15th & L Street - Marriott

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/8063/3206marriott51hx.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking down L street... the Marriott crane.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6196/3206marriott5sb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5703/3206marriott29fq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/5195/3206marriott32mc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img331.imageshack.us/img331/2346/3206marriott43uk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow, I miss my old city!

I've updated the first post on this thread with more proposals and projects under construction. Come check it out!

http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/1456/500cmarticlesm8je.jpg

MUCH Better!

http://www.sacbee.com/static/rich_content_images/212457-0406capitol2.jpg

Plan for Parthenon crumbles
High-rise office building proposed for Capitol Mall won't be capped by a tribute to Greece after all.

By Mary Lynne Vellinga -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, April 6, 2006

Downtown Sacramento's skyline won't sprout a replica of the Parthenon after all.
Developer Angelo G. Tsakopoulos last week submitted a revised application to the city for a high-rise office building at 500 Capitol Mall. It eliminates the Parthenon look-alike that Tsakopoulos and his father, George, previously had proposed to cap a 31-story tower.

The plan now is for a 25-story granite and glass building topped by a two-story penthouse with a soaring, triangular glass skylight.

When he announced his Parthenon plan last year, Tsakopoulos, nephew of Angelo K. Tsakopoulos, the region's largest developer, said it would honor his family's Greek forebears. Both his father and his uncle emigrated from Greece.

But the idea of replicating an ancient Athenian temple on top of an otherwise spare, modern office tower caused considerable consternation in Sacramento design circles. Tsakopoulos pulled the previous application while it was awaiting consideration by the city's Design Review and Preservation Board.

"We're happy," said Robert Chase, an architect who sits on the city's design review panel. "Since it's gone away, we'll let it lie in peace. It did not seem appropriate, and I don't think anyone in the design community was anxious to see it happen."

Gregory Thatch, a lawyer representing Tsakopoulos, said the developer did not change his design because of controversy over the Parthenon replica. It was, he said, a simple matter of economics.

"The way the other building was designed, you didn't have the size of suites that really fit the market," Thatch said. "The other building design ended up with floor plates that were either too small or too big."

Chase said he welcomes the revision.

"From what I've seen briefly, it could be a very good addition and very appropriate to the Capitol Mall," he said of the new renderings.

Luis Sanchez, the city's design review director, agreed.

"It's a more conventional design for an office building that we think generally will fit in well," Sanchez said.

The building is designed by architect Edwin Kado, who also designed the ziggurat building in West Sacramento. Thatch said the two-story penthouse suite could potentially house a restaurant.

If approved by the city, 500 Capitol Mall could be built relatively quickly, said local commercial real estate brokers.

Unlike many other developers, including David Taylor, whose office building at 621 Capitol Mall is now under construction, Tsakopoulos has said the family doesn't need to line up tenants before it breaks ground.

The construction cost is pegged at $115 million.

"This is a family-driven project, and they will substantially finance it out of their own assets," Thatch said. "We are very hopeful we'll be through the entitlement process by sometime in the fall of this year. Construction would start shortly thereafter."

John Frisch, senior vice president of Cornish & Carey, said the office market downtown is relatively strong and can likely absorb another tower.

"There's a market for it, and it's a lot easier to lease something when it's under construction or when it's complete than when it's a set of plans," he said.

The profile of Capitol Mall, unchanged since the construction of the Wells Fargo tower in the early 1990s, is poised to undergo a major transformation.

The first new arrival will be Taylor's 621 Capitol Mall, slated for completion in spring of 2008. It replaces a parking lot once operated by the city of Sacramento.

Tsakopoulos' planned building at 500 Capitol Mall would replace the old Wells Fargo headquarters vacated when the bank moved to its new tower. It has been vacant for years.

Two high-rise residential projects also are planned for the Capitol Mall.

One of them, developer Craig Nassi's Aura condominium tower, faces a key test this weekend when Nassi seeks to convert buyers' refundable deposits into nonrefundable down payments.

CalPERS to back high-rise project
By Gilbert Chan -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, April 8, 2006


Developer John Saca's long hunt for a deep-pocket partner ended Friday, as he signed on an investor headquartered three short blocks from his ambitious $500 million downtown Sacramento high-rise project.
In a major coup, Saca signed a $100 million deal with the giant California Public Employees' Retirement System to invest in the Towers on Capitol Mall, a massive twin-towered, 804-unit luxury condominium and hotel complex that would dramatically reshape the city skyline and be the tallest residential structure on the West Coast.


CalPERS' investment paves the way for Saca to line up a construction lender and break ground in the next 60 days. He will start asking people who put down $10,000 refundable deposits to make a firm commitment.
"We'll start converting people early next week," Saca said. "We sent documents to them a month ago to give them time to digest this. We're inviting them to come on in, spend two or three hours with our sales staff and go over the details."

The pact answers skeptics who have questioned whether the suburban shopping center developer could secure the financing for a sprawling, 2.1 million-square-foot development at Third Street and Capitol Mall, site of the former Sacramento Union newspaper building.

"This is huge. People were saying no way it will ever work. CalPERS makes this a done deal. It got rid of all of the uncertainty," said Saca, in an earlier interview.

In a rare move, CalPERS will invest directly in the Towers project, taking a minority stake while lending its financial and real estate expertise to the first-time high-rise builder.

The fund's real estate officers, housed a short walk from Capitol Mall, will manage the investment. Normally, CalPERS' real estate deals are negotiated and overseen by outside investment partners.

"It's not a huge gamble for us. He (Saca) has a vision. It's going to be dynamic for the city. We think the long-term prospects for the city are great," said Michael McCook, CalPERS senior investment officer for real estate.

News that CalPERS was planning to invest in Saca's project cheered officials at the city of Sacramento, who are eager to see high-rise living materialize in downtown.

"Now that John's got a very good equity partner, I think that raises the probability very high," said City Manager Ray Kerridge. But he cautioned that the developer still faces rising construction costs that could force him to shrink some components of the 53-story project.

"I would say we're going to get a project there," Kerridge said. "I hope it's as close to John's original vision as possible. The cost of materials is going up and up and up, and who knows what issues are going to arise during construction."

Business leaders also hailed the announcement, saying the project would help fuel efforts to build a vibrant, well-rounded downtown community.

"You begin to get an urban neighborhood active in the day and evening," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a business and property improvement district. "This project will reshape how people look at downtown."

CalPERS, the largest pension fund real estate investor in the nation, has been a longtime player in inner city residential complexes, funding developments in major metropolitan centers including Los Angeles, Seattle and San Diego.

The nation's largest public pension fund, with $207 billion in assets, has more than $9 billion invested in real estate nationwide.

Increasingly, city leaders and planners across the country are promoting dense downtown developments to complement shopping and entertainment venues. The trend has spread to Sacramento, where 2,500 condominium units are proposed for downtown and midtown. Also on Friday, developer Craig Nassi began collecting nonrefundable deposits for his 265-unit Aura condo tower planned for Capitol Mall.

Some have questioned whether the market can absorb a surge of new condos and apartments, especially in a softening housing market.

Saca, president of Saca Development, said the demand is there, pointing out that about 5,000 people have been pre-qualified for his condos, and more than 500 potential buyers have put up refundable deposits of $10,000 per unit.

"There is a pent-up demand. People want the amenities and the quality of life you get in a San Francisco, San Diego, Portland or Seattle," Saca said.

More than two years in the works, the Towers features two 53-story towers that would soar over 600 feet and loom about 200 feet taller than the loftiest existing skyscraper, the Wells Fargo bank building across the street.

Plans call for building 804 luxury condos priced from the high $300,000s to $6 million for a penthouse.

InterContinental Hotels, owner of the famed Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, would have 230 rooms and occupy 12 floors of one of the towers. Target date for completion is the end of 2008.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/14240776p-15060459c.html

621 Capitol Mall (US Bank Tower)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3165/621cm547065wy.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9962/621cm47067ey.jpg

L Street Lofts has brokenground at 18th and L

L Street Lofts
18th and L Street
www.LStreetLofts.com
Developer: Sotiris Kolokotronis
Architect: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects
8 Stories, 92 Condo Units, 6K Ground Floor Retail
http://www.lstreetlofts.com/Portals/32/Assets/perspect.jpg

Where is Sacremento growing and will grow outward? Eastward toward the Sierra foothills? west down the 80 to the bay area? south toward Stockton? or is it containing it's growth? I remember going to Davis, in 2004 and there is this area of farmland btwn Davis and Sacremento. I also herd there is this "smart growth" community near Davis that has been around for a long time? :runaway:

^ SacrAmento (sorry, just a pet peeve of mine)

Where is Sacremento growing and will grow outward? Eastward toward the Sierra foothills? west down the 80 to the bay area? south toward Stockton? or is it containing it's growth? I remember going to Davis, in 2004 and there is this area of farmland btwn Davis and Sacremento. I also herd there is this "smart growth" community near Davis that has been around for a long time? :runaway:
Dixon and Vacaville share a greenbelt.
I wouldn’t want to think of sharing anything with Davis :bash:

CalSTRS plans 14-story headquarters in West Sacramento
Sacramento Business Journal - 10:18 AM PDT Wednesdayby Mike McCarthy


The California State Teachers' Retirement System plans to build a 14-story headquarters in Carl Panattoni's Raley's Landing project in West Sacramento, a major coup for the small but fast-growing city.

Groundbreaking on the approximately $180 million project is planned for fall 2006 with move-in expected in spring of 2009, according to a CalSTRS spokesperson.

The site is located next to the "Ziggurat" building, across from Old Sacramento. Raley's Landing is planned as a mixed-use community comprising commercial space, restaurants, a hotel, housing and recreational opportunities on the banks of the Sacramento River. Singature Properties plans to build the housing, while Panattoni develops the commercial space.

Facing projected growth in membership and an ongoing need for more work space to serve its 776,000 current members, CalSTRS spent two years looking to solve its space shortage.

More than 35 sites throughout the region were reviewed, including existing buildings and those in development. A special bill was passed by the state Legislature allowing CalSTRS to consider sites outside Sacramento County. The West Sacramento site was chosen because of the ability to construct a modern, efficient work space and for the investment value provided by building in the burgeoning area, according to CalSTRS officials.

"Our new home will dramatically increase the efficiency of our operations by consolidating our staff currently housed in three buildings into one facility," said Jack Ehnes, CalSTRS' chief executive officer, in a news release.

The 400,000-square-foot headquarters will include 14 stories of office space above a five-level parking garage, and will be built to meet the environmental standards of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

The estimated construction cost is $176 million to $186 million, and the long-term cost savings due to sustainable construction and energy-efficient features is estimated at $1.7 million annually.

CalSTRS' acquisition at Raley's Landing also includes land that may be developed at a later date depending on the growth requirements of the organization. Tentative plans for this parcel are a seven-story, high-rise office building consisting of 200,000 square feet of office space, approximately 617 parking spaces and up to 20,000 square feet of retail space.

An additional parcel is included in the investment adjacent to the headquarters' site. This parcel may be used to build a 17-story residential building with condominium units and 300 parking spaces.

With a $142 billion investment portfolio, the California State Teachers' Retirement System is the second-largest public pension fund in the United States. It provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to California's 776,000 public school educators from kindergarten through community college.

Thanks to joninsac from the SSP.com
http://www.calstrs.com/About%20CalSTRS/HQInfoCenter/Images/east_large.jpg
http://www.calstrs.com/About%20CalSTRS/HQInfoCenter/Images/north_large.jpg

CalSTRS says groundbreaking set for late summer 2006.
check out the rest of the renderings here - http://www.calstrs.com/About%20CalSTRS/HQInfoCenter/ArchDrawings.aspx

A little something I did in my spare time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/ltsmotorsport/Sacprojects.jpg

Blue= towers u/c, approved, proposed

Red= large infill




Also, an updated version of the original map.
http://img270.echo.cx/img270/5194/projects6ff.jpg


Good job. Now I'd just like to see a similar pic done with all the new buildings, but as a real skyline pic like this one:
http://static.flickr.com/48/127543240_2c10e1a677.jpg

Marriott - 15th & L Street

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Marriott4-24-06.jpg


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Marriott14-24-06.jpg


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Marriott24-24-06.jpg


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Marriott34-24-06.jpg


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Marriott44-24-06.jpg

Saca will start meeting with buyers next week to sign contracts.
The Sac. Business Journal reports that another round of advertising
is about to start to bring in buyers for the rest of the units.
Saca has hired Turner Construction to build the Towers on Capitol Mall,
with a cost of $500 million, or maybe more.

I just found these forums yesterday and I'm loving them. I've been checking out downtown lately and it seems like you almost can't throw a rock without hitting a new development. It'll be interesting to see what downtown looks like in 5-10 years.

To me it looks like the digging crew has reached the 16 foot depth along some
of the walls, but the foundation hole area is far from being empty.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2305/621cm421200613fm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1737/621cm421200637nu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cathedral Square Condos
11th and J
233 Condo Units
26 Stories, 290 Feet
For comparison:
1201K - 238 Feet
Sheraton - 318 Feet

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2428/stanton30pv.png

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4750/stanton25yn.png

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7366/stanton51gc.png

I just found these forums yesterday and I'm loving them. I've been checking out downtown lately and it seems like you almost can't throw a rock without hitting a new development. It'll be interesting to see what downtown looks like in 5-10 years.

Check out
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42

Lot more stuff over here....

Thanks for the link, dude! I just moved into downtown and looking at different revitalization efforts has become a huge interest for me. Must be from all those countless hours of Sim City...

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/1008/document128vq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7547/document220dy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Marriott 15th & L Street

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00030001.jpg
7:15AM


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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00170001.jpg
This is protest of union workers against the contractor who is useing
non-union workers.


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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00390001.jpg

621 Capitol Mall

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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00290001.jpg
This is a house that is built on top of the Hotel Berry.


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00680001.jpg
The Port


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00620001.jpg
GO RIVERCATS

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/DSC_00540001.jpg
The Marriott is just starting to break through the tree line.

621 Capitol Mall begins pile driving

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/193/7621cm2ts.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8247/8621cmmountingthepile6ms.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Mounting the pile

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/138/9621cmsecuringthepile1vj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
securing the pile

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/5052/10621cmmovingintoposition6ry.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Moving it into position

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9479/11621cmsenditin1de.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
It's go time

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/3572/12621cm2zd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/3381/13621cm2ut.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4481/14621cm8qi.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


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http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/42/16621cm0np.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

AURA begins test piles... they will be screwed into the ground.

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6467/6auratestdrillingforthepiles4e.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


The Towers on Capitol Mall

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6749/5thetowers9gu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Won't be long now

Railyard lands big retail tenant
By Mary Lynne Vellinga -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, May 26, 2006
Story appeared on Page A1 of The Bee


Georgia developer Stan Thomas doesn't own Sacramento's downtown railyard yet, but his company announced Thursday that it has already landed its first retail tenant, Bass Pro Shops, a fishing and outdoors emporium.

Suheil Totah, vice president of development for Thomas Enterprises, called the announcement by Missouri-based Bass Pro "the biggest thing to hit downtown in years," and proof that a rebirth of the historic railyard is moving forward.

"We're not just here to plan it; we're going to build it," Totah said of the planned neighborhood -- 10,000 housing units and 1.3 million square feet of retail -- that Thomas Enterprises promises for about 240 acres just north of the Amtrak station on I Street, a swath of land that was once Sacramento's industrial heart.

Bass Pro stores are comparable in size to Ikea furniture stores. They usually include waterfalls, aquariums, boat showrooms and sometimes restaurants and adjacent marinas.

"This thing is huge," Rancho Cordova fishing guide Steve Adams said when he heard about Bass Pro's plans. Adams predicted that shoppers would come from as far away as Oregon.

"Bass fishing is like NASCAR now," he said. "It's big money."

Bass Pro spokesman Larry Whiteley said the company was attracted to Sacramento because of its rivers, and its location between the ocean and mountains.

Bass Pro plans to locate the store near the back of the railyard, next to a spot earmarked by Thomas Enterprises for a new Kings arena. The site is part of a planned sports and entertainment district. It has access to Interstate 5 via Richards Boulevard and Jibboom streets. Plans call for widening of the streets.

