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http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/1149370.html

Bob Shallit: Old bakery project in Sacramento anything but Wonder bread, developer says
By Bob Shallit - bshallit@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B1


Bay Miry of D&S Development shows off a spiral staircase that's part of a downtown lofts / retail project.
Lezlie Sterling / lsterling@sacbee.com


There's a lot to like about the condo-retail complex rising inside a former Wonder Bread bakery warehouse in downtown Sacramento.

But Bay Miry, of the project's D&S Development team, is proudest of an unlikely element: the loft staircases.

Some are spiral, some cantilevered, some made of wood, others of concrete.

No two are alike. Same goes for the "true loft" housing units, which are under construction and range from 550 to 900 square feet. They're on the market for $215,000 to $390,000.

"One thing we've learned in this market," says Miry, while touring the 95-year-old brick complex at 14th and R streets, "is you can't do cookie-cutter."

Sales have been impressive, considering the slow pace elsewhere. Even though the condos won't be finished until next spring, Miry says deposits are in for seven of the 12 units, which will have brick walls, polished concrete floors, exposed beams and ceilings that rise as high as 22 feet.

The first-floor retail space also is getting interest, the 27-year-old Miry reports. One lease has been signed for a specialty grocery, he says. And deals with two eateries are pending.

What accounts for the relatively quick sales of the condo units? Primarily it's their R Street location in a hot neighborhood adjacent to light rail, says D&S principal David Miry, who is Bay's dad.

The area, he says, "is the city's future for mixed use (projects) and entertainment."

It's nice to see this project coming along.