Sacramento Proposal/Approval/Construction Thread - III

[Mr. Ozo]

Originally Posted by SacDTRes

1. I just can't see how a bunch of two story apartment buildings have historical significance to block a project like this. They argue more for the layout of the entire block which has historical significance,

I've made my point on this forum and even wrote some letters to the city council. This super-block needs to be broken up as part of any proposed redevelopment. "O street" in particular still has large trees lining where the side walk used to be. I think adding some narrow, but real streets to area to reconnect the grid would be a great thing.

That said, there is an almost entirely vacant block (owned by the state I believe) one block east. We should be developing dead blocks like these before we start knocking out existing housing. Let's get 5 or more 100 unit plus developments going in Downtown first and then I can support something the proposed redevelopment.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by SacDTRes

1. I just can't see how a bunch of two story apartment buildings have historical significance to block a project like this. They argue more for the layout of the entire block which has historical significance, but it seems to be a stretch to me. However, there is a significant list of opposition.

2. Does anyone know how much influence these organizations have at the city level?

3. Do these groups pick and choose their battles, or do they generally fight all urban development?

It's interesting to me that they want to use the EIR as a tool to help block the project, when urban development located near public transit fits many of the checkboxes for smart development.

1. The letters are in response to a Notice of Preparation, which is part of the environmental review process. The purpose of an NOP is to give stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in on a project by pointing out elements of the project that they consider important.

2. Pretty much zero.

3. In the case of the local organizations, they're small, low-budget, volunteer-run organizations, which means you have to pick your battles. In the case of the state and national ones, they have few staff and small budgets for organizations withstate and national reach, which means you have to pick your battles. Most write as many letters of support for projects as letters of opposition--the challenge is having standards and evaluating each project on its merits. There are a lot of great things happening these days, and a lot of projects to support and applaud. But not every project deserves that support.

Sometimes it's not about stopping a project, but directing it--like the plan the Sheraton had last year to build a big terrarium outside the Public Market building. They asked for public input and city input, and instead of enclosing the Public Market building they are reactivating the exterior by converting a couple of windows into doors, improving the patio and moving the underutilized restaurant on their 2nd floor to the ground floor, where the kitchen will be visible from the open patio and the street. Because they were willing to listen to feedback, instead of facing opposition, they got enthusiastic support and a better project.

Mr. Ozo makes a key point--it seems kind of silly to demolish existing housing in order to build new housing, when there are so many vacant lots where nobody lives that could be converted to housing use, eliminating the need for those parking lots. The block just to the east was once planned for mixed-use row housing that would have wrapped around the Heilbron mansion--seems like it would be a good place to build some tall housing, especially right across the street from the 15-story Capitol Towers main tower.

[SacDTRes]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ozo

That said, there is an almost entirely vacant block (owned by the state I believe) one block east. We should be developing dead blocks like these before we start knocking out existing housing. Let's get 5 or more 100 unit plus developments going in Downtown first and then I can support something the proposed redevelopment.

It would be great to develop the parking lot just east of 7th, but unfortunately the owner proposing the development doesn't own that land, and it likely doesn't pencil out, or else they would purchase that land and develop it. CALPERS owns the empty block on Capitol Mall, and they are saying at least 12-16 months before they think again about making any moves. But the city shouldn't say no to a developer who owns land and wants to make improvements that benefit the city just because their property isn't a parking lot or a hole in the ground. Half of the stuff going up on 16th street required tearing down existing buildings, and no one is complaining about those new buildings on this forum.

With that said, I believe the current proposal just breaks up the land into different parcels that will be sold to yet undetermined developers to build out the condos and hotel. So I suspect there will be several years before anything changes there.

On another note, are their height restrictions in Midtown? Sutter is now the tallest building in the area, but could they have gone higher?

[LandofFrost]

I've had friends who have lived in those two story apartments on that superblock, and they are nothing special. There are low income apartments just like them in north sac.

[wburg]

They aren't "low-income" apartments, there are no income restrictions on that complex nor is it a public housing project. If you want to know more about the architecture, you might ask the folks at Sacramento Modern, as they have the most expertise about mid-century architecture in general and this project in particular. Apparently Capitol Towers was designed by a team of very well-respected landscape architects and building architects, including Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons (heard of the Wurster School of Design in Berkeley?) Who designed those buildings in North Sacramento? Do they have a 15-story tower in the middle?

I don't think the project intends to break the site into smaller parcels, but they do plan on phasing it over time rather than building all at once. I doubt they have plans to reopen O Street or 6th Street--that central 15 story tower is in the way.

Re Midtown height restrictions--There are, but it depends on specifically where. Buildings can go higher along 21st Street and some of the business corridors than off the main streets in the residential neighborhoods.