Thomas Enterprises has been negotiating for "several months" with the city and county of Sacramento over the logistics of putting a new arena in the railyard, Totah said.

Despite the giant Bass Pro store, the sports district's layout will be kept urban and walkable, Totah said. Parking would be in garages, not vast surface lots.

The railyard has emerged as the favored arena location among members of a public-private group working on a financing plan.

"The (arena) talks have been very positive and we're very hopeful this will all come together," Totah said.

If an arena is included, it may not be the only one Stan Thomas is involved in. The developer is among the owners of 1,800 acres near Orlando's theme parks. He is negotiating with the Orlando Magic to build a new arena. In that case, he would become a limited partner in the sports franchise, Totah said.

Here, however, Thomas is just providing land for the arena, not helping build it, Totah said. Terms of a deal for a possible arena site have yet to be worked out.

The Sacramento railyard is considered one of the nation's most significant urban "infill" sites, a place that could double the size of downtown Sacramento. But the site has been difficult to develop. It lacks infrastructure, and was so soaked with toxins from past rail-car construction that it was designated a Superfund site.

In 2002, yard owner Union Pacific announced that it had chosen Millennia Associates, led by renowned architect Jon Jerde, to develop about 70 acres. The group later decided it wanted to buy the entire 240 acres.

During the more than three years it has taken to negotiate a sale, Jerde has receded from view while Thomas, his financial partner, has moved into the driver's seat.

Earlier this week Thomas met with officials from the city of Sacramento who were visiting Las Vegas for the International Council of Shopping Centers conference. A booth set up by Thomas featured information about his 12 projects around the country, including an 800-acre mixed-use project in San Antonio that also includes a Bass Pro.

City Councilman Rob Fong was there, and was happy to learn of the Bass Pro deal.

"I think it could be a potentially great thing," he said. "We keep talking about attracting destination retailers to the city core, and when you talk to people who know retail, (Bass Pro) is at the top of the list."

Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said the railyard is suited to host a large retailer like Bass Pro, which could not fit anywhere else downtown.

Totah said the sale of the railyard to Thomas Enterprises is nearing completion, but he would not predict a closing date.

"I don't give dates; I've given dates before, but there are no issues in terms of the deal. It's just a matter of finalizing the paperwork," Totah said.

Totah said Bass Pro hopes to open by 2008. In order to meet that timetable, Thomas Enterprises and the city of Sacramento will have to make fast progress on completing the purchase of the railyard, cleaning up toxins and building infrastructure.

Preparing the site is expected to cost about $300 million. Another $45 million will be needed to move the railroad tracks to the north, something that needs to be finished before Fifth Street can be extended into the site.

Still, Totah said his group is committed to moving forward quickly. Thomas Enterprises hopes to get city approval of its plans by April, and break ground shortly thereafter.

"There's been a lot of planning for the railyards, and I think people would just like us to get on with it," he said.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4217/621cm21ed.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The base for the crane is being set... we will not see the crane rise
till November from what I understand. There is a lot of work to be
done on the foundation before steel starts to rise. The base for the
crane will use 80 yards of concete. it's 16' x 16' and 6' deep.

AURA
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6026/aura15ug.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Tests for the screw in pile continue at AURA.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/7300/towers39we.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The model is now open to the public and everyone is welcome :yes:
Here's just a glimpse of what the model looks like inside... check it out because it's beautiful.

From: http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/14263768p-15076587c.html
______________________________
Tram could link CSUS, light rail
By Tony Bizjak -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, June 3, 2006
Story appeared on Page A1 of The Bee

A quarter-century ago, Sacramento State officials made a fateful decision not to pay the estimated $3 million for a light-rail station on campus.
So, the nearest station was built a half-mile away, on the other side of a railroad levee -- a virtual wall between campus and transit.

"A shame," planning executive Matt Altier says today. "A big shame."



Today, few students use light rail. It's part of the reason California State University, Sacramento, is one of the region's leading producers of car commutes -- as many as 20,000 vehicles daily -- and why officials find themselves building a third multilevel garage, a $39 million parking pantheon, just to keep up.
Standing last week near the new parking garage site, campus President Alexander Gonzalez said the time is right for a creative new turn of the wheel.

His administration is planning and promoting a tram system that would run through the heart of campus as often as every five minutes, and out to the 65th Street light-rail station.

The sleek people-mover may cost $20 million, Gonzalez said, but it makes sense given the ongoing parking problems, plus the region's growing freeway congestion and record-high gas prices.

"The tram is a great idea," Gonzalez said. "We need to look at all alternative forms of getting people to campus."

The Sacramento State Tram, or SST, also would connect to a 25- acre site the university purchased a half-mile south of campus, where officials hope to build a village of 500 homes and apartments for faculty, staff and some older students.

Gonzalez said a personal experience a few years ago taught him that something creative needed to be done if the university wanted to get more students and staff to use light rail: He walked to campus from Folsom Boulevard, near the light-rail station, with City Councilman Steve Cohn.

"I realized this is tough," he said. "It's hot. It's difficult to do. You get to campus, and you still have a ways to go" to reach any classrooms.

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments recently granted Sacramento State $900,000 for initial planning for the tram.

University planner Altier hopes to have trams running in two years. He showed off drawings, done by a campus professor, of a thin, sleek, glass-walled bus on wheels -- possibly fueled by some alternative to gasoline -- that would run in its own lane, separated from cars.

Trams would run at 5 to 10 miles per hour adjacent to pedestrian walkways through the heart of campus, making frequent stops. On streets outside campus, they could run at the speed of traffic, and may even have the ability to turn traffic lights green at Folsom Boulevard.

Officials say they think the tram and the 500-unit university housing village could reduce the number of cars on campus by several thousand.

"We aren't going to eliminate autos," Gonzalez said. "But if we can at least make (the tram) attractive enough and cost-effective, it'll be a service not only to the campus, but to the region."

Regional Transit currently has bus routes that connect with light rail and the campus. But Altier said they run circuitously through the neighborhood and drop riders off only at the northern edge of the campus, making them far less convenient than trams would be.

A recent survey of faculty, staff and students found that only 15 percent said they ever use public transit to get to campus. More than 86 percent said they always or sometimes drive their cars alone to school.

However, the survey found more than half of people on campus said they would use light rail at least some of the time if something convenient and easy like the tram were built.

"It sounds enticing," said Kristin Green, a Rancho Cordova resident who works at the campus bookstore and drives her car to campus for convenience, even though she lives near light rail.

Student Carlos Gutierrez, a College Greens resident, said he rides light rail to work but finds it easier to drive his car to campus, even though some days he has spent so much time searching for a parking spot that he missed class.

The tram sounds like "a good idea," he said, although he isn't sure he would use it.

Sacramento State officials acknowledge they have not pinned down funding for the tram but say it shouldn't be hard to do.

Altier said much of it could come from parking fees paid by students, faculty, staff and visitors. The university also could apply for federal and state grants, he said.

SACOG official Ken Hough said the tram project is a good candidate in future years for more of the community design grant funding it was awarded this year. Also, RT official Mike Wiley said his agency hasn't ruled out playing a financial role.

University officials typically use parking fees to fund garages and have planned to tap those fees to fund a fourth campus parking structure. If the tram is successful, however, the fourth structure might be smaller and less expensive, or may not need to be built, Altier said.

"We think we can get a lot of people to ride light rail and take the tram," Altier said. "After we get the (tram) built, we can decide what we do with parking structure four."

Off campus, the tram is expected to run in its own lane on city streets. Final costs won't be known until detailed engineering work is done and construction price estimates are gathered.

Councilman Cohn is among several city and Sacramento Regional Transit officials enthusiastic about the tram idea.

"We now have an opportunity to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," said Cohn, an RT director who has encouraged campus officials for years to connect more with the outside community, especially around the light-rail station. "It's not that great of a distance. It's just the barriers you have to cross make it seem a longer distance than it really is."

Cohn and other transportation planners say the tram and university housing village represent good urban planning -- putting more people near work or school and giving them a way to get there without cars.

To that end, university officials also have put out feelers to a development group -- which has 135 loft apartments under construction across 65th Street from the light-rail station -- asking if the university could lease that complex and rent it to students.

Scott Rasmussen, a partner in the development group building the lofts near 65th Street and Folsom Boulevard, said he is pleased with the university's attempts to connect with the community, and his group is willing to talk about a lease.

Sacramento State President Gonzalez said the bottom line for him is that less space devoted to cars means more space for new academic, recreation, entertainment and other facilities.

"It's about changing the climate on campus," he said.

http://www.sacbee.com/ips_rich_content/957-csus_tr.jpgA CSUS rendering envisions a sleek, glass-walled tram, possibly powered by alternative fuel, traveling in its own lane. California State University, Sacramento

http://www.sacbee.com/ips_rich_content/228-csustr2.jpg

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/1372/revisedcapitolgrand8ld.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Revised Capitol Grand Tower
The revised plans show 56stories (701 feet). It will have 1.17 million sqft
which includes 54,634sf of office, 278 residential condos, 200 hotel rooms
with a pool andfitness room, and several levels of subterranean parking.
There will be 662 parking spaces for the building. There have been no
drawings showing how they plan to detail the exterior.

Marriott

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8/marriott68200610mn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Look what their building behind Hamburger Mary's

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/3471/marriott68200620mc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5583/marriott68200632gm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/7277/marriott68200644vn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/4716/marriott68200652ep.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1797/marriott68200669ss.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/4849/marriott68200671mw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/7393/marriott68200684kw.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9317/marriott68200697wn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/498/621cm61620064vh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5706/621cm616200621uy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8776/621cm616200632zf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
They'er almost done pile driving... the L street side where the parking
garage will be needs 80 or so compared to the 300+ for the tower side.
They have also started digging down deeper to expose the buried piles...
many of pile tops went down below the surface 4 or five feet.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9103/marriott61620064dq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8967/marriott616200620ba.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6811/marriott616200636kr.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Out last Friday evening

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4729/dsc014500016kc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This was taken a few months back, but I thought it was still cool.

Does someone out there have a list (text format) of all pending/approved projects in urban sector of Sacramento?

The Marriott's working on the 11th floor... four more to go.
Here's a glimps of what it will actually look like... not bad when
you look at it in person. I don't like the baron wall that has no
windows facing east ( 3rd pic down)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/2553/marriott163006copy9nk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/2813/marriott263006copy8by.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/1470/marriott363006copy8ab.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/2782/marriott463006copy4le.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/4977/marriott563006copy6is.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


The Towers on Capitol Mall
http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/486/towers163006giantpanocopy2rz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Super Wide >>>>>

621CM
http://img308.imageshack.us/img308/2332/621cmfull630066jj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Pile driving is complete at the U.S. Bank tower site (621 CM). From Shallit's column in the Bee today:


Tom McCarthy is happy to report that the last construction piles have been driven for the new office building going up at Sixth and Capitol Mall. "The worst of the noise is over," he says.

McCarthy is operations director for the Downey Brand LLP law firm, whose offices are right across the street from the construction zone.

Lawyers usually come to him when they have problems with their work space. But during the ear-splitting pile driving, none did.

Maybe that's because Downey Brand will be an anchor tenant in the 25-story building that's to be completed in early 2008. Without the law firm's commitment, construction might not have begun.

DB's lawyers, McCarthy says, realized the racket was "partly our doing."

Looking at the Marriott construction site from the 15th floor of 1215 K Street.

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8672/marriott77060001copy7mp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4558/marriott277060001copy6cb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I haven't been to Sac-town before, but seems like the skyline is going to look quite impressive in the coming years.

621 Capitol Mall

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4259/621cmgroundwidefinal3yd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On the ground panoramic > > > > >

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2595/621cm71304upfinal1so.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Up-close panoramic > > > > >

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9336/621cm71304highfinal7nb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The city around panoramic > > > > >

The Towers on Capitol Mall
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4822/thetowers71304final0uf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Waiting... just waiting

Cool we got a sac thread! Now lets make it a sticky ;) but im confused, where did that second tower come from? is that an alternative design for the first one?


Great pix and an interesting thread!

Dr Vito, I just wanted to show you it is possible to be polite in someone else's city thread, unlike your style which you crap all over Toronto in its threads. It is not healthy to have that kind of miserable outlook about a city thousands of miles away in another country, is it? And it does not reflect well on yourself. :)

Here's a great site by TowerDistrict from skyscraperpage that puts all the projects on a great interactive map. Enjoy :cheers:

http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/widescreen/20365

http://www.wayfaring.com/maps/show/20365

[QUOTE=Dr.VitO]Here's a great site by TowerDistrict from skyscraperpage that puts all the projects on a great interactive map. Enjoy :cheers:

QUOTE]

Good. I am glad you got the message loud and clear and perhaps you will
stop embarassing yourself with your rude behavior in the Toronto threads.
If you forget, I will be happy to keep reminding you here in your own forum.
Thank you.

[QUOTE=Dr.VitO]Here's a great site by TowerDistrict from skyscraperpage that puts all the projects on a great interactive map. Enjoy :cheers:

QUOTE]

Good. I am glad you got the message loud and clear and perhaps you will
stop embarassing yourself with your rude behavior in the Toronto threads.
If you forget, I will be happy to keep reminding you here in your own forum.
Thank you.

Dude wtf?? You think everybody in this world has to like Toronto?? I think i have the right to have my own opinion and that's what this forum is for. :baeh3:

I'm not asking you to like Toronto- you have repeatedly made it clear you do not. I am asking you to be polite and constructive when you visit other threads! Have a great day and lets get back to Sacramento! :cheers:

(later). Thanks Dr Vito! You were a gentleman today in the TO thread! :cheers:

Stop spamming this thread with the TO threads bs.

And thanks to TowerDistrict for putting all that time and effort into that site.

Any new news? Pictures?

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8074/400milgl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/1803/400mil2us5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/925/400mil3il0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4474/tankswd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7962/tanks2aq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Saca's K Street towers
800 K and L Street Project
2 - 300 Foot Buildings
Developer: John Saca, Mo Mohanna, John Lambeth
Architect: Kwan Henmi

Option 1)
Tower 1: 300 Loft Sytle Condos facing K and 8th Street
Tower 2: 300K Sqaure Feet Office Space facing L and 8th Street
17,730 Square Feet Ground Floor Retail

Option 2)
Tower 1 and 2: 600 Loft Sytle Condos
17,730 Square Feet Ground Floor Retail


http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2613/kloftssa7.png

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2500/kstreetschemein8.png

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3270/kstreet5bs1.png

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/3338/kstreetmi1.png

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2595/kstreet1ra2.png

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5369/kstreet3uh7.png

The Kress Building on the left just screams to me "Turn me back into a department store!!"
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/5388/kstreet2vd3.png

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3134/kstreet4ju5.png

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4250/kstreet1tc2.png


Bye Bye...hopefully
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/5170/kstreetoldaj1.png

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3340/kstreetold1yl5.png

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/692/kstreetold2dx6.png

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/4864/kstreetold3ms3.png

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/410/kstreetold4cf7.png

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3929/kstreetold5zz2.png

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5848/kstreetold6vb0.png

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7310/kstreetold7cw9.png

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7948/kstreetold8ix2.png

I like the interconnectivity between the towers over the alley. The design looks good and hopefully we can see this move quickly.

The Towers on Capitol Mall
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7079/thetowersgroundfinal728060001mc0.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9720/thetowerswidefinal728040001copypp0.jpg

621 Capitol Mall

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3962/621cmwidefinal728040001copytg4.jpg

Marriott

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6408/marriottupfinal728060001copyvg7.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6999/marriottfinal728040001copyaf5.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/841/marriott2final728040001copype2.jpg

Skyline
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2387/nightdtfinal728060001copyjm2.jpg

Pile driving for the Towers on Capitol Mall has started

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7259/towers840610001copyxt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/4840/towerswestwidefinal840650001copylowresgm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7642/towerssupportwall840640001copykw3.jpg
They have begun to build the retaining wall.


http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/5325/towerspiles840620001copyfo7.jpg
Stakes placed for where a few of the 2400 piles will be driven into the ground.


http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/3941/towerspiledriver840630001copyvc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
This is just the beginning for the pile driving.


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7769/towerspeoplefar8406120001copymi3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/4021/towerspeople8406110001copymd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
A comparison to see the size of the equipment compared to people.


