Sacramento Railyards - The New Downtown

[Ghost of Econgrad]

“We have a great deal of faith in Inland,” Dangberg said.

This is the THIRD time I have read this quote about the railyards, except the word "Inland".

[Korey]

Well Inland's a big company they're not going under anytime soon but I doubt they would be the ones to do any development so now I guess the focus is just on making sure whoever takes over development is good enough for the location.

[kamehameha]

Funding for The Railyards still available after ownership change
Sacramento Business Journal - by Michael Shaw
Date: Thursday, October 28, 2010, 5:27pm PDT .Related:

Commercial Real Estate ...State officials support continued funding of $78 million for infrastructure work at The Railyards project in downtown Sacramento following the change in ownership last week from Thomas Enterprises Inc. to lender Inland American Real Estate Trust.

“We’re still fully committed to the project and we’re looking forward to working with (Inland),” said Panorea Avdis, a spokeswoman for the Department of Housing and Community Development.

The agency suspended funding for the project after Inland filed a default notice against Thomas in June.

Inland has yet to contact the department and inform officials of the change in ownership, Avdis said, the first ...
..

[kamehameha]

Fifth and Sixth street bridges nearing completion
by Brandon Darnell, published on December 2, 2010 at 5:11PM

The two city-funded bridges under construction in the railyards are scheduled to be completed next month.

The bridges will make Fifth and Sixth streets continuous where they are currently cut off by the railyards just east of the Amtrak station downtown.

“The bridges will be for both vehicle traffic and pedestrians,” said Linda Tucker, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Department of Transportation.

The transition of much of the railyards property from Thomas Enterprises to Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. following Thomas Enterprises’ defaulting on loans will not affect the bridge construction, since they are on city-owned land, according to Tucker.

When it comes to the track realignment necessary for trains to be able to pass under the bridges, there are still some possible kinks to work out.

“We are continuing to work out with Inland the transfer of agreements,” Tucker said. “My understanding is that we will be doing some joint announcements in a couple of weeks just to update the community on what’s been worked out.”

The $9 million bridge project is fully funded, as is the estimated $50 million track realignment.

The track realignment project will be opened for bidding in January, Tucker said.

“We are looking forward to moving ahead,” she said. “It’s been a bit exhausting going through the transition, and I think everyone – City Hall as well as the community – is looking forward to seeing more work going on out there.”

The blue square on the map above shows the Fifth and Sixth street bridges. The red square is intersection of F and Seventh streets for reference.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.


http://www.sacramentopress.com/headl...es_nearly_done

[Ghost of Econgrad]

Editorial: Railyard project may be picking up steam
Published Friday, Jan. 07, 2011

Things are finally looking up for the railyard development in downtown Sacramento, and none too soon.

What is billed as the nation's largest infill project had been hostage to the financial woes of its former owner, Thomas Enterprises. After Thomas failed to repay nearly $200 million it owed, Inland American Real Estate Trust took control in October.

Inland's first update to the City Council this week demonstrated a clear commitment to the project – and renews hope that the railyard will fulfill its promise of generating thousands of jobs to accelerate the sluggish economic recovery.

Mayor Kevin Johnson says City Hall could not be more pleased with what Inland has done in its first couple of months of ownership.

The Illinois firm has deep pockets, and it has already kicked in $8 million of its own money to help extend Sixth Street into the landlocked site. It has reached a tentative deal with the city to transfer a key piece of land needed for roads connecting the railyard to the downtown core. Inland is pursuing a new county courthouse on the southern edge of the site as well.

This year, Inland officials told the council, will be about infrastructure and getting contracts signed to keep state money flowing.

But the vision for the 240-acre site is far more ambitious. If all goes according to the plan approved by the City Council three years ago, there could be thousands of housing units, offices and hotels, avenues lined with stores, a cultural district centered on historic railroad shops, a transit hub and more. And there's still the possibility of a new arena for the Kings and entertainment events.

If all that comes to fruition, the impact on Sacramento's long-term future as a thriving midsized city would be immense. Now that the city has a full partner with the wallet – as well as the will – the chances of success are immeasurably better.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.


http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/07/330...e-picking.html

[Ghost of Econgrad]

Posted on Fri, Jan. 14, 2011
Railyard developer agrees to parcel payment to Sacramento
By Tony Bizjaktbizjak@sacbee.com


Work is under way in the railyard area to extend Fifth and Sixth streets into the 240-acre site. Thomas Enterprises' fiscal problems have raised doubts. - jvillegas@sacbee.com - JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS

Downtown railyard owner Inland American has agreed to pay the city of Sacramento $3.2 million to finalize a deal that gives the city ownership of a critical 24-acre railyard parcel.