[LandofFrost]

Does anyone have more information about the NorthWest Land Park Development? The sac bee article was vague and their website has almost nothing on it.

I had no idea such a large development was being built near downtown.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/14/640...ks-ground.html

[Majin]

Originally Posted by LandofFrost

Does anyone have more information about the NorthWest Land Park Development? The sac bee article was vague and their website has almost nothing on it.

I had no idea such a large development was being built near downtown.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/14/640...ks-ground.html

Suburb

[TWAK]

Originally Posted by Majin

Suburb

they are just going to love their neighbors.
how much longer till the rest of the area is gentrified

[wburg]

Originally Posted by LandofFrost

Does anyone have more information about the NorthWest Land Park Development? The sac bee article was vague and their website has almost nothing on it.

I had no idea such a large development was being built near downtown.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/05/14/640...ks-ground.html

They have a model at 3rd and V Street. The houses are beige stucco boxes with red tile roofs, about 2-3 stories tall.

[Majin]

Originally Posted by wburg

They have a model at 3rd and V Street. The houses are beige stucco boxes with red tile roofs, about 2-3 stories tall.

suburb

[enigma99a]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Lawmakers said Thursday it's time to ditch a 24-story state-owned building in downtown Sacramento where windows keep popping out, the elevator has fallen and pipes have burst.

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/lawmakers-t...#ixzz32V8OHoaV

[Pistola916]

Originally Posted by enigma99a

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Lawmakers said Thursday it's time to ditch a 24-story state-owned building in downtown Sacramento where windows keep popping out, the elevator has fallen and pipes have burst.

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/lawmakers-t...#ixzz32V8OHoaV

This is a great chance for the state to build a 40-50 story tower. Most likely they decide to construct a landscaper like CALPERS and the East End project.

[enigma99a]

Originally Posted by Pistola916

This is a great chance for the state to build a 40-50 story tower. Most likely they decide to construct a landscaper like CALPERS and the East End project.

Yeh, it will be a landscaper

Anyone know the status of the Cathedral Square Building (11th & J) or K Street Towers (8th & K)

We had so many units planned on J K L and ended up with nothing.

[rihanageorge]

I must say the above post is very much significant and one can ascertain some very reliable knowledge about the Sacramento Proposal and also the listed construction is very high profiled and informative as well.

[wburg]

Wasn't K Street Tower the Mohanna project that died a few years back? The most recent thing planned for 8th and K was a half-block project designed by Domus and David Taylor, a mid-rise new building and rehab of the Bel-Vue. That fell through because it wasn't finalized before the end of redevelopment. Then it was going to be among the blocks given to the arena team, then it was withdrawn from that group of properties but they are promised "right of first refusal" for a future development project on the land (the repercussions of the end of redevelopment may have tied up that block.)

According to a city planner I heard from a while back, the Cathedral Square building at 11th and J may be returning in some form.

[Pistola916]

Is the long-mothballed Metropolitan high-rise project back?

Ben van der Meer
Staff Writer- Sacramento Business Journal

An audacious downtown Sacramento high-rise project stopped by the economic downturn could be rolling out of mothballs, if the Sacramento City Council approves developer John Saca's purchase of a city-owned building at 921 10th Street next week.

Purchasing that seven-story building, known as the Plaza Building, was an original component of developing the Metropolitan, an approved 40-story mixed-use condominium/hotel tower by Saca on the northeast corner of 10th and J streets. Four other largely vacant properties at 10th and J already are owned by the Saca family, according to the agenda item.

“There was no formal agreement on the sale of the Plaza Building property to the Saca family, although the City Council did approve entering into negotiations with the Saca family for the sale of the building,” according to the agenda item. “That project has not been implemented.”

Since then, the 33,600-square-foot building has been completely emptied of city offices, and more recently saw damage from both vandalism and water intrusion, according to the item. Making the building usable again, according to the city of Sacramento, would cost $9 million to $11 million. At one time the property was included in the land-transfer swap between the city and Sacramento Kings ownership as part of the new downtown arena plan.

After the city had the building reappraised last year -- and determined its primary value was its location and little else -- the Saca family approached the city about buying it for $600,000. That’s higher than the appraisal value, but owning it is more advantageous to the Sacas given their ownership and planned demolition of neighboring buildings for development, according to the item, which does not describe exactly what development that would be.

“At this time, the proposed purchaser does not have any immediate plans for development of this parcel, though demolition of the building along with the Saca holdings adjacent to the site is a possibility,” according to the agenda item.