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8238/towersusbankcrane8406130001copypq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8343/towersdownmall8406150001copykp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1719/towersdownmall28406160001copyqy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

thanks innov8, GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone! I love this thread

I am new here, this is a very interesting thread! Has anyone heard or have any information on the proposed 7 residential towers along the waterfront in West Sacramento?

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/8196/7tkz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/7116/7t2dg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7972/ws1rx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/8938/ws2hr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

621 Capitol Mall

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/74/dsc00790001621cmcranebase81806copyeh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/7881/dsc00860001621cmfoundationrebar281806copywb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9727/dsc00830001621cmfoundationrebar81806copywq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Look's like it's going to be about a foot deep for the basement/foundation concete.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/5538/dsc00900001621cm181806copyhg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The Towers on Capitol Mall

Two pile drivers are now going to work on the site now. For the last two
weeks they have been working up to 11pm at night pounding away at the
piles but now it looks like that's not the case any more. I bet the nearby
restaurants raised a ruckus and now work stops at 5pm.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2567/dsc00840001towerspiledriver81806copyuy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1884/dsc00940001towerspiles81806copybk2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9726/dsc00990001towerspileman81806copytd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6421/dsc01010001towerspiledriverii81806copyub7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9602/dsc01050001towerspilecut81806copyrt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2158/dsc01180001towerspilessetup81806copyye5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4748/dsc01200001towerspileswaiting81806copyvn2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6969/dsc01210001towerspilehelp81806copypd7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7867/dsc01270001towersdriverman81806copynu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1359/dsc01240001towersdrivermanii81806copyuu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/5523/dsc01340001towerssite81806copyht0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks for the update!

The Towers on Capitol Mall "AT NIGHT"

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4099/thetowers191206copych0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6245/thetowers291206copylp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7518/thetowers391206copyfa7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1653/thetowers491206copyoh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7374/thetowers591206copybm4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5172/thetowers691206copyjo9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/96/thetowers791206copytd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5290/thetowers891206copyij2.jpg

That's great. Thanks so much for the update. I'm in London right now so I feel out of the loop. Love the pictures!

Marriott at 15th & L Street
These were taken from the 22nd floor of the Esquire building.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4127/marriott91706fbc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3937/marriott291706fob6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4933/marriott391706fnz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8997/marriott491706frd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4254/marriott691906fqy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5091/capitolsquarefns1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Looks like they are serious about the "window problem" over at the Capitol Square

The Towers on Capitol Mall

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9589/thetowers92006fbp1.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7363/thetowers292006fmq5.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/726/thetowers392006fxu7.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6751/thetowers492006fkc3.jpg

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8137/thetowers592006fnq5.jpg

thanks!

Some cool info and pictures about the Railyard Development

http://www.sharethevisionsacramento.com/vision.asp


Yes on Q&R!

500 Capitol Mall Renderings

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall1rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall2rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall3rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall4rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall5rendering.jpg

More Piles @ The Towers

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6559/thetowers2102006feo1.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1555/thetowers3102006fdk9.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5900/thetowers4102006fpe3.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1612/thetowers5102006fxm2.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2145/thetowers6102006fpu7.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8774/thetowers7102006fvo8.jpg

Yes, Im definitely voting for YES on Q and R.

I think its about time Sacramento gets moving on redeveloping its downtown. There is that new project that just got done on 800J, they haven't been filling it up yet though. But there are plenty of residentials moving into Sacramento, hopefully the night scene will start picking up.

There is so much potential with developing the areas around the River, that it's really a crime that so much time has past without any action. The Railyards offer the best opportunity for Sacramento to showcase a new development pattern for other cities which focus less on urban sprawl and more on creating and renewing the urban center to accomodate future growth.

WOW cool stuff but what is going on with all the pillars? I really don’t know that much about architecture so this is something new to me. It does make for cool photos though.

WOW cool stuff but what is going on with all the pillars? I really don’t know that much about architecture so this is something new to me. It does make for cool photos though.

They are actully called piles... for the Towers project they
will be driving 2400 of them into the ground for the foundation.
Each pile is about eighty feet in length.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8074/400milgl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/1803/400mil2us5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/925/400mil3il0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


This reminds me of the development going on in Denver Colorado... redeveloping the railyards just to the west of the downtown.

L street Lofts - We now have two cranes in the sky :)

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/4507/2crains1122006fjy6.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1194/2crains21122006fhz1.jpg

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/2900/lstreet1122006fdn8.jpg


621 Capitol Mall - Nov. 13th is when the tower crane will rise for the tower :)

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/2848/621cm11122006fzp3.jpg

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/1694/621cm21122006fkr0.jpg

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/3969/621cm31122006fbm0.jpg

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/3492/621cm41122006fer2.jpg

500 Capitol Mall - Demo time in a few more weeks.

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/3613/500cm11122006faz6.jpg

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/5946/500cm21122006fsf8.jpg


CalSTRS - This view is looking down J Street at the pile driver crane in
West Sacramento across the river from Sacramento on 8th Street.

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/272/calstrs1122006fro4.jpg

The Towers

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/5572/thetowers11122006fpx4.jpg

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/7060/thetowers21122006fli9.jpg

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3285/thetowers31122006fbn6.jpg

http://img417.imageshack.us/img417/9817/thetowers41122006fzn0.jpg

SSP is being VERY slow so I'll be checking here I guess for your updates

I got a sneak peak at the renderings for the I-5 decking.

These first two are awful... the park area is raised up and doe's not
invite people into the area from Crocker Park at all. These
must be the cheap $50 million version. WTF? put a
parking lot on top of the freeway... one hell of a way to use
newly create public space!!! :koko: That office area is about
as boring as they come :yuck:




I made these extra big so you can read the small print.
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5926/dsc00900001i5alt1112006dc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1052/dsc00890001i5alt2112006so4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/2940/dsc00920001i5altcon1112ny5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6871/dsc00940001i5altrec1112cs1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/4629/dsc00960001i5altrec2112006ic7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9490/dsc00970001i5altrec3112ca9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

These ideas are kinda cool... I like concept C-1. The last
concept on the bottom is nice in how there is more park
space available.
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2705/dsc00930001i5altmin1120ji4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The latest elevations and materials for the Capitol Grand.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2182/2sactower12thstreetelevpv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/9809/3sactowerjstreetelevnovas2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9046/4sactoweralleyelevnov82hr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/625/8sactower12thstreetrearij4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/6439/6cgmaterials1lj0.jpg

A descent design and a nice hight, but will it ever get built? Not likely...at least not in the next 5 years I would say.

Towers project facing hurdles
Downtown high-rise residence far over budget; unit sales lag.
By Jon Ortiz - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 30, 2006

It's little more than a giant hole in the ground, but already the 53-story Towers hotel and condominium project is $70 million over its original $500 million budget.

Meanwhile, sales of the Towers' condos are slow, and developer John Saca has switched general contractors.

What all of that means for one of the tallest residential construction projects on the West Coast remains to be seen. Saca is in talks with his backers for more money, and his isn't the first commercial development to overshoot its budget. Contractor changes aren't as common, but Saca says that the swap brings in a more experienced high-rise mixed-use construction firm.

However, one thing is clear: Saca admits the Towers, at Third Street and Capitol Mall, is being pinched between a weak housing market and rising prices for materials such as steel and concrete.

Despite those challenges, Saca, a scrappy local developer who has already brought his project farther along than naysayers thought he would, remains optimistic.

"We're close to a deal with our backers for more money," he said Wednesday. "We're pumping along."

Saca went public two years ago with his vision for a massive twin-tower structure anchored by a luxury hotel, high-end retail and 804 condos rising 600 feet and drastically changing the Sacramento skyline. He figured it would cost about $500 million for the land and construction.

Many thought the building was too ambitious to be Sacramento's first high-rise condo project and questioned whether there were enough customers to fill all those units, priced from $368,000 to $852,000.

Saca, whose father founded the Filco home appliance chain, had a reputation as a savvy land investor and shopping center developer, but had no history with high-rise construction. Still, he gained credibility in April when the giant California Public Employees' Retirement System agreed to invest $100 million in his project.

Two months later, he signed a $375 million loan agreement with Deutsche Bank, contingent on Saca preselling 400 condos. Saca committed his own money to make up the balance.

Construction started, but as massive pile drivers over the summer banged away at the Towers' downtown Sacramento site, Saca realized the initial cost estimates fell short.

He appealed to Sacramento city officials and received an $11 million subsidy in October for the 18-story Intercontinental Hotel that will anchor one of the building's two towers. Now, he's in talks with his other financial backers for more.

"Costs are higher than when we struck our deals," Saca said. "We've had to go back, and we're close to loan closings with CalPERS and Deutsche Bank."

A CalPERS spokesman on Thursday said that the system's real estate representatives "have been in discussions with Saca about more money," but, like Saca, declined to say how much.

Calls to Deutsche Bank's New York offices were not returned.

Sacramento developer Paul Petrovich said that Saca probably will give up more or all of his ownership stake in the project for more construction cash.

"The pot at the end of the rainbow for John at this point isn't money, it's credibility with politicians, other cities and other lenders," Petrovich said.

With the Towers on his resum?, Saca could get into even bigger projects down the road, Petrovich said.

Besides funding challenges, Saca also said the condo market has gone soft with the rest of the housing market, and the Tower's sales are "slowing down." He also has a condo competitor, Craig Nassi, whose Denver-based BCN Development has plans to build the Aura tower two blocks east on Capitol Mall and Sixth Street.

Through September, buyers had made deposits on 364 units at the Towers, according to the most recent figures from Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, a Costa Mesa firm that tracks residential construction.

The slump didn't deter Bovis Lend Lease Inc. from taking over the general contracting duties from Turner Construction Co., which had overseen the project's pile driving phase. Both firms are based in New York City.

Privately-held Bovis is one of the world's largest project management and construction companies.

Bovis' Western Regional Vice President Todd Pennington said that he couldn't yet estimate when the Towers will open.

"We're developing schedules and hiring the trade contractors," Pennington said. "We'll just keep moving from where others left off and keep the progress going."

http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/85083.html

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/8739/marriott21212006fao2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
One Crane

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1462/marriott1212006fnh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Two Cranes

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Three Cranes

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4140/500cm31212006fwz2.jpg
Demo has started for 500 Capitol Mall

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/362/621cm11212006fxy6.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7499/621cm31212006fem6.jpg
An extra special 621CM

The Towers on Capitol Mall
]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2893/towers11212006frw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Installing the rest of the retaining walls around.


http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6008/towers21212006ftb1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/1851/towers31212006fyf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/4667/towers41212006fjn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Many more piles to drive.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1931/towers51212006fnk2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
It looks like the dug out area to the back of the photo is where they might
rise one of the tower cranes.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/skyline212-3-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/621CMcrane12-3-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/621CMcrane212-3-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/621Cmcrane312-3-2006f.jpg

Towers project facing hurdles
Downtown high-rise residence far over budget; unit sales lag.


Yeah, great tower for Sacto, but not the best timing with condo market really slowing.

I'm afraid I know what this means...the Capital Grand and the Epic are dead.

^ I would not bet on it... both towers are still going through the approval
process... I think they will be delayed a year or so if anything. Also, that
article on the Towers was a lame attempt by the Bee
to report a story. The Sac Biz Journal filled in gaps of the story that the
Bee forgot to mention... like that the Towers are getting funded by Deutsche
Bank and other important stuff.

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/3614/sacasbj11uz3.jpg

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/1225/sacasbj21tw5.jpg

Lets hope that it all comes together, better a bit late than never!

621 Capitol Mall... taken from the 25th floor of the US Bank Tower.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/skyline12-10-2006ff.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/621cm212-10-2006f.jpg

Were losing a crane :(
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7121/marriott112162006frk8.jpg

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7940/marriott312162006fgh4.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2899/marriott412162006fbu4.jpg

I've been playing around with HDR... what do you think?
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3614/skylinehdrh12162006fwb6.jpg
HDR

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8690/hdrf12162006fvi3.jpg
HDR

It's a buyer's market in Sacramento
Builders and homeowners in the region hoping to sell are dropping prices and offering a bevy of new incentives
- Marni Leff Kottle, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, December 17, 2006

(12-17) 04:00 PST Sacramento -- When Dan Wan and his wife, Sara, bought their home two years ago, they considered themselves lucky: They managed to snag it in a tight market by contacting the sales office just after another buyer canceled a deal.
But now they are looking for a larger home because their family of four has grown to five. After four months, they haven't gotten any offers for their home, despite dropping their price to $350,000 from $370,000.
The Wans are in a bind. They are not only competing against at least three other homeowners who want to sell their properties in the same subdivision -- they are also facing an aggressive marketing campaign by the builder of hundreds of houses just a few blocks away, where many are selling for less than $350,000.
Driving toward the Wans' home from Interstate 80, it seems like there are billboards on every street corner advertising new developments. Red and white flags beckon potential buyers to the 537-unit project built by Beazer Homes. On weekends, sign twirlers stand at busy intersections, flagging down cars and directing them to the new construction.
While Bay Area prices are grudgingly holding their own, the Sacramento residential market has been hit hard. Nowhere is that more evident than in the new-home market. The median price of a new house in Sacramento County fell 14.6 percent in November to $395,250 compared with a year ago, according to DataQuick Information Systems.
Builders are desperately unloading their inventory, offering perks such as higher-quality appliances, mortgage discounts and swimming pools. By doing so, they've created a situation where it's cheaper to buy a new house than an old one.
"There's no doubt that in this market new-home prices are better than resale prices," said Jon Nicholson, president of the Sacramento division of Standard Pacific Homes, which has seven developments in the region.
New-home builders around the state and in other parts of the country have also fallen on hard times. In California, the new-home market in San Diego has been taking a beating, too.
That hasn't been the case in the Bay Area. While there are pockets in this region with new-home construction, particularly in eastern Contra Costa and Solano counties, developers have built fewer houses because there's less land and it's more expensive.
The price of new homes, which account for a very small portion of the overall market in the region, slipped 10.1 percent in the Bay Area's nine counties to $602,000.
In Sacramento County, the bloated housing market is in midst of a correction after years of overbuilding.
At the end of October, there were 13,886 new and existing homes for sale in Sacramento and neighboring Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties. That compares with just 8,974 in August 2005, when home prices reached a record level, according to the Trendgraphix Inc. data service. At the current pace, it would take nine months to sell all of the homes on the market, according to Trendgraphix.
Inventory needs to get whittled down before the market can recover, said G.U. Krueger, an economist with Institutional Housing Partners in Irvine.
"What it will take to fix things is for some kind of supply adjustment to occur," Krueger said. "As demand has dropped and speculators have left the market, there's a lot of supply in the resale market and this happened as the new-home market was building up."
Sellers, both individual homeowners in the resale market and builders pushing new homes, are finding the only way to make sales is to cut prices. And that is precisely what is happening. The median price for an existing home in Sacramento fell 4.2 percent to $345,000 in November from $360,000 in 2005, while the median price for a new home fell 14.6 percent to $395,250.
The falling prices follow a dramatic run-up in the market in which the median price of a new home peaked at $476,500 in December 2005, climbing from just $221,000 in five years. Existing- home prices hit their high earlier, reaching $375,000 in August 2005 from $145,000 five years earlier.
Experts say Bay Area refugees are partly responsible for the run-up in prices. Buyers saw that they could get a home in Sacramento for significantly less -- making the region a magnet for retirees, people willing to make the 90-mile commute and others who found new jobs in Sacramento.
"People emigrating out of the Bay Area were selling at the high point there and paying cash for a property in Sacramento or taking out a low-balance loan," said Carlos Kozlowski, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker.
"When Sacramento got hot, the median price in Sacramento was about a third of what it was in the Bay Area," said Stephen Levy, director of the Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. "Now, it's closer to 70 percent. ''
Levy said he believes it may take three to five years for the Sacramento housing market to recover. In the long term, he says, the market will recover after excess inventory is eliminated and a balance of supply and demand returns.
That's little comfort to people who can't wait that long.
The Wans live in Natomas, an area near the airport that was annexed into Sacramento in the 1960s. It is home to the Arco Arena, where the Kings play NBA basketball.
Until a series of levees were completed in 1998, there was little to North Natomas besides the arena and farms that grew crops like rice, tomatoes and squash. There was also a thriving population of giant garter snakes, a threatened species that lived in the region's canals and wetlands, according to Scot Mende, a new-growth manager for the city of Sacramento's planning department.
In 1999, a year after the levees were complete, the first building permit was issued for North Natomas. Since then, 12,080 homes have been built.
"It really is strategically located," Mende said. "When there's no traffic, you can get out to North Natomas in 12 minutes from downtown."
The convenient location and low prices drew the Wans to the area, where they paid $298,000 for their house in 2004. Dan Wan, a social worker, can get to his office in about 10 minutes, while it takes Sara Wan, a teacher, about 30 minutes to get to her school.
However, with no yard and more children than bedrooms, the family has outgrown the 1,550-square-foot home.
They are looking for a bigger place but aren't able to buy a new house until they find a buyer for their current home.
Keith Anderson, the real estate agent at Prudential California Realty who is selling their home, held a dozen open houses, one on each Saturday and Sunday afternoon for the first six weeks it was on the market.
Attendance was low.
"We had a series of open houses where absolutely no one came through," Sara Wan said.
A year ago, the Wans' across-the-street neighbors sold a home with a floor plan identical to theirs for $415,000. Looking back, the Wans say they should have moved more quickly, perhaps selling the house before their third child was born.
While many Sacramento homeowners have pulled their houses off the market, the Wans say they're committed to selling and plan to cut the price a second time after the new year.
There are at least three other homes for sale in the Wans' 90-home subdivision and one for rent. But it's the 537-home Beazer project that is providing the stiffest competition, Anderson said.
So far, the developer has sold 283 homes and is waiting to line up buyers for most of the others before building more -- an approach that many developers take to avoid accumulating excess inventory in a down market.
In many ways, the Beazer homes are similar to the Wans'. Clustered into four different neighborhoods, the homes range from less than 1,000 square feet to 1,871 square feet with starting prices from $249,900 to $379,990.
Beazer, like other builders in Sacramento, is using incentives to lure buyers.
The developer is offering $8,000 toward closing costs or to buy down the mortgage rate for buyers who use the company's internal lender. For some homes, the company is offering $11,000 in upgrades, throwing in washers and dryers and offering high-end stovetops or landscaping.
Rival Standard Pacific has slashed prices by about 30 percent since the market peaked 18 months ago. For a $500,000 home, that works out to a price cut of $150,000, according to Nicholson, the division president.
The company, which usually aims to sell three to five houses a month in each subdivision, is now selling just two or three. During the market's most frenzied days, the company was moving as many as eight homes per project each month.
Standard Pacific is offering below-market mortgages, price cuts, hardwood floors and swimming pools.
"We tried to offer a variety of different things," Nicholson said. "Every buyer has slightly different hot buttons that will motivate them to do a deal."
And that's the one thing that gives the Wans hope.
"The fact that the market is bad is going to hurt our selling power, but our buying power will increase," Wan said. "Hopefully, it will be at least a wash, or maybe we'll be able to afford more house than we could nine months ago."

