Hey, Phillip
I agree with what you said above,
I work downtown within walking distance of DTP, and I am not thrilled about going to DTP. There was a time when it was sort cool to go there, but alot of the stores did not appeal to me, except for the mens macy*s (sometimes) or Z Galleria, and the movie theaters.
When the rehab was done years ago, I thought then what a mistake not to enclose it with glass ; it is too damn cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. The materials where cheap and you could see that the materials would start looking bad in a short time (2yrs).
Can't Sacramento do anything right? Our ballpark, Ikea, state-of-the art Nugget (gourmet grocery store), Mondovi Center (world class music hall/theatre), the latest museum(Indian heritage center), our best university are all in YOLO COUNTY..... In mostly suburban or very small town settings.
I feel the only "world class venue" this town has to offer is Captiol Park and the Capitol Building. The plan of the grid (small blocks) and our trees. But, honestly, I've seen many cities with just as many trees....Atlanta, Berlin, Paris, New Oreleans, Portland to name a few.
Think about it - our best architecture was created in the first 50-60 years.
Everything we hold near and dear was created in those first 50yrs....when the whole friggin region had less than 200,000 people.
Sorry for the rant..just so pissed about the latest turn of events....Saca's failure, Aura, Arena, High-Speed rail.
Alsoeverything takes so damn long in this town, everything...its sort of anti-climatic when a sturcture finally actually gets built.
The other day after work some co-workers and I knock back a few dark beers at Old Ironsides...there was a slightly intoxicated man who said he was on the board of the Mandela Community Gardens. He went on and on about how their group screwed the developer of the Fremont Mews and delayed their project 10 odd years. It was all about screwing the developer; he didnt give a damn about having a garden in midtown. Sacramento has way too people like him holding up development.
ok, end of rant, sorry. this is not directed at you, phillip, by any means...just could'nt stop typing.....