REST OF ARTICLE HERE:

http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/14/151...to-parcel.html

[ltsmotorsport]

Thought this should be noticed.

City takes over railyard parcel for road access
Share
By Tony Bizjak
tbizjak@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 2B
Last Modified: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 - 6:54 am

The Sacramento City Council gave its approval Tuesday night to a deal that puts ownership of a 24-acre wedge of the downtown railyard into city hands.

Railyard owner Inland American Real Estate Trust agreed to pay the city $3.2 million to close the deal.

That figure represents the amount, plus interest, the city overpaid the previous railyard owner, Thomas Enterprises, several years ago during a hurried purchase agreement, prior to a land appraisal.

The land sale agreement paves the way for the city to solicit contractor bids next week to move the rail tracks a few hundred feet to the north of that parcel to make room for new roads that will open 200 railyard acres for development.

City officials said several more agreements remain to be finalized and approved by the council before that bid package can be distributed.

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/19/333...rd-parcel.html

[COASTIE]

Railroad Technology Museum Project Consultant Begins July 1
by Traci Rockefeller Cusack, published on June 30, 2011 at 8:56 AM

Railroad expert Peter Hansen has been named as project consultant for the Railroad Technology Museum, an expansion of the popular California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento which is part of California State Parks. His position, which is effective July 1, 2011, has been added by the California State Railroad Museum Foundation to assist California State Parks in the development of the project.

The rest can be found here: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headl..._Begins_July_1

PS: Correct Link for project http://www.csrmf.org/

[KingsFan#1]

I noticed a new red crane in the railyards today. Does anyone know what that's for?

[wburg]

Originally Posted by KingsFan#1

I noticed a new red crane in the railyards today. Does anyone know what that's for?

This one? Looks like it's right next to the extension of the underground walkway from the Amtrak depot under the new track alignment--perhaps it is being used to lift stuff into the new pedestrian undercrossing?

Pretty amazing piles of dirt over there--some of them look 2-3 stories high! I guess they have to clear out a lot of stuff for the new track alignments and underground passageways. All that dirt is old fill, as it was just a swamp when Central Pacific started building the Shops--no telling what kind of things they are digging up!

[202_Cyclist]

There is a good video clip about the railyard buildings. These are some great old buildings.

Downtown Sacramento railyard plans move ahead

April 23, 2012

"SACRAMENTO, CA - If you drive by the Sacramento railyards, you'll see a lot of construction equipment, a lot of work happening without any plans for a new arena. That's because there are other projects moving forward without it.

All the land north of what could be an arena is owned by Inland American. It's planned for mixed use: Homes, shopping complexes, you name it.

There's also the relocation of the AMTRAK tracks and two bridges for 5th and 6th streets to make that happen..."

http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...ans-move-ahead

[Rail>Auto]

Is the canal district still a go for the railyards?

[downtownserg89]

Originally Posted by Rail>Auto

Is the canal district still a go for the railyards?

I believe I read that the canal was scrapped, but will be replaced with what I think is called a box-car park, somewhat reminiscent of The Panhandle of Golden Gate Park, but with every street running through the park instead of the single street that crosses right through The Panhandle. (I hope I worded that correctly..)

[wburg]

The canal idea was scrapped pretty quickly. Here's the approved general plan for the Railyards:

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/...rdsSPFinal.pdf

Pages 50-52 or so have maps of land uses. The parks Serg mentioned are a bit like the grass medians on Capitol Mall, or the medians with trees on them on T Street in Elmhurst, except instead of office buildings or single-family homes they are supposed to have mixed-use buildings flanking them (think 17th and L.) The "sports and entertainment facility overlay" is just east of the Shops long 7th Street.

[ozone]

...Or something similar to Portland's North Park Blocks - only on a smaller scale.

[kamehameha]

Progress at Sacramento railyards: New passenger walkway opens Aug. 13
by Melissa Corker, published on August 2, 2012 at 12:08 PM
It’s been 10 years in the making, but phase one of construction at the downtown railyards is nearing completion and the first section to open to the public will be a new pathway to the train platforms.