621 Capitol Mall
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF621cm112-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF621cm212-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF621cm312-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF621cmweld12-19-2006f.jpg

The Towers
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRFTowers112-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRFTowers212-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRFTowers312-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRFTowers412-19-2006f.jpg

500 Capitol Mall Demo
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF500cm12-19-2006f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/HDRF500cm212-19-2006f.jpg

what do you mean by "demo"?

what do you mean by "demo"?


Demolition :)

Demolition :)

Ok, that's what i though. I have a lot to learn.

Sacramento Urban Design Plan Update

On December 11th the City of Sacramento Development Services held an
urban design workshop talking about future development for downtown.
There was talk of maximum building heights, building height zones, separation
between towers, and transfer development rights. I did not get the chance
to go, but from what I have read and heard from others, the workshop was
very positive. Here some slides that were featured at the work shop.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2553/dtprojectsmg5.gif

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http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/4858/potentialheightrestrictug3.gif

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http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/985/numberandseparationbetwtt8.gif

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/7106/transferdevelopmentrighpr9.gif

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/3104/heightlimits2pf3.gif

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/8051/currentmaxbuildingheighzy0.gif

621 Capitol Mall
http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4264/dsc00640001621cm4182007yl0.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1675/dsc00690001621cm1182007df9.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4323/dsc00680001621cm3182007wk2.jpg

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/2879/dsc00710001621cm2182007eu6.jpg

It's not looking good for The Towers on Capitol Mall...

Construction has stopped on downtown Sacramento's most ambitious development project ever -- two 53-story condominium and hotel towers planned for the foot of Capitol Mall.

In a sign of developer John Saca's ongoing financial struggle to build his skyscrapers, several contractors filed liens against him in the past week for unpaid bills totaling $7.3 million for such items as architectural work and pile driving.

Hit with millions of dollars in cost overruns, Saca is seeking additional financing. Without it, he likely won't be able to close on his $375 million construction loan from Deutsche Bank.

Eric Rasmusson, a spokesman for Saca, called the work stoppage "a short temporary regroup" while the developer tries to reconstruct a workable budget and secure his construction financing.

"John has been working every single day on this project for over three years and would not continue to do so if he didn't think there was sufficient reason to do so," Rasmusson said. "We're all confident that this project remains on everybody's hot list."

Saca is seeking a greater infusion of cash from the California Public Employees' Retirement System, which had already agreed to invest $100 million in the project. The pension fund hasn't said yes yet.

"Mr. Saca has advised us that he's closing down the project to reorganize its financial structure and obtain additional financing," said Ted Eliopoulos, who joined the giant state pension fund this week as its new head of real estate investment.

"He is looking to CalPERS and to other sources as well," Eliopoulos said. "We'd like to be as helpful as possible to understand the financial issues that he has raised and to ensure that our investment is protected."

As to whether the pension fund would put in more money, Eliopoulos said, "We'll evaluate it and complete our due diligence."

Eliopoulos said the Towers project has been a significant focus for him in his first few days on the job.

He said he's been "working with Mr. Saca very closely on a daily basis" and also has spoken with Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge.

After Saca complained that construction costs on the $500 million project had skyrocketed by more than $100 million, the Sacramento City Council in October approved an $11 million subsidy for the hotel portion of towers.

City officials, concerned that a marquee project may falter, are "doing everything we can to support John in his discussions with CalPERS," said John Dangberg, the city's assistant city manager for economic development.

"We believe they've made a commitment to the project, and we want them to follow through with their commitment and their investment on that site," Dangberg said. "This is a very important project to the city of Sacramento, particularly since a building has been torn down and there are piles in the ground. We want it to proceed, and we think it will proceed. We're not interested in having a hole at the gateway to the Capitol Mall."

For months, crews at the Towers construction site have been driving piles deep into the relatively unstable ground of the site at Capitol Mall and Third Street to support the 600-foot towers, which would be the tallest residential structures on the West Coast.

Many of the piles hit solid ground at different depths, leaving a hodgepodge of different length piles sticking out the ground. Saca previously told The Bee these piles will have to be sawed off -- an unexpected expense.

On Jan. 5, the pile driving company, Oakley-based Foundation Constructors Inc., filed a $5.5 million construction lien on the Saca project with the Sacramento County Recorder's Office.

A manager with the company, who asked not to be named because of ongoing negotiations, said the company filed the lien to "protect its position" in case Saca does not restart construction. He said the $5.5 million was owed for work already performed.

Also filing liens last week was the former contractor on the project, Turner Construction -- whom Saca recently said he was replacing with another firm -- and the buildings' architect, Mul-vaney G2 of Bellevue, Wash. Officials at neither of those companies could be reached for comment.

Saca's announcement in October 2004 that he would build the ambitious high-rise residential project was greeted with skepticism and disbelief in the Sacramento real estate community. But the developer -- with no previous high-rise experience -- surprised skeptics by landing Cal-PERS as an investor and obtaining a commitment from Deutsche Bank for construction financing.

While his sales have slowed in recent months with the slump in the residential market, Saca is very close to meeting the Deutsche Bank requirement that he presell 400 units. According to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, a Costa Mesa-based housing analyst, he had collected non-refundable deposits on 383 units as of November.

Many of these buyers are enthusiastic champions of the Towers as a way to help boost the fortunes of downtown Sacramento.

Steve Ayers has already bought one unit in the Towers, and said he intends to buy another. "As a buyer, I have no worry at all about the project getting built," said the steel company owner. "John Saca is a very resourceful individual."

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/106755.html

Of course, this could just be a squabble between the developer, John Saca and his contractors. I hope that this gets resolved soon. There is $100 million of my hard-earned pension funds invested in this puppy! :eek:

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/01/11/19/120-MAJ.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.jpg

Towers Project Construction Stopped
Written for the web by Jason Kobely, Internet News
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=23315

Work on the Towers on Capitol Mall, the twin $470 million luxury residential towers project considered a centerpiece of downtown Sacramento renovation, has stopped while developer John Saca seeks funding to complete construction according to Saca's spokesman Eric Rasmusson.

Construction was halted amidst $7.3 million in liens filed against Saca by unpaid contractors. Work began on the 600-foot Towers at Capitol Ave. between 3rd and 4th streets last July.

Rasmusson said at that time the project's cost estimate was $330 million. Now the cost estimate is between $450 and $470 million.

Rasmusson said skyrocketing construction costs are a big factor in the cost overruns but he is downplaying the work stoppage saying projects of this magnitude routinely have "temporary breaks".

"Huge projects try to die 10 times a day and it's our job to keep them alive," said Rasmusson.

Saca is seeking further funding to get construction back on track and secure a $375 million loan from Deutsche Bank.

Last April, Saca reached an agreement with California Public Employees' Retirement System to invest $100 million and serve as an equity partner in the project. CalPERS spokesperson Pat Macht said CalPERS has not ruled out investing more money in the project. "We know it's an important project to the city it's important to us and we are going to be as helpful as we possibly can."

In October, the City of Sacramento agreed to give Saca $11 million to help fund the luxury hotel that will occupy 18 floors of one of the towers. Both Rasmusson and Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said there are absolutely no discussions about the city dumping any more money into the project.

"Our city manager has met with John (Saca) and CalPERS to make sure that CalPERS understands how important this project is to the city of Sacramento," said Dangberg.

Dangberg said the city is still "very confident that the project is going to move forward."

Rasmusson said there is no way Saca would let this project fall apart. "This is his vision. He believes this is the right thing to do and he continues to work towards it he still sees this as a very viable project and is still committed to getting it done regardless of how tough it is."

Rasmusson says along with working to find additional funding from investors, Saca is working with the project's contractor and architect to look at ways to mitigate some of the cost increases.

The Towers are expected to feature two million square feet of residential and commercial space, including more than 800 condominium units and a four-star hotel as well as restaurants and shopping outlets. Construction was expected to be completed in 2009.

Saca's in biiig trouble

SacTown looking like its ready to roll with the Big Boys. Thats mighty fine development.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/skyline621CM1-21-2007f.jpg
621CM is growing taller :)

Sounds like the housing market in Sacto is bombing. How's that affecting the condos currently going up? San Jose just started putting up highrise condos (one built, three just starting, others approved) but our housing market/prices are steady.

Sounds like the housing market in Sacto is bombing.

It's bombing everywhere.

621CM got a raise :nuts:

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8845/621cm11282007fij5.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/9276/621cm21282007fld4.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5598/621cm31282007fxe0.jpg
Fire Proofing

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9397/621cm41282007fqp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4973/621cm51282007fds8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7217/621cm61282007fre5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/663/621cm81282007fzo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2112/621cm91282007fkw6.jpg

City approves Aura loan
Sacramento Business Journal - 5:19 PM PST Tuesdayby Michael ShawStaff writer

The Sacramento City Council today approved a $10 million loan to Denver developer Craig Nassi and his BCN Development Corp. to build the 268-unit Aura condominiums at 601 Capitol Mall.

Nassi now has 60 days to secure the rest of the financing for the $175 million building, otherwise the city offer comes off the table. The terms of short-term construction loan have not been finalized, but city staff said it would be at market rates.

Nassi also has only seven days to finalize the deal for the 601 Capitol Mall site, which is under contract with the owner, David S. Taylor Interests Inc. City staff said Nassi has not yet met payments under that contract.

Corus Bank is negotiating with Nassi to supply a $132 million loan and Meecorp Capital Markets might lend an additional $14.5 million.

The city loan would be repaid as condo units close escrow, though the primary lender, Corus, would be repaid first. The city would borrow against future tax increment money to fund the loan.


http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/02/05/daily19.html?surround=lfn

I really hope the market gets' better

621 Capitol Mall - 20 of 24 floors done
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/4222/621cm3272007fca9.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1053/621cm4272007fqp0.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2824/621cm1272007fby8.jpg

500 Capitol Mall - retaining wall installation

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2112/500cm1272007fvg4.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/212/500cm2272007fwx5.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1262/500cm4272007fmu6.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6392/500cm3272007fui9.jpg

CalSTRS

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7772/calstrs4272007frf7.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9154/calstrs3272007fdb1.jpg

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7772/calstrs4272007frf7.jpg

[500 Capitol Mall - retaining wall installation

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2112/500cm1272007fvg4.jpg

[http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7772/calstrs4272007frf7.jpg[/QUOTE]

Which buildings are these? Is the top one 701 L?

The one with the hole in the ground is 500 Capitol Mall - 25 floors with
612 Capitol Mall in the background. 701 L Street has not filed any plans
with the planning department to build. When the Greyhound Bus station is moved,
then 701 L might be built. Will see.

The one below is the CalSTRS headquarters in West Sacramento - 19 floors

Aura moves forward -

Nassi secures Aura land
Sacramento Business Journal - 4:18 PM PST Tuesday, February 13, 2007by Michael ShawStaff writer

Denver developer Craig Nassi reached an agreement Tuesday --- the last day before a city of Sacramento deadline expired -- to purchase the land for the Aura condominium project at 601 Capitol Mall, after falling out of contract last summer with David Taylor, the landowner of the Aura site.

The city council had given Nassi just seven days to resolve the land issues for Aura, a 36-story, 268-luxury condo project designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, in order to qualify for a $10 million loan approved last week.

Nassi, owner of BCN Development, must have financing in place by March 31 under the agreement with Taylor, which entered escrow Tuesday.

"We won't sell to him unless he's got all the financing," Taylor said.

Reached by phone, Nassi said he's closing the loans and construction could begin in a few weeks.

"Everything is done," he said. "We just needed to get the land back under contract. The financing is done, it's there."

Work was supposed to begin months ago. Rising construction costs have made money for high rises scarce and led to several delays.

The land deal with Taylor requires Nassi to provide an immediate sum, two additional payments in March and a closing amount on March 31, Taylor said. He declined to say how much Nassi will pay for the land.

Nassi gave credit to city manager Ray Kerridge and assistant city manager John Dangberg for helping make the project happen.

"We've got a great downtown redevelopment agency," he said referring to the Kerridge and Dangberg. "They put in 50 to 60 hours each in the past week to get the deal finalized."

I'm doing a series of posts on infill development in Sacramento for Buffalo Rising online. Feel free to chime in with a comment if there's something I missed or got wrong. Intro:

http://buffalorising.com/story/roadtrip_infill_housing_in_sac

First project covered- Loft Works

http://buffalorising.com/story/west_coasts_sacremento_post

Hmmm.....unless another developer steps in, Sacramento may be looking at an ugly hole on Capitol Mall for some time to come

Towers project developer defaults on loan
By Mary Lynne Vellinga - Bee Staff Writer
Published 7:23 pm PST Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Print | E-Mail | Comments (0)

Developer John Saca Wednesday said he has defaulted on a $22 million loan he used to buy the downtown land where he broke ground last year for two 53-story condominium and hotel towers.

The default - the first step in a foreclosure - doesn't necessarily mean the development is dead. Rather, it's a public exposure of the months-long private struggle between Saca and his equity partner in the Towers, the giant California Public Employees' Retirement System - CalPERS.

Construction on the prominent site at Third Street and Capitol Mall stopped in January, leaving a hole in the ground, studded with piles, a few blocks down from the state Capitol.

Nearly 400 buyers have paid deposits on condominiums in the Towers. That money is in a special escrow account and will be refunded if the development collapses.