Saca and his legal counsel did not return calls for comment, and city officials could not be reached for comment Friday. If the City Council approves a recommendation to sell the building, the effective ownership transfer date would be June 13, with the new owner listed as Saca Metropolitan LLC.

[Mr. Ozo]

See, 9-11 Million to convert the Plaza Building to livable condo's seems like a decent deal, comparing that to say the Warren which is going to cost 34 million. But we'll most likely end up with a vacant lot for a decade.

[wburg]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ozo

See, 9-11 Million to convert the Plaza Building to livable condo's seems like a decent deal, comparing that to say the Warren which is going to cost 34 million. But we'll most likely end up with a vacant lot for a decade.

I agree--and have heard a couple of local developers express an interest in doing just that! Not even sure that the Plaza Building would need to go for the Metropolitan to be built, why not do both? Rehab the Plaza and build the tower alongside it? I don't think the Met would need to occupy the same footprint.

[creamcityleo79]

Originally Posted by pistola916

is the long-mothballed metropolitan high-rise project back?

ben van der meer
staff writer- sacramento business journal

an audacious downtown sacramento high-rise project stopped by the economic downturn could be rolling out of mothballs, if the sacramento city council approves developer john saca's purchase of a city-owned building at 921 10th street next week.

Purchasing that seven-story building, known as the plaza building, was an original component of developing the metropolitan, an approved 40-story mixed-use condominium/hotel tower by saca on the northeast corner of 10th and j streets. Four other largely vacant properties at 10th and j already are owned by the saca family, according to the agenda item.

“there was no formal agreement on the sale of the plaza building property to the saca family, although the city council did approve entering into negotiations with the saca family for the sale of the building,” according to the agenda item. “that project has not been implemented.”

since then, the 33,600-square-foot building has been completely emptied of city offices, and more recently saw damage from both vandalism and water intrusion, according to the item. Making the building usable again, according to the city of sacramento, would cost $9 million to $11 million. At one time the property was included in the land-transfer swap between the city and sacramento kings ownership as part of the new downtown arena plan.

After the city had the building reappraised last year -- and determined its primary value was its location and little else -- the saca family approached the city about buying it for $600,000. That’s higher than the appraisal value, but owning it is more advantageous to the sacas given their ownership and planned demolition of neighboring buildings for development, according to the item, which does not describe exactly what development that would be.

“at this time, the proposed purchaser does not have any immediate plans for development of this parcel, though demolition of the building along with the saca holdings adjacent to the site is a possibility,” according to the agenda item.

Saca and his legal counsel did not return calls for comment, and city officials could not be reached for comment friday. If the city council approves a recommendation to sell the building, the effective ownership transfer date would be june 13, with the new owner listed as saca metropolitan llc.

boom!

[BillSimmons]

Originally Posted by Pistola916

Is the long-mothballed Metropolitan high-rise project back?

Ben van der Meer
Staff Writer- Sacramento Business Journal

An audacious downtown Sacramento high-rise project stopped by the economic downturn could be rolling out of mothballs, if the Sacramento City Council approves developer John Saca's purchase of a city-owned building at 921 10th Street next week.

Purchasing that seven-story building, known as the Plaza Building, was an original component of developing the Metropolitan, an approved 40-story mixed-use condominium/hotel tower by Saca on the northeast corner of 10th and J streets. Four other largely vacant properties at 10th and J already are owned by the Saca family, according to the agenda item.

“There was no formal agreement on the sale of the Plaza Building property to the Saca family, although the City Council did approve entering into negotiations with the Saca family for the sale of the building,” according to the agenda item. “That project has not been implemented.”

Since then, the 33,600-square-foot building has been completely emptied of city offices, and more recently saw damage from both vandalism and water intrusion, according to the item. Making the building usable again, according to the city of Sacramento, would cost $9 million to $11 million. At one time the property was included in the land-transfer swap between the city and Sacramento Kings ownership as part of the new downtown arena plan.

After the city had the building reappraised last year -- and determined its primary value was its location and little else -- the Saca family approached the city about buying it for $600,000. That’s higher than the appraisal value, but owning it is more advantageous to the Sacas given their ownership and planned demolition of neighboring buildings for development, according to the item, which does not describe exactly what development that would be.

“At this time, the proposed purchaser does not have any immediate plans for development of this parcel, though demolition of the building along with the Saca holdings adjacent to the site is a possibility,” according to the agenda item.

Saca and his legal counsel did not return calls for comment, and city officials could not be reached for comment Friday. If the City Council approves a recommendation to sell the building, the effective ownership transfer date would be June 13, with the new owner listed as Saca Metropolitan LLC.

This clearly has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the new Arena being built a few blocks away! Completely independent! Was bound to happen anyway! Nothing to see here!