial/

It's incredible. Not only do you get soup better than you'd imagine, you get to wait an hour for it. Even if it wasn't that great, after waiting so long for soup, your mind will convince you that it is the best thing ever. Great soup + insane wait time = best dining experience in Sacramento.

If the legislature fails to reach a budget at the state or federal level, government can shut down. The executive is free to veto the legislature's budget (and in the case of the governor, selectively veto aspects of the budget), but neither system contains a provision to implement the executive's proposed budget if there is a failure to pass a budget. At both the federal and state level, the executive's proposed budget is more of initial blueprint; a blueprint that is often significantly modified or discarded entirely by the legislature. This is in keeping with a legislature's central power- the power of the purse.

photo credit: anthonybento.com

This sounds like the beginning of a really great column... I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what Sacramento has to offer

I agree. During this period of massive budget cuts, the allocation of public funds towards this area would be an unfortunate waste. Arenas are economically self-contained, people drive to an arena, eat at the arena, and after an event is over they go back to homes in the burbs. People are just not incentivized, especially in a city as car-centric as Sacramento, to go out and explore the surrounding area. Even if they focus on adding public transit, most people will probably park at a site that's near a shuttle station and take the shuttle to the arena, like with Raley Field. That's why most American arenas and stadiums are surrounded by crummy neighborhoods or new developments that will likely be crummy neighborhoods in the the not too distant future.