Saca sent an e-mail Wednesday to all the buyers, assuring them he is "working diligently and doing everything possible to move this forward."

For a complete story, see Thursday's Bee

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/123744.html

John Saca did an interview this morning on KFBK saying the Towers has sold
$262 million in real estate and he has also lined up another bank to commit
the additional $70 million needed. He just needs CalPERS to agree to what
the next step will be.

Read the whole Bee story... not all is lost, lots of negotiations are happening.

Towers developer defaults on loan
By Mary Lynne Vellinga - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, February 15, 2007

Developer John Saca Wednesday said he has defaulted on a $22 million loan he used to buy the downtown land where he broke ground last year for two 53-story condominium and hotel towers.

The default -- the first step in a foreclosure -- doesn't necessarily mean the development is dead. Rather, it's a public exposure of the months-long private struggle between Saca and his equity partner in the Towers, the giant California Public Employees' Retirement System -- CalPERS.

Construction on the prominent site at Third Street and Capitol Mall stopped in January, leaving a hole in the ground, studded with piles, a few blocks down from the Capitol.

Nearly 400 buyers have paid deposits on condominiums in the Towers. That money is in a special escrow account and will be refunded if the development collapses.

Saca sent an e-mail Wednesday to all the buyers, assuring them he is "working diligently and doing everything possible to move this forward."

Contractors and professionals on the project have filed about $13 million worth of liens, bringing the project's total unpaid debts, including the land loan, to about $35 million, Saca said in a prepared statement.

As Saca's budget for what was introduced as a $500 million project ballooned by $70 million due to rising construction costs, CalPERS refused to give him more money.

The pension fund confirmed Wednesday that it has delivered just $25 million of the $100 million it had committed.

Ted Eliopoulos, CalPERS' senior investment officer, said the fund recently offered Saca a deal that would have allowed him to retain a financial stake in the project but would have given control to one of the large developers with whom CalPERS currently does business.

"We made a formal offer to John that would have paid all of his debts, including this note, and would have given him a good return," Eliopoulos said. "Unfortunately, he has turned that proposal down."

Eliopoulos said Saca also offered to buy out the pension fund by bringing in other investors. But CalPERS said Saca's offer didn't ensure the fund enough profit.

"We concluded it was not of the investment value we would even consider," Eliopoulos said.[/B]

Saca said Wednesday that the assertion that CalPERS had offered him a "good return" was a "complete misrepresentation of the facts."

He said he is bound by a confidentiality agreement that has prevented him from speaking about his dealings with the fund.

"I would like to make our offers to each other public record," he said. "I believe they won't allow this, because I don't think they'll want the truth to come out."

According to John Dangberg, Sacramento assistant city manager, CalPERS expects to earn a return of 21 percent on its money.

"While our first objective is to get the project done, we'd like to see everyone treated fairly. John has put a lot into this as a local developer, and has brought a new vision to our downtown. And we certainly would like to see him be a part of that if it's at all possible." In a written statement Wednesday, Saca placed the blame for the project's difficulties squarely on the pension fund.

"This predicament is out of my control," Saca said. "If it were my choice, all the outstanding invoices would be paid immediately. I have proposed several alternatives to my partner on how we can pay these bills; however, none have been accepted."

Saca went on to say that he's "not sure (CalPERS is) the right partner for this project."

Eric Rasmusson, a spokesman for Saca, said Deutsche Bank remains willing to lend Saca up to $400 million for construction. The city has agreed to provide an $11 million subsidy for the hotel portion of the project, which would be used for furniture and fixtures once the buildings were complete.

The land for the Towers is owned by Towers on Capitol Mall, LLC, a partnership of Saca and CalPERS.

The $22 million Saca borrowed from First Bank & Trust to buy the prime real estate on Capitol Mall was due at the end of December, Saca said in his statement.

Last week, local investor and developer Joseph Mohamed Sr. bought the note from First Bank & Trust, meaning that the Saca-CalPERS partnership now owes him $22 million. Mohamed said he filed a notice of default on the loan Wednesday with the county.

Mohamed said he doesn't expect to have to go through with a foreclosure but thinks Saca and CalPERS will pay off the debt and move forward.

"We try to buy only notes we feel are reasonably secure, and that's how we felt on this one," he said. "I don't throw money to the wind."

In its quest to restart the Towers project, Sacramento enlisted state Sen. Darrell Steinberg and Assemblyman Dave Jones, who have been talking to CalPERS.

Steinberg said Wednesday he's confident the issues can be worked out and that high-rise condominiums will materialize.

"Projects of this magnitude have their ups and downs," Saca said. "I am very confident that this project is going to succeed consistent with the vision that has rightfully excited this community."

Did anyone see the new SF mag with SF by 2020?

http://www.sanfranmag.com/home/letter_from_the_editor

"The word that’s appeared most often in this magazine during the six-plus years I’ve been editing it has got to be boom. First, no surprise, was the dot-com boom and then the wait for the next boom—and all the while home prices kept booming. With apologies for perpetuating boom fatigue: now comes San Francisco’s high-rise boom.

In “San Francisco 2020” writer Barbara Tannenbaum charts the extraordinary impact of the towers and condo complexes scheduled to rise over two full miles of the city’s eastern rim, from the Ferry Building to well south of the ballpark. For a half-century San Francisco had the physical form of a middle-aged city, hemmed in by water and destined to slowly break down, gracefully if we were lucky. The population was 775,000 in 1950; even at the height of the dot-com boom, it officially got to only 776,000 before dropping precipitously again. Well, now we’re near 800,000 and the coming neighborhoods will put us well above that.

What’s amazing to consider is that, unlike its hell-bent predecessor, this boom is choreographed, a three-way fox-trot between city planners, developers, and the market. Occasionally, a politician has broken in—master builder Willie Brown to will Mission Bay into existence, supervisors Chris Daly and Aaron Peskin to twist the arms of Rincon Hill developers. Yet everyone who matters in this city of political haters is moving in the same general direction. It’s the new “Kumbaya”: let’s all plan high-rises together!

The common ground that allows such compromise, as Chris Smith finds in his profile of Peskin (“Captain of the Skyline”), is that the land was largely empty. Even as the preservationist board president will gladly box the ears of any landowner who crosses him, when it comes to underdeveloped land he is happy to let private developers and their bankers gamble billions of their own dollars on creating glossy housing for tens of thousands of mostly wealthy new residents and workers—as long as the city gets what it needs out of the deals.

As the son of a developer, I’m under no illusion that the comity or the real estate market will hold forever. Still, barring epic world disaster, this march is likely inexorable. The developers are mostly Monopoly players on a world scale, like Miami Beach mogul Don Peebles and Tishman Speyer, which just bought 80 acres of prime Manhattan land in one of the biggest deals ever. These outfits are betting on the city’s long-term élan. They have the resources to switch a project’s uses from luxury condos to apartments or offices, or to wait the market out a few years if necessary. I think of the development as a tanker making its way across the bay. It slows but doesn’t turn back.

It’s natural given recent history to look ahead for the proverbial bust, to predict, for example, Blade Runner–like parking wars staining city life in the years before the plan’s new subways and trains are scheduled to arrive. Yet the untortured way we’ve come to the brink of a bold new skyline that makes economic, aesthetic, and even transportation sense gives me pause. Naysaying may not be called for this time. Pore through our provocative and, I think, definitive New City Rising report and tell me if you disagree: rather than doom, the headline word to tie to this boom could be bloom. Or even zoom." 


Bruce Kelley,
Editor-in-Chief


there is a model of how DTWN SF will look in around 2020. The Trans Bay Termina Tower is aproved for aprox. 500ft but may be has high as 1000ft!

there are the bamboo shoot towers designed by Renzo Piano, that could be even taller. I would lie to see the skyline grow denser, but in my opinion the supertalls will destroy the charater of the city, and dwarf the transamerica pyramid. hopefully the transbay tower will be about 60 stories but not to tall to overwhemlm the existing towers. the so called bamboo towers are way to tall and skinny and should be replaced by one wider tower around 60 stories.

^ You probably meant to put that in the San Francisco - Oakland Development News 2... right :nuts:

621 Capitol Mall
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2345/621cm12162007fcn4.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8041/621cm22162007fqz2.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1582/621cm32162007fac0.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/9671/621cm42162007foy5.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1691/621cm52162007fln7.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4802/621cm72162007fcl0.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/746/621cm82162007fge3.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/5558/621cm92162007fvf6.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/276/621cm102162007fya4.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/396/621cm112162007fdr4.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3548/621cm122162007fij2.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3126/621cm132162007fvl3.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8897/621cm142162007fsz5.jpg

innov8: Thanks so much for all your pictures. I'm in Orange County and I only makie it up to sac a few times a year. The is the only was I can see the progress. Your photos are amazing! Thakns again.

Nice Pictures....Looks like Sacramento may become the Skyscraper Capital of The Central Valley.

More Cities in the Central Valley definately needs to start building upwards,so we can slow down sprawl and preserve as much farmland as possible.

Sacramento is quite a beautiful city at night, though I must say, the first time I passed through, I was quite a bit unnerved and thought I had gotten lost because of the bridge, which I didnt expect...

innov8: Thanks so much for all your pictures. I'm in Orange County and I only makie it up to sac a few times a year. The is the only was I can see the progress. Your photos are amazing! Thakns again.


Your welcome Ryan :) I'm lucky enough to work just blocks from all these
projects and I love my camera too.



All these photos were provided to me courtesy of "Snatester".

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6687/steel621cmsmza2.jpg
Taken in the Woodland, CA. Plant

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2964/621cm18october2006smlt1.jpg
October 2006

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7994/621cm1november2006smye1.jpg
November 2006

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/2352/621cm3january2007smwn6.jpg
January 2007

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/777/621cm15february2007smaa4.jpg
February 2007

Nice Pictures....Looks like Sacramento may become the Skyscraper Capital of The Central Valley.

More Cities in the Central Valley definately needs to start building upwards,so we can slow down sprawl and preserve as much farmland as possible.

Yeah your right, Fresno and Bakersfield should start building vertical instead of sprawling all over agriculture....

I flew into Sacramento for the weekend.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/MagnaRyan/Vdayscadandsac009.jpg

Fantastic shot :bow:

wow, i never realized there was so much undeveloped land around downtown.

Another one
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/MagnaRyan/sacdown.jpg

Township 9
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5167/t9qr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's the current rundown from the draft EIR that was just finished up.

This a mixed use development is called Township 9 and would be located
just to the north of Richards Blvd. on 65 acres. This proposal has two
development scenarios. Scenario A would have approximately 2,981 housing
units and 146,194sf of neighborhood retail and restaurants. Scenario B would
develop 839,628sf of office use (instead of residential) on the proposed lots
facing Richards Blvd. and reduce the total number of housing units to 2,350.
Plan B would also include 146,194 of neighborhood retail and restaurants
justlike plan A.

Township 9 would have apartments, condos, townhomes, and live/work units
and the building height for the site would range from 2 to 15 stories with a
maximum height of 180 feet for the residential unites and 235 feet for the
office. There would be five or six structures that would be 15 stories and
would be located along the Riverside Parkway. When looking at the rendering
above, you can tell which structures would be 15 stories by the shadows
they cast (the shadows are going the wrong way, being that the sun rises
and sets to the south).

The project would also include space for a transit station and tracks
forfuture Light Rail construction.

isn't a major part of that undeveloped land flood plains, that's what my sister told me

What you see behind downtown is the American River Park & Bike Trail as well
as the old land fill site which is that large green grassy area. The old land fill is
the highest land elevation in the city at 210 feet above sea level.

I think we need a new update like the first post of this thread.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7092/621cmhdrfinal20070310pf8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5595/621cmyolo20070310ffo7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9435/621cmyolo2wide20070310fix2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^I love the angle of the second photo showing all the mountains, but it sure makes the federal building look like it's out in the middle of nowhere.

Cool shots from the plane too, Ryan. Aerials are always appreciated.

Capitol Grand (in-color)
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/2166/cgelevation20070315dv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

These are photos of the renderings that were given to me on 11 x 17 sheets
of paper. I wanted to scan them but they are just to big.

Anyway, like I have said before, the NEW Capitol Grand rendering that is
nearly finished with the EIR process is 965' to the top of the spire. To the
top of the structure is 771' and the spire on top rises up 194' to the final
height of 965'. To meet parking requirements with the city the tower has
7 of above ground parking and 6 below. The below grade parking would go
down 75' and have slurry walls of 3 feet thick surrounding the hole.

My only real complaint at this point is the look of the base at the street
level. It has a bunker quality about it... could use a little work.

The Tower would use 5 different types of stone, 2 different types of glass,
2 different types of metal and 3 different types of concrete. I think that
pretty impressive for a tower of this size.

The big question... will it be built???


http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9617/cgground20070315ct9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Great Shots of Sac Town

With lots of smoozing and leg work by me, I was given the opportunity to go
up into Sacramento’s newest high-rise while it’s under construction, the
U.S. Bank Tower. Once I got to the construction site, I put on a hard hat
and walked to the material lift with the Project Superintendent for a ride up
into the sky. After several stops allowing workers on and off the lift, we
stepped off onto the 25th floor. When the lift operator opened up the gate
to let us out I was awestruck by the sight. As I stood there on the sheet
metal floor and looked around, I found myself grinning with the cool breeze
blowing through and a view left that left me speechless. This view is truely
incredible with no windows to get in the way. I was there when all the
workers were on their lunch breaks, so I was able to walk around and check
out much of the view from the top floor. I often found myself just gazing out
and often forgot why I was there to begin with… to take photos. I took
several shots, so enjoy the view from the 25th floor of the NEW U.S. Bank Tower.

1.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3013/1621cm20070308fsn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Material lift
2.
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/271/3621cmtower20070308fuv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The 25th floor. Most of this space will be used as a grand
meeting and conference room... look at that view on
the left where huge windows will go. (faces have been
blurred as a request from the contractor)

3.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5980/4621cmtower20070308fel7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

4.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7526/5621cmtower20070308fvh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Looking east

5.
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1999/6621cmtower20070308fbh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

6.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/2379/7621cmtower20070308fos4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Don't mind that guy (me), check out the view from
the conference room looking south.

7.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2327/8621cmtower20070308fub7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

8.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2434/9621cmtower20070308fgz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
These support beams are built to hold the 68' Tower Feature
that will be attached to the top of the tower in April. It will
take two weeks to install the whole thing.

9.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9966/10621cmtower20070308fnd8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Looking east through the conference room.

10.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6504/12621cmtower20070308widxg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
WIDE >>>>>>>>>>>>>> SHOT >>>

11.
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/5792/16621cmtower20070308fxc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

12.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8679/17621cmtower20070308fgn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The view west.

13.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8339/19621cmtower20070308ffn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Northwest view

14.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7532/21621cmtower20070308fpb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Northeast

15.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5185/22621cmtower20070308fxl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Look at those two guys on top of the Renaissance Tower

16.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/7639/25621cmtower20070308fci2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

17.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9158/26621cmtower20070308fdr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

18.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4013/28621cmtower20070308fgy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

19.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9905/29621cmtower20070308fwj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

20.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4865/32621cmtower20070308fju6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

21.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1198/33621cmtower20070308fdm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

22.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6943/35621cmtower20070308fdg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

23.
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1534/36621cmtower20070308fmt0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sixth Street

24.
http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/2237/38621cmtower20070308fel6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

25.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9629/40621cmtower20070308fae6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
View from the 17th floor. They have pored concrete for the
all the floors up to the 18th floor.

26.
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/264/41621cmtower20070308fef3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

27.
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/996/47621cmtower20070308fby6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

28.
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9872/48621cmtower20070308fbx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

29.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6369/49621cmtower20070308fxk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Glass and aluminum exterior. This should go up at the rate of a floor a week soon.