City officials announced in a press release Wednesday that the “Pathway to Progress” – a 1.5 block-long walkway leading from the Sacramento Valley Station to new rail platforms – will open Aug. 13. Initially, it will be a wide stretch of asphalt, but when construction is complete, it will be a covered path for rail passengers to get to the new platforms.


The $225 million railyards project included moving the railway tracks about 500 feet north of their original position to improve rail operations and safety and to make room for future facilities for buses, trains and lightrail, according to the release. Those changes necessitated the new platforms and passenger walkways, the release stated.

The area will continue to be a construction zone until the first phase of construction is completed in mid-October, according to the city, when a community event to celebrate the occasion will be held.

The track relocation is the first stage in a three-phase project at the downtown railyards. The project also includes improvements at the Sacramento Valley Station and a multi-mode transportation facility. The work is part of a larger development project in the 240-acre railyard site that will eventually include housing units, retail and commercial space, and a proposed entertainment and sports complex.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

[eleven=11]

is there any pics of the current construction?

[goldcntry]

Just a quick update on the Rail Yard Facility. We had the opportunity to travel back to Sactown via Amtrack (From SLC) for a week's visit. The newly realigned tracks and platforms were impressive, though it is a loooooong trip out and back from the platforms to the station (which is currently undergoing extensive remodeling). My camera was busted so I was unable to get picks of the broad concourse and nice platforms. They did have electric buggies that trundled folks to and from, but it would be an excellent chance to use a people mover to get passengers to and from the station. It was a challenge lugging two laptops, two CPAPs, pillows, carry-ons, etc the seemingly half-mile out to the platforms and back. It would be nice if they had trolly carts to use... We also had great views of the bridges put in for future street extensions into the Rail Yards, plus being able to get up close and personal with some of the older depot buildings.

Can't wait to return this winter!

[wburg]

It's kind of buried in the consent calendar, but on Tuesday the City Council will approve $10.8 million in Prop 1C money (coming from the state and the feds) to build infrastructure for a transit-oriented residential building in the Railyards--basically, the streets, water, sewer and electric lines running to the site. The location is Lots 7A1 and 7A2, at the corner of 6th and Railyards just past where the 6th Street bridge will land. It looks like there is a developer, Chelsea Investment, based in San Diego (travis? any thoughts?) and their plan is for two buildings, a market-rate building with 112 units and an affordable-housing building with 139 units, each on about a half-acre and from 1-3 bedrooms, so figure it's at least mid-rise in height. It will be located a block from the 7th Street light rail station (there will be a station at 7th and Railyards) for convenient transit access. Before people freak out about the "affordable" part, they are intended for 40-50% median housing affordability, which means people who make like $30-50,000 a year, meaning office workers, retail managers etcetera, what is called "workforce housing." Sorry, no renderings, Serg and Majin, and it's still a few years out (they have to build the streets first!) but it's a plan for the first market-rate housing in the Railyards--and maybe a tipping point.

[jbradway]

Originally Posted by wburg

It's kind of buried in the consent calendar, but on Tuesday the City Council will approve $10.8 million in Prop 1C money (coming from the state and the feds) to build infrastructure for a transit-oriented residential building in the Railyards--basically, the streets, water, sewer and electric lines running to the site. The location is Lots 7A1 and 7A2, at the corner of 6th and Railyards just past where the 6th Street bridge will land. It looks like there is a developer, Chelsea Investment, based in San Diego (travis? any thoughts?) and their plan is for two buildings, a market-rate building with 112 units and an affordable-housing building with 139 units, each on about a half-acre and from 1-3 bedrooms, so figure it's at least mid-rise in height. It will be located a block from the 7th Street light rail station (there will be a station at 7th and Railyards) for convenient transit access. Before people freak out about the "affordable" part, they are intended for 40-50% median housing affordability, which means people who make like $30-50,000 a year, meaning office workers, retail managers etcetera, what is called "workforce housing." Sorry, no renderings, Serg and Majin, and it's still a few years out (they have to build the streets first!) but it's a plan for the first market-rate housing in the Railyards--and maybe a tipping point.

If my map is correct, those lots are on 6th street between Railyards Blvd and Camille Lane. Glad to see the Railyards moving forward. Even if it's slowly coming.