30.
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4810/52621cmtower20070308fow8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

31.
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/5287/51621cmtower20070308fkm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here are several shots I took during last weeks railroad fire.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7712/fireskyline20070315fmz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9274/fireskyline220070315few2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2647/621cm220070315fwf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/982/621cm320070315fvp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/5896/621cm420070315fsb9.jpg


http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1384/621cm520070315fcw1.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7940/621cm20070315fjo2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Dear Future Homeowner,

I would like to thank-you for your continued patience over the past few months and for your commitment to The Towers on Capitol Mall. Your support via e-mails, phone calls and letters has been overwhelming and validates all of the hard work and effort that has gone into The Towers. You, the Buyers, are ultimately what will make this project a reality. Please know that we have been working diligently to resolve the issues stalling the project and we remain dedicated to building the vision we all share. The Towers continues to receive tremendous support from City leadership because they realize there is no single project as important or as pivotal to the growth of Downtown Sacramento as ours.We are in discussions with several potential equity partners and hope to make an exciting announcement soon regarding the revival and immediate continuation of our project. In order to give us the flexibility and time we need to finalize the necessary financing for the project and resuming construction, we respectfully request that all buyers cooperate with us and agree to the attached addendum. The enclosed Addendum asks that you agree to restate the effective date of your agreement to May 1, 2007 and extends the date for removal of the construction financing contingency (found in Section 6 of your purchase agreement) to August 31, 2007. Upon signing the attached Addendum your contract remains in force and fully binding. Failure to execute this Addendum within the time set forth below, could result in cancellation of your contract and return of your deposit. Therefore, your timely cooperatio n is necessary and greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for continuing to share my vision and being willing to stand by The Towers through all of the ups and downs that any project of this size and significance would face. Please click here to print out and sign the Towers Extension Addendum and return it to the Sales Office at 455 Capitol Mall, Ste#135 Sacramento, CA 95814 on or before April 17, 2007. We have also sent this information via regular mail with a pre-paid addressed envelope. Feel free to contact The Towers Sales Team at (916) 443.2200 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter. The Sales Office is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9AM to 5PM.

Again, I sincerely appreciate your cooperation, support and dedication to The Towers and being a part of this historical, world-class building.

Sincerely,
John Saca President, Towers on Capital Mall, LLC.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7830/1621cmcapitolmall200703uh1.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7241/2621cmcapitolmallhdrfinfz7.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3756/3621cmcapitolmallfinal2ys6.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6651/4621cmcapitolmallhdrfinnu1.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7870/5621cmcapitolmallfinal2av9.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7489/7621cmcapitolmallfinal2hu9.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5876/8621cmcapitolmallfinal2mr8.jpg

Just curious... whats the status of "The Towers" development? Is still stalled, or is it [dare I say] dead?

I really hope it gets built... it would pull Sacramento's skyline into a new category IMO.

THANKS!! :cheers:

Just curious... whats the status of "The Towers" development? Is still stalled, or is it [dare I say] dead?

I really hope it gets built... it would pull Sacramento's skyline into a new category IMO.

THANKS!! :cheers:

It seems like almost everyone is signing the extension, and since CalPERS got bought out, I think he does have someone with deep pockets (hopefully). So I think we will have some good news soon!

Any new news?

more news plz

In the next two week we will hear some good news about The Towers.

500CM
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/7476/500cmscrewpiles12007050bs6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
These are pictures of the Screw Pile process being used for 500CM.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3589/500cmscrewpiles22007050lp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Here is the screw that drills into the ground 60 or 70 feet. In this picture the
drill is coming out of the ground and at the same time concrete is being
pumped into the hole from the hose that is vertical to the drill and comes
off the rig.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1496/500cmscrewpiles32007050yf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Over flow concrete being removed from the surface of the drilled screw pile hole.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/3830/500cmscrewpiles42007050ld4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Rebar columns that will be inserted into the drilled hole filled with concrete.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8991/500cmscrewpiles52007050ya8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Concrete trucks

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/801/500cmscrewpiles62007050cs4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Clearing the drilled hole for a 70 foot steel rod that will be inserted first.
The man on the far left has the rod that will go into this hole.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2456/500cmscrewpiles72007050do8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
A bigger shot of the steel rod.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4425/500cmscrewpiles82007050tp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The top of the steel rod now submerged into the screw pile hole.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6206/500cmscrewpiles92007050gr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The rig is now lifting the rebar that will also be inserted into the hole.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9026/500cmscrewpiles10200705ah1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1326/500cmscrewpiles11200705hk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Down it goes.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/261/500cmscrewpiles12200705up4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Finished. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.



The Towers
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1051/thetowers120070501fvs8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
We should hear good news any day now, CalSTRS crane on the left.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9377/thetowersclose20070501fqp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Look at all the growth.

CalSTRS
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1808/calstrs20thfloor2007050iw9.jpg
Taken from the 20th floor of the US Bank Tower.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7618/621cm20thfloorcalstrs20nv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Two cranes.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6366/calstrsjstreet20070504fpx3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Looking west down J Street.


621CM
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/629/621cm1200705011faa3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/9275/621cm220070501fsg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7618/621cm20thfloorcalstrs20nv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2009/621cm20thfloor20070504fxy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks Innov8!!

Do we have any pictures of what 500CM will look like? And what's the good news with the towers?

Here ya go Ryan@CU :banana:

The good news will be about the Towers new equity partner and when work will start again (I think in early June)

500 Capitol Mall
25 story office tower
467,942 sf office
27,124 sf retail
Developer: Tskakopoulos Investments
Architect: Ed Kado
Location: 5th & Capitol Mall
Estimated Completion: 2008
http://www.sacbee.com/static/rich_content_images/212457-0406capitol2.jpg

25-story granite and glass office tower at 500 Capitol Mall will be topped with a two-story triangular glass penthouse. The project, to be built on spec, will cost an estimated $115 million. Tsakopoulos Investments, which includes Angelo G. and his father, George Tsakopoulos, would pay for the project, along with supplemental financing from San Francisco-based Bank of the West.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMallcoverrendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall1rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall2rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall3rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall4rendering.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CapitolMall5rendering.jpg

Thanks buddy!

Well, it looks like the Towers project is toast. It appears that CalPERS and
John Saca can't come to terms on the sale of the land. Man, this sucks!!!

Well, it looks like the Towers project is toast. It appears that CalPERS and
John Saca can't come to terms on the sale of the land. Man, this sucks!!!

What? No way! I take it this will be in the paper soon

What? No way! I take it this will be in the paper soon

I'm sure something will be said soon. And when I said "sale of the land"
I meant Saca buying out CalPERS as an equity partner.

Towering questions in downtownPlanned downtown high-rises show progress - or lack of it
By Jon Ortiz - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:08 pm PDT Friday, May 4, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

Sacramento's newest high-rise entered its next construction phase Thursday as ironworkers made their final welds to 40 miles of steel framing on the Bank Tower on Capitol Mall.

The 25-story office building leads a pack of tall structures planned for downtown Sacramento. How many of those other towers will be built remains unclear.

US Bank Tower, which is being built by local developer David Taylor, and three other high-rise projects in various stages along Capitol Mall illustrate the challenges that go with constructing buildings that can change a city's skyline.

Only Taylor's building started without a relative hitch. One of the neighboring projects sparked an outcry over its look and was redesigned before construction started. Two others are still searching for financing.

Taylor's efforts appear off to a good start, despite his asking up to $4 per square foot for rent, a dollar more than any other Capitol Mall landlord. Nearly half the space for the building at 621 Capitol Mall is leased to four businesses: Downey Brand, one of the area's biggest law firms; the California Restaurant Association trade group; the Palmer Team, a marquee commercial real estate company; and the building's nameplate tenant, US Bank.

"It's about perceived status and marketing," said TRI Commercial office broker Steve Park. "It's about a business being able to say, 'We're in one of the top buildings in Sacramento.' People will pay a little more for that."

US Bank Tower is further along than the other three high-rise projects on Capitol Mall.

Across the street, Tsakopoulos Investments is putting up a 25- story office building at 500 Capitol Mall.

Angelo G. Tsakopoulos originally proposed a modern tower with a replica of the Parthenon on the top. City officials balked at the design. Tsakopoulos last year exchanged it for a more conventional look.

Workers Thursday were preparing the site at Capitol Mall and Fifth Street. A sign at the site indicates that the 433,000- square-foot building will open in the first quarter of 2009.

Taylor's and Tsakopoulos' buildings will pump about 800,000 square feet of high-end office space into the Sacramento market, Park said, enough to "shock" the market and drive down lease rates for a while.

"After about six months I think you'll see a rebound as some businesses in outlying areas like Natomas start trickling in to downtown," Park said. "People who couldn't afford to be there before might find that they suddenly can."

Next to the US Bank Tower, Denver developer Craig Nassi hopes to build Aura, a 39-story luxury condominium tower designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind that will cost about $177 million.

But Nassi has yet to break ground at 601 Capitol Mall because he hasn't purchased the land from Taylor. Last month, Nassi's deadline passed to line up financing. He has asked for more time, but Taylor said Thursday he won't formally grant an extension without talking directly with Nassi's lenders and equity partners.

Nassi, who has maintained all along that Aura will be built, did not respond to requests seeking comment.

Three blocks west, all is quiet where John Saca's $550 million Towers project is planned between Third and Fourth streets. The foundation work on the ambitious 53-story, twin tower, hotel-retail-condo complex abruptly stopped last fall.

Last month Saca said he reached an agreement to buy out the California Public Employees' Retirement System, his largest investment partner. To close the deal, he must come up with about $25 million by May 25 to reimburse the state pension fund for what has been spent.

The Sacramento-based developer also needs more money from other investors and lenders to restart the project. He has taken deposits on about half of the 800 condos up for sale.

Saca did not return a telephone call seeking comment. Mark Cordano of Sacramento-based Cordano Co. said his company has put its Towers retail marketing efforts "on hold" for now.

Meanwhile, the whirring, pounding, buzzing sounds of construction continued Thursday on the $130 million US Bank Tower. Inside the building's on-site sales office, Taylor pondered a question: What is the hardest part of building a skyscraper?

His answer: money.

"It's getting the leasing and financing you need," he said. "The construction issues are very, very important, but I don't have to personally handle those."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/MagnaRyan/747-build.gif

Rancho Cordova California: Point East Towers 2 @ 424'/36 floors

Point East Towers
Point East Road and Folsom Blvd.
Developer: D&S Development
Architect: Ed Kado
36-Stories 424 ft, 485 Condo Units, 19K Retail
778 Parking Spaces
Gross Acres: 2.43

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/05/20/18/37-render9compb_1_.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.jpg

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/1453/ranchotowers1an8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9927/ranchotowers2lz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3989/ranchotowers3be9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7536/ranchotowers4qw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/2829/ranchotowers5js7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2305/ranchotowers6ep3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9817/ranchotowers7sj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/834/ranchotowers8zm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Bob Shallit: On the Horizon
High-rise condos planned near Cordova RT station
By Bob Shallit - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, May 21, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/05/20/18/37-render9compb_1_.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.jpg http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/05/20/18/951-render8comp_1_.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.jpg


A local development company last year completed a renovation of the historic Sheepherder Inn on the edge of Rancho Cordova.

Now D&S Development is looking to dwarf that project -- and everything in its vicinity -- with two, 36-story condo towers right next to the "The Sheep," on Folsom Boulevard, east of Sunrise.

Plans recently were submitted for the 485-unit project that would feature 10-foot ceilings, two workout facilities and a swimming pool placed on a bridge connecting the two towers, with glass portholes on the pool bottom so swimmers can see people walking below them.


"We like to push the envelope and do projects that are unique and good for the community," says Bay Miry, an official with D&S, which has taken on numerous local residential and retail projects but nothing close to this scope.

Miry says he expects the approval process to take about two years. After that, construction will begin if the current housing slump has turned around.

It will, sooner or later, he says. "We'll be ready for the next cycle," he says.

The project -- called Point East Towers -- is being pitched as a transit-oriented development, linked to a light-rail station across the street.

The developers envision people buying units at a not-yet-determined discount to the high-rise condos being proposed downtown, then using light rail to commute to their jobs.

The proposal so far has been "well-received," says the county's principal planner, Tricia Stevens.

But project architect Ed Kado, who encountered opposition to his design for a downtown office building topped by a Parthenon replica, suspects this one may spark some controversy.

"People will ask, why are they sticking those (tall towers) up in no-man's land," he says.

His answer? The project will bring recognition to Rancho Cordova and meet regional goals of putting high-density housing near light-rail stations.

"You're going to see concentrated activity (around the stations) and it won't be long before that activity goes vertical," he says. "We're just ahead of the game."

By the way, Kado says his design has plenty of eye-catching features. None is Greek.

"There won't be a Parthenon on the top," he says.

Saca misses CalPERS buyout deadline
Sacramento Business Journal
Friday, May 25, 2007

Developer John Saca will not meet Friday's deadline to buy out the California Public Employees' Retirement System's $25 million investment in the Towers on Capitol Mall project, Saca said on Friday.

Saca, the managing partner of the project, had worked out a deal last month to pay back CalPERS, which had pledged $100 million overall. The two partners have been at odds on how to proceed under cost overruns that are estimated between $70 and $100 million.

"We're still working on it," Saca said of dissolving the partnership with CalPERS and securing new financing. "We're not going to pull it off today."

CalPERS spokeswoman Pat Macht said there are no provisions to extend the buyout agreement beyond Friday.

"If he doesn't act on his option today and has another idea he wants to come back with, that will be considered," Macht said. Saca likely will have to pay more money for a new option if he pursues one, though Macht declined to discuss any possible terms.

In the meantime, Saca and CalPERS remain estranged partners.

The Towers on Capitol Mall is a 53-story, 800-unit condo development that broke ground last year. Work stopped before the foundation was poured.

Saca indicated earlier this year that the project is $35 million in debt, including a $22 million loan for the land purchase and money owed to contractors who have done site work.

The project has defaulted on that loan, but a real estate investor who holds the loan for the land purchase said Friday that he has no plans to foreclose on the project.

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/05/21/daily46.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Towers project looks shakier
Developer misses buyout deadline for his 53-story dream.
By Mary Lynne Vellinga - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:17 am PDT Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Downtown high-rise developer John Saca missed Friday's deadline to buy out his estranged partner, the California Public Employees' Retirement System -- leaving the fate of his twin condominium towers more precarious than ever.

"Things did not turn out the way we were hoping," Saca said. "We had under 60 days to raise over $60 million for a project that was really underwater. ... We just ran out of time."

The giant state pension fund now has a week or two to decide whether it wants to take over the stalled, debt-ridden project at the entrance to Capitol Mall and move forward without Saca, CalPERS confirmed Tuesday. The pension fund invested about $25 million with Saca before cutting him off in late 2006, citing cost overruns.

CalPERS has brought in the CIM Group, a Los Angeles-based developer, to decide whether it would make financial sense to pursue a significantly scaled-down version of Saca's 53-story condominium and hotel towers. CIM's idea for the site also would include some office space, said CalPERS spokeswoman Pat Macht.

"CIM is taking a look at it, and they're conducting their due diligence," Macht said.

CIM also has approached the city about a possible subsidy for the project, Macht said. The city had committed $11 million to Saca to help buy fixtures and furnishings for the hotel once it was constructed.

CIM is best known in Sacramento for its recently completed seven-story loft apartment project at Ninth and J streets. CalPERS was also an investor in the project. The city of Sacramento contributed about $16 million in redevelopment funds.

Sacramento Assistant City Manager John Dangberg would not discuss the details of the city's discussions with CIM or CalPERS. But he pointed out that the City Council's main focus for redevelopment spending remains the more blighted area around J, K and L streets -- not the Capitol Mall.

"The City Council chose to step away from those priorities to assist (Saca's) project because of its impact," Dangberg said. "If that project goes away, I think what still stands is the council's priority for J, K and L."

The current cloud hanging over one of downtown's most visible development sites is far from the optimism city leaders and Saca once voiced about his chances of building the West Coast's tallest residential structures.

Saca is a shopping center developer with no previous high-rise experience. His family is best known for founding the Filco appliance chain. Yet he captured the public imagination -- and nationwide attention -- with his ambitious plan to build something grander and taller than his hometown had ever seen.

Even as the housing market stalled, Saca still managed to secure deposits for about 400 units in The Towers. But construction costs soared. The CalPERS executive who made the commitment to invest $100 million in the project left the pension fund, and CalPERS managers became increasingly uncomfortable with putting in more money. The pension plan pulled the plug.

Construction on The Towers stopped in January. In February, Saca defaulted on the loan he used to buy the prime site at Third Street and Capitol Mall, once the home of the Sacramento Union newspaper.

Contractors who worked on the site have since filed liens totaling about $13 million.

"It can't get much worse," Saca said Tuesday. "There's a stigma on the property now, and it's hard to overcome that."

The $22 million mortgage on the construction site has been purchased by Joseph Mohamed Sr., a Sacramento investor who is inclined to give Saca plenty of breathing room. Mohamed has a personal reason for wanting to see Saca move forward.

"We bought some units there too that we'd like to live in," Mohamed said. "So we're going to do whatever we can to make it work."

About three-quarters of Saca's original buyers also have agreed to extend the terms of their purchase contracts -- another key element in keeping the project afloat, he said.

Still, the interest and penalties on his debt continue to pile up, Saca said, making outside investors reluctant to get involved. Complicating matters is his contentious relationship with CalPERS. Saca said that also makes potential investors leery.

Saca said he's still hopeful that CalPERS will wind up agreeing to accept something less than the money it has spent. In that case, it would be easier to find new investors, he said. If the property goes to foreclosure, the pension fund's entire investment will likely be lost.

Saca said Tuesday he would be disappointed if the CIM plan moves forward.

"The sad thing is that CIM doesn't want to build (my) project," he said. "They would basically throw away the plans and start from scratch."

I still believe the towers will be built..dont know how but somehow they will be built.

Ive heard that The Towers On Capital Mall are cancelled...it sucks, cause i would really make California's capital skyline, alot better......:ohno:

It is good I am moving out of Sacramento soon, so I don't have to look everyday at this while driving down the US-50:

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2007/05/20/18/37-render9compb_1_.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.jpg

I am not an architect myself, but I think it would be extremely inappropriate to build two lonely skyscrapers in the area of 1-2 story buildings.

Alex Von Königsberg, you need to look at the rendering a little closer. There is
a 13 floor building and a 8 floor building right a cross the street. This is one
of many ways to battle sprawl... and Sacramento has to much of that already.
If D&S Development can find enough buyers to make it happen, I say
do it. If not, then will see a much shorter version in the future. I would be
suprised if they are built as planned.

Ive heard that The Towers On Capital Mall are cancelled...it sucks, cause i would really make California's capital skyline, alot better......:ohno:

You're right (http://www.kcra.com/news/13484545/detail.html?subid=10100243) :down:

What makes it worse is it is the ONLY major U/C project in the US to be cancelled.

Sacramento: Cathedral Square (25 floors) 290’
233 Condominiums/Mixed-Use
Located at 11th & J Street
Developer: St. Anton Investments, LLC.
Architect: Kwan Henmi
Building Height: 264’ Spire increases height to 290
Building Square Footage: 473,260 gross
328 Parking Spaces
Special permit to allow structure to exceed Capitol View Protection area.

Goes before Design Review Committee July 20th.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/8255/1catherdralsquareqv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3794/2catherdralsquarecornerae8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8048/3catherdralsquarejstreenn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4033/4catherdralsquarealleywh8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/982/5catherdralsquarematerioi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/710/6catherdralsquarepooldh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6406/7catherdralsquarelandscjr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

07-05-2007 Design Revisions: Response to Design Commission Comments
June 20, 2007 Design Commission Review and Comment

Cathedral Square proposed high-rise residential tower (DR05-340)

Final Summary of Comments:

1. Garage entry needs more detail. Garage entry was strengthened by
adding more pronounced signage (adding blade sign so that signage
can be visible from 11th street), and adding more emphasis to the
elevation bay of the garage entry (more pronounced reveals, stronger
cornice, larger windows directly above garage entry). The “Cathedral
Square” signage at the metal canopy would be backlit and can
illuminate at night.

2. Further Review and modification is needed on the landscaping plan.
More detail was added to the landscaping plan, specifically at the
podium terrace where planters were added to the private terraces and
larger trees introduced to the public terrace to provide much more
shading for the outdoor space.

3. Concerns of durability of materials proposed (specifically use of cement
plaster and the finishing thereof). Design team will study details and
present examples of successful plaster high-rise projects at the next
commission hearing.

4. More detailing of the entries and of materials. The residential entry
plaza was strengthened by adding more detail to the main entry
elevation. A cornice line was introduced to frame the residential entry
wall and to establish continuity with the cornice of the corner retail
pavilion and the retail cornice at the 11th street podium. The entry
canopy was enlarged and the accent paving at the entry plaza was
widened to create a grander entry gesture. More detail was also added
to the corner retail pavilion in terms of adding stone capitals at the top
of the brick columns for a more finished look at the roof/cornice line.

5. Need for more greening of the building (both landscape and
environmentally). More substantial planting was introduced to the
podium terraces (planters and larger trees to provide shading) Building
will be considering LEED certification and spandrel glazing was
introduced to the tower elevations to limit direct solar heat gain.

6. The glazing (transparency) of the tower element and relationship
between public and private residences should be further studied. The
composition of the large transparent floor-to-ceiling glazing windows at
the building corners were studied and spandel (opaque) glazing panels
were added to the glazing system there to reduce direct visibility and to
create more privacy.

7. The street wall along J street needs further integration into the overall
design and strengthened. The street wall along J Street was
strengthened by adding emphasis to the 4-story podium height with a
bolder cornice line and introducing a stone finish to the 3rd and 4 story
expression to further differentiate those levels from the rest of the tower.
The windows at the 3rd and 4 story now have deeper recesses and
overall the 4-story composition reads stronger from the street. More
detail was added to the brickwork at the retail base in terms of reveals
and recesses to add more depth to the elevation at the street level. As
well a stone or precast header was introduced to each of the storefront
bays to emphasize the storefront windows.

8. Additionally, more detail was added to the building spire for a more
unique and distinct look.

Little Saigon Plaza
website:http://www.littlesaigon-plaza.com/index.html

http://norcaldevgroup.com/Documents/Saigon%20Sacto.jpg

Location: Stockton Blvd in South Sacramento
Project Type: Retail / Office

Units:
Building A: Two-Story - 48,290 sq. ft.
Building B: Two-Story - 31,780 sq. ft.
Building C: Single-Story - 15,133 sq. ft.
Building D: Single-Story - 12,728 sq. ft.
Building E: Two-Story - 66,991 sq. ft.

It's a shopping center in a tough part of town :? Okay... good for Stockton Blvd.

http://i12.tinypic.com/6biuown.jpg
http://i19.tinypic.com/67rhwg2.jpg
http://i10.tinypic.com/4mi13de.jpg
http://i19.tinypic.com/4lhz7tu.jpg
http://i16.tinypic.com/6c6ogv6.jpg
http://i13.tinypic.com/61n9zzo.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/4tz4snq.jpg

nice update Sacramento King!

These were taken over a couple of weeks and I just got a chance to unload my camera.

CalSTRS
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2525/calstrs120070803ffb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/5665/calstrs220070803foe2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3733/calstrs320070803fwk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/9453/calstrs420070803fss3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/5273/calstrs520070803fzl3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2595/calstrs620070803ftp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3709/calstrs720070803fey0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/8739/calstrs820070803fuc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/488/calstrs1020070807fmv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/1521/calstrs1220070807fwv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/24/calstrs1320070803fbc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)[/QUOTE]


Sutter Medical on Capitol Ave. & 28th Street
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7716/sutter200708032fzy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/3047/suttermed20070803flu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

500 Capitol Mall
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/8867/500cm20070803fob4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/4414/621cm120070807fns1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2812/621cm320070803fks7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6514/621cm420070803fup8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/3367/621cm520070803fuz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8393/621cm620070803fyk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1414/621cm720070807fiq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/4989/621cm820070807fob6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4562/621cm220070803fmn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

500CM

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1923/500cm320070824fif5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2589/500cm420070824fcd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2803/500cm20070824fnb9.jpg

621CM

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7843/621cm120070824fir4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9643/621cm220070824fpy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7991/621cm320070824flb4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3921/621cm420070824fpq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2093/621cm520070824fsj1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2596/621cm620070824fje5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3076/621cm720070824fqi2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8776/621cm820070824fzb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8083/621cm920070824fna3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6018/621cm1020070824fow5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9260/calstrs820070824fbi3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/365/621cm1120070824fdp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/877/621cm1220070824fdt0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6121/621cm1320070824fog4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Cal STRS

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1119/calstrs120070824fej0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8182/calstrs220070824fef2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4136/calstrs420070824fdm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1166/calstrs520070824fmr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4450/calstrs620070824fgv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9537/calstrs720070824fuj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9260/calstrs820070824fbi3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/751/calstrs920070824fjn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

very nice pics!!!

Last Saturday on the Sept. 29th , I got up bright and early to take a few
shots from the top of the CalSTRS tower. At 7am when I arrived at the job
site it was still pretty dark out side, but when I got in the man-lift that took
us to the 18th floor, I realized it was actually fantastic conditions with the
sun just starting to rise over the Sierra Mountains. It was a cool 46 degrees
out side, perfect conditions to take crisp shots of the Sacramento skyline and the tower.

Some of these shots will be in a future photo thread in the near future... this
is a sneak peek ;)


http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4812/calstrs120070908jpg2007dz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1944/calstrs220070908jpg2007cm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6456/calstrs320070908jpg2007ky2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4821/calstrs420070908jpg2007zq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6320/calstrs520070908jpg2007hi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3355/calstrs720070908jpg2007ps9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4291/calstrs620070908jpg2007ok6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/784/calstrs620070908jpg2007by7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1785/calstrs820070908jpg2007vc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3268/calstrs920070908jpg2007mq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7664/calstrs1020070908jpg200ff5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7760/calstrs10120070908jpg20zi7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5705/calstrs10220070908jpg20sp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9368/calstrs1120070908jpg200oy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2524/calstrs1220070908jpg200bf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5741/calstrs1320070908jpg200dg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Tower will have sub-floors on every floor. In this picture you can see
that the sub-floor will be about a foot above the concrete floor. This sub-floor
is being put in so computer and electrical wires can be run through out the
floor with out being restricted, it will give more flexibility to move equipment
around when needed. I personally had never seen something like this before.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2329/calstrs1420070908jpg200tg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/6458/calstrs1520070908jpg200tt0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5433/calstrs1620070908fjpg20dh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5651/calstrs1720070908jpg200gd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1016/calstrs17120070908jpg20ke6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3772/calstrs1820070908jpg200jo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/5872/calstrs2020070908jpg200wq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6246/calstrs2120070908jpg200tr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9571/calstrs2220070908jpg200vp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

WOW I like them all, Fantastic!!!
Sac skyline is going to improve when the twin towers go up.

WOW I like them all, Fantastic!!!
Sac skyline is going to improve when the twin towers go up.

Ummm....about those towers. Dead.

So be it- give me 5-6 mid-range towers over two 50-story buildings. Density is what makes a downtown- not an exclamation point at the end of Capitol Mall.

I totally agree. I mean I would have liked to see those Towers up, but a couple of 20-35 story bldgs is going to liven up an area.

Thank you everyone :)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4269/curtisparkvillagesm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Curtis Park Village

It appears Curtis Park Village is still moving forward. There is continuing
remediation work at the site. If you happen to be driving on the
Sutterville Road overpass, take a look over at the former West Pacific
Railroad site where you'll see large piles of dirt being moved around. It's
anticipated that the soil clean-up work will last till the summer of 2008.
The project will likely be heard at the City Council late winter or early spring
and construction will commence in the latter half of 2008.

There are plans for 48 residential units above commercial buildings. The
orange area on the map will be apartments living in three story buildings with
a clubhouse, swimming pool, and out door living spaces for the residents.

The Curtis Park Village project consists of 72 acres, with most of the
property being contaminated with toxic and hazardous substances.
A majority of the site will be excavated in varying degrees up to 40 feet in
depth and the contaminated soil will be removed to a federally controlled
toxic dumping site in Utah.

The current plan for the village is to have 225 residential units and 160,000sf
of commercial use.

Labor battle likely for Railyards site
Union-backing lawyer hints at next move
By Michael Shaw Staff of The Sacramento Business Journal

Friday, November 30, 2007

Not a brick has been placed in The Railyards development in downtown Sacramento, but there are signs it's already the site of a labor battle.

At a public hearing this month, Davis lawyer William Kopper questioned The Railyards' environmental approval process, saying it was rushed, incomplete and "doesn't comply with law."

Kopper made those allegations on behalf of three Sacramento residents and reiterated when pressed by City Councilman Steve Cohn that his clients were merely concerned citizens.

But Cohn and other council members didn't know Kopper has made similar allegations against large development projects while representing unions, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Mid-Valley Trades Council, that have challenged projects based on the California Environmental Quality Act.

Projects Kopper has challenged over the past 10 years range from a small concrete plant to the 2,900-acre Yuba Highlands development, according to published reports. He has fought the expansion of the Turtle Bay Museum in Redding, a large racing and concert venue in Yuba County that was never built, the expansion of the Galleria at Roseville mall and is fighting the approval of the Placer Vineyards project.

"I don't think the way (The Railyards) is currently positioned that it will withstand an environmental challenge," Kopper said at the end of his testimony last week.

The Sacramento City Council will consider The Railyards project in two meetings next month.

While city leaders said they were a bit puzzled by Kopper's comments, the allegations immediately caught the attention of the primarily non-union Associated Builders and Contractors of California. The organization has been spotlighting union efforts throughout the state to secure exclusive contracts, called project labor agreements, by challenging developments on environmental grounds. The most publicized brawl has taken place in San Diego, over a $1 billion hotel and convention center where union labor and developers have so far failed to reach an agreement.

Last year, the Business Journal detailed how CEQA was being used by unions. Once agreements are signed, the environmental challenges often fade away. That seemed to be the case with the Yuba racetrack project. Kopper told The Sacramento Bee in 2001 that he stopped working on the challenge once a union labor agreement was signed.

Kevin Dayton, Associated Builders and Contractors's government affairs director, confronted Kopper last year after Kopper raised environmental objections to the expansion of Galleria at Roseville mall. At a public meeting, Dayton accused Kopper of backing union interests but failing to disclose that to the city's decision-makers.

"It's inappropriate to use the California Environmental Quality Act to obtain unrelated objectives involving labor issues," Dayton said in a recent interview. "It makes the whole CEQA process questionable."

Dayton said if unions press for exclusive contracts at The Railyards, the association plans to draw attention to the situation, as it did in San Diego.

Kopper said he didn't have his clients' permission to discuss The Railyards project, a prerequisite for an interview.

Thomas Enterprises Inc. plans to put 12,000 homes as well as shops and offices in the largely dormant railyard. Thomas representatives did not respond to requests for interviews about the situation.

Cohn said he would be surprised if labor unions attacked The Railyards project.

"That would be kind of strange," he said. "There are so many public works jobs before you even get to the private stuff."

Public projects generally pay prevailing wages, which in Northern California generally ensures that union labor is employed, Cohn said. The first phase of The Railyards project calls for $300 million in infrastructure for roads and utilities. As for the project's environmental approvals, Cohn dismissed Kopper's objections and said they're supported by solid analysis.

Jim Moose, an attorney defending the Placer Vineyards environmental report, said he didn't want to question the motives of the plaintiffs represented by Kopper in that case, who are named as individuals.

"But we do note that throughout California," he said, "labor representatives have filed environmental lawsuits and have settled them by entering into project labor agreements whose terms have nothing to do with the environment."

Moose said such settlements violate federal law and won't be an outcome in the Placer Vineyards suit. He said the project's environmental approvals will be vigorously defended.


A vote for eminent domain
Sacramento Business Journal

Friday, November 30, 2007

The issue: A single landowner is holding up development of K Street

our position: The city has been patient too long; it's time to use last-ditch legal practice

Well, it's about time.

After many back-and-forth discussions, including recent negotiations with the city manager and mayor, and a round of legal fights, the city of Sacramento could embrace a seldom-used tool in the K Street standoff -- eminent domain.

The City Council will consider eminent domain to purchase nine properties in the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street from landowner Mohammed "Moe" Mohanna. Those blighted blocks have been the center of a complex land swap and years-long dispute between Mohanna, the city and another developer.

We are not eminent domain fans, but there are cases when the controversial legal practice is needed and, in this situation, long overdue.

Downtown landowner Mohanna is demanding more than the city's offer of $11.6 million for the nine properties after months of negotiations. He has filed a lawsuit against the city redevelopment agency. And he apparently has done an about-face from earlier plans and wants to develop the 700 block rather than swap it for the 800 block, where he planned condos and stores.

But the biggest issue, the real punch-in-the-gut? He has idled the much-needed redevelopment along the K Street Mall, better known for its homeless panhandlers than money-spending shoppers. The blocks just east of the Downtown Plaza are in desperate need of a facelift, new retailers ... life.

The city-orchestrated land swap between Mohanna and another development group headed by Joe Zeiden, owner of the Z Gallerie furniture and accessories chain, is more complex than your everyday land purchase. The city has already invested $24 million to buy parcels for the property swap and relocate tenants. And Zeiden has reportedly lost retail tenants with the slow-as-molasses process of gaining control and redeveloping the 700 block of K Street.

That's just business and redevelopment, but Mohanna could make it an easier process. The city has offered millions for his group's properties, and Mohanna could make more money from projects on the 800 block. He is holding the community hostage and giving the city little choice except to use eminent domain.

Many property-rights advocates cringe at the mere mention of eminent domain, the legal practice of "taking" land for the public good. Definitely, eminent domain is far from the ideal solution and should always be considered as a last-ditch effort. But, sometimes, it's the best option for a hands-tied local government.

FTR, I don't live directly in Sacramento so I'd have to go out there some time to take my own photos but this one from flickr was taken 12/9 and shows that the US Bank Tower's exterior is pretty much completed. By trimmoos:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2098417159_04e31375f9_o.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7041/500cm320080111fpl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/276/500cm120080111fff2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9595/500cm220080111fhm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7978/500cm420080111fnl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/7807/500cm520080114foa0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

nice update!

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6894/img0024up0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3241/img0019dd0.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0019dd0.jpg)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7655/img0053hl4.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0053hl4.jpg)

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5549/img0008iq6.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0008iq6.jpg)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2701/500cm2200803201fnp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3226/500cm120080407fsg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6170/500cm220080407ffi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8498/500cm320080407fvq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/381/500cm420080407fts2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4135/500cm520080407fns8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2452/500cm620080407fos0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/540/500cm720080407flv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/6150/500cm920080407fsn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7844/capitol20080407frk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1969/calstrs20080407fts6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4086/calstrs220080407ftd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Good pics, maybe we could use another page to post more pictures, this page is too heavy.

Sacramento's New Terminal to start soon...

http://centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/photos/s_SMF_Terminal.jpg


The Sacramento County Airport System has been issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” and “Record of Decision” for the proposed new terminal at Sacramento International Airport.

The federal decisions are the final environmental documents to clear the way for construction processes to begin.


"Receipt of the FONSI and ROD is great news. We will soon have a world class airport facility that fulfills our ongoing commitment to sustainability with new projects designed to serve our region," says Terry Schutten, county executive.


Construction is expected to start this fall. The estimated cost for the full project, which will include a hotel, is $1.27 billion. The new 674,000 square-foot terminal will have 23 gates and include the international arrivals facility, which is now in a separate building

Here's a link to a News10 video showing the rather unique lighting scheme atop the new US Bank Tower.

http://www.news10.net/video/player_news10.aspx?aid=54665&bw=

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/20/skyline500cm420080520ij6.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/3130/skyline500cm3200805201fs9.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7506/skyline500cm320080520fy0.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9073/sacramentorivertowerbrifl4.jpg

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4883/sacramentoriverandskyliui2.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/4462/sacramentoriverandskyliyu0.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2531/500cmskyline20080519sb6.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5117/500cmskyline320080519ys4.jpg

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/559/500cmskyline220080519uv2.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/8876/freeway720080514lq7.jpg

I haven't been to Sac-town since the late 90's. Good to see this development. Great shots!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500cmskylineeastwidef2008-05-30.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500cmskylinenorthwidenight2008-0-1.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500cmskyline22008-05-29f.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500cmrskyline2008-05-29f.jpg

^^Nice shots!

Here's a new Sacramento Photo thread by me: Sacramento - all night http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=645245

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20All%20Night/32-500cm-skyline-night2-200.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20All%20Night/46-55-degrees-2008-04-26.jpg

Blanket of smoke

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/JStSmoke2008-06-25.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/skylinesmoke2008-06-25.jpg

From the top of 500 Capitol Mall

Last Friday was the final pour of concrete on the 27th floor. I was fortunate enough
to get a ride to the top and take in the awesome view. It was smokey from all
the fires but the view was still sweet. The blue glass starts to going up this week.


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/1500cm2008-06-25.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/2500cm2008-06-26.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/4500cm2008-06-25.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/5500cm2008-06-25.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/6500cm2008-06-25.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/7500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/8500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/9500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/10500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/11500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/12500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/13500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/15500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/16500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/17500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/19500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/20500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/21500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/22500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/24500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/25500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/26500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/27500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/29500cm2008-06-27.jpg
[/SIZE]
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/30500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/31500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/32500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/500CM/33500cm2008-06-27.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/181500cm2008-06-27f.jpg
Wide shot >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Groundbreaking marks start of Thunder Valley expansion
By Art Campos - acampos@sacbee.com
Last Updated 2:09 pm PDT Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The United Auburn Indian Community will break ground Wednesday at Thunder Valley Casino near Lincoln on an expansion project that will include construction of a 23-story hotel atop the current gaming facility.

Besides the planned five-star, 650-room hotel, the facility will include a convention center, ballrooms, more gaming space, restaurants, a spa, a lounge, a 3,000-seat performing arts center and a parking structure.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the south-entrance parking lot at the casino, 1212 Athens Ave.

Doug Elmets, a spokesman for the Indian tribe, which owns the casino, said in a news release that the expansion project will create about 1,000 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs. Completion is set for July 2010, he said.

Analysts have estimated cost of the expansion to be $1 billion.

When completed, the project will generate $10.2 million in property tax, $900,000 in food and beverage taxes and $1 million in occupancy tax annually for Placer County.


http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2008/05/07/20/197-4M8CASINODRAW.standalone.prod_affiliate.4.JPG
Source: www.sacbee.com/101/story/922065.html

^^ nice! but $1 billion is quite alot for this project.

It's bene a few years since I've been through Sacramento.. but it keeps getting better and better.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/434/500cmontheriveratnight2nv2.jpg

http://img374.imageshack.us/img374/3094/sacramentoskylinefromwexh1.jpg

http://www.sacramentorailyards.com/home/home.htm


anyone know anything about this project?

Contaminated dirt is still been extracted and removed from the railyards site and transported away to Utah. This article below is the latest I know of.

With bond funds approved, Sacramento railyard design to begin
By Mary Lynne Vellinga

Saturday, June 21, 2008

After a decade of talk, building at Sacramento's downtown railyard is finally poised to begin.

The state Department of Housing and Community Development on Friday approved $47 million in bond funding for the railyard – money that will be used to construct streets connecting the site to the rest of downtown. Design will begin right away, and construction on key roads likely will start next year, said Suheil Totah, vice president for developer Thomas Enterprises.

"I'm very excited, and I'm about to go to Disneyland," said Totah, who was in Los Angeles on Friday for the meeting of the housing department committee that approved the awards.

Paying for the enormous cost of laying streets and utilities across the railyard's dusty expanse has been one of the major obstacles to transforming it into a neighborhood with thousands of housing units, shop-lined streets, and an arts and entertainment district. While the grant will fall well short of covering the entire cost, it will allow construction to begin on the first phase.

The state also awarded $16.6 million to West Sacramento for redevelopment of the Triangle neighborhood just south of the Tower Bridge.

Combined, the awards will allow two long-dormant industrial sites on either side of the Sacramento River to be made ready for housing, offices and shops. Proponents hope that when the streets and other improvements are made, the real estate market will have turned around, and developers will flock to build on prime pieces of land close to the Sacramento River and downtown.

"It's fantastic for the riverfront," said West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon.

Friday afternoon, the awards were still awaiting final signoff by Lynn Jacobs, director of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. But officials said they didn't anticipate any surprises.

"Needless to say, we're very excited and pleased, and feel Sacramento has done very well," said Patti Bisharat, Sacramento's director of governmental affairs.

Even more Sacramento projects could receive immediate funding if the state Legislature passes Assembly Bill 1252, to speed up distribution of money from the $2.9 billion state housing bond passed by voters in 2006.

As of Friday, the bill was in the Senate Appropriations Committee. It was expected to reach the Senate floor by Monday.

If the bill passes, the state Department of Housing and Community Development plans to grant another $6.4 million to the Triangle, as well as $19.1 million to Township 9, a 65-acre development between Richards Boulevard and the American River, envisioned to eventually include 3,000 housing units.

An additional $4.4 million would go the Broadway Lofts, a housing, retail and office project planned for 19th Street and Broadway, in the Land Park neighborhood.

"It would be nice if we got everything funded," said Sacramento City Councilman Rob Fong, who traveled to Los Angeles for a two-day meeting this week of the committee approving the awards.

The awards announced Friday left the developers of the downtown railyard gleeful. But the news disappointed the developers behind Township 9. They had asked for $30 million, and now stand to get $19.1 million – and then only if AB 1252 passes.

Township 9 lost out despite being the city's top choice to receive this year's round of funding from the pot of money for "infill" projects. It designated the railyard as the favored project for a smaller pot of money geared toward transit-friendly projects.

The rationale: Township 9 was ready to start construction sooner.

In the end, railyard developer Thomas Enterprises emerged on top with its application for $30 million in infill funds and $17 million in transit money – the maximum amount available.

The company lobbied the Legislature and the Governor's Office heavily, spending $224,314 in the past two years, according to state records.

"Clearly, on a political level, the railyards is much better connected; I think that's obvious," said Ron Vrilakas, a local architect working on the Township 9 project.

Totah said the railyard is a signature project that deserves funding. He noted that its $47 million award was the largest in the state. "We knew we had a project that was of national significance," Totah said.

He said the $47 million would pay to extend Fifth Street over the Union Pacific tracks to the railyard development, and to build Railyards Boulevard, which will serve as the neighborhood's east-west artery.

Cabaldon said the money for West Sacramento will pay to build a street grid in the Triangle area and to extend the city's riverfront promenade south of the Tower Bridge.

"We're thrilled; we're absolutely thrilled," said Les Bowman, West Sacramento's redevelopment manager. "The Triangle has a plan, it has a great vision. What the Triangle doesn't have today is infrastructure."

excellent pictures innov8, they made me miss living in sac :D ... good article too.

Indian gaming is nothing more than the California legislators whoring themselves for a quick buck when they cant even get a budget in place without fleecing the taxpayers pockets. Big money indian gaming has killed the charitable bingo industry in California and taken down many great causes and groups, namely the Sacramento Freelancers Drum and Bugle Corps, a group I was a member of for 7 years. I live in England now but go back to Sacramento alot and I for one will NEVER step foot in an Indian gaming establishment.

There, I said it. I will probably get moderated for it but I feel better for having said it.

Well, you should get your post deleted cause it has nothing to do with anything about this thread.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1012/sacskylinewest320080831ia3.jpg

Great shots, love them. I know I'm reviving this slightly, but this is development news. I think a project deserving more attention would be the new Sutter Medical Center over on 28th Street. It's got a good design, and it would appear to me, along with that new surgical center out in Elk Grove, that the metro area is starting to become a burgeoning medical and medical research center.

http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=suttermedical2rr3.jpg

So are they finished building that last one? What's the name of it?

Thunder Valley
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Thunder-Valley_PanoramaOP.jpg

Bank of the West Tower
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/11-500-cm-6-2008-11-06.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/12-500cm-night-2008-11-06.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/1-500cm-east_Panorama-final.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/2-500cm-west_Panorama-final.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/5-Railyards_Panorama-small.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/6-Northeast_SacramentoPanor.jpg

I would love to move back to nice Sacramento.

Great pictures innov8, excellent as a matter of fact. All the stuff in downtown makes me incredibly happy right now. I just hope they eventually do something with Lot A's (new US Bank Tower) parking lot. Doesn't make sense to me to put a parking lot on top of a parking lot.

Great shots, love them. I know I'm reviving this slightly, but this is development news. I think a project deserving more attention would be the new Sutter Medical Center over on 28th Street. It's got a good design, and it would appear to me, along with that new surgical center out in Elk Grove, that the metro area is starting to become a burgeoning medical and medical research center.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/2239/suttermedical2rr3.jpg

Well, UC Davis Med Center is becoming well known for it's excellent cancer treatment center. They also have one of the newest and largest imaging machines made.

Some new photos I have taken of the city...

Sacramento - The Exposition http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=30037560#post30037560

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20The%20Exposition/042--Renaissance-Tower-smf-.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20The%20Exposition/056-Cesar-Chaves-Park--Farm.jpg

innov8,

you got some skills man, very nice fotos -

Thank you el sobrante :)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8374/3500cm520081230hq7.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9056/6500cm1of2320081230fr1.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4517/5istreetbridge2panoramaqx5.jpg

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/6748/goldenspikexe6.jpg

I saw this in the Bee the other day. I know the guy's not an architect, but that's one of the ugliest things I've ever seen. I hope that after this article, no one ever even thinks about this atrocity again Oh, and once again, excellent pictures innov8, one of them's now my desktop. :cheers:

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7606/foggysacramentoskylinesma9.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2195/sacramentoskylineriverrdy3.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8291/sacramentoskylinenorthpuf8.jpg

Wow, those pictures are incredible. I didn't even notice the crane coming down! But, I have been trapped indoors with disease for a while. That first shot should be made into a banner, most definitely.

Thanks :)

When I was heading to the bay area and looked in my rear view mirror I saw this awesome site of
the skyline poking through so I had to pull off and snap a few.

Yesterday the Preservation Commission meet to discuss a study of bring Streetcars onto Capitol Mall and back to downtown Sacramento. Over the past 30 years, public and private interests have examined the feasibility of streetcar and services that could travel between West Sacramento and downtown Sacramento, but in May 2007 West Sacramento became the lead agency to prepare a draft environmental impact report for the project to gain permits for the project.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/5045/streetcars1.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=streetcars1.jpg)

With the partnership of West Sacramento, Sacramento, in cooperation with Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) and Yolo County Transportation District (YCTD), a partnership was formed to study the reintroduction of the streetcar and connect the cities and their shared riverfronts. The partnership was also aided by funding from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Community Design Program to perform a thorough analysis so elected officials, public agencies, citizens groups, and other stakeholders could make an informed decision on the proposed transportation investment.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1640/streetcars2.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=streetcars2.jpg)

The feasibility study includes a discussion of the technology, alignment, financing opportunities, and operating plans. The 2.2 mile proposed streetcar alignment would go from Washington/Triangle/Civic Center areas of West Sacramento and cross the Tower Bridge. From there the tracks would travel down Capitol Mall and cross over to K Street where it would then make a loop around the Convention Center heading back to West Sacramento.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1771/streetcars3.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=streetcars3.jpg)

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve transit service and local circulation by connecting both West Sacramento and downtown Sacramento with an alternative (non-auto) mode of transit in supporting existing and future development in the Cities of West Sacramento and downtown Sacramento. Approximate cost to build the Streetcar system is between $50 and $60 million.

Click here to see Video of Proposed Streetcars in action. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEkKs88RqnA)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Arco-Arena-View_Panorama-fi.jpg

Taken from Arco Arena 04-05-09.

I hope the streetcars idea goes into action, although I will admit, when I first heard it I thought they were talking about historical looking streetcars like the old ones we had. That would be more of a tourist attraction. Judging by the proposed route, it looks pretty good as it is. My only thing would that a loop around the Capitol would look better than just the Convention Center, but it'd also be more expensive. Lastly, great shot from Arco. The STRS Building makes a great anchor for West Sac and the skyline as a whole.

Hey everyone, I created a photo gallery on Sacramento in the urban showcase section, feel free to re-post them wherever you like. Hope you like them! :)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=857374

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/889/rivercatssstadiumpanora.jpg




http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/7092/rivercatsskylinepanoram.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/4092/hiltonhotel8andkstreet1.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/hiltonhotel8andkstreet1.jpg/)

There appears to be a proposal in the works for 8th & K Streets. The architects of Fletcher Farr Ayotte of Portland has recently completed concept designs for a new 409-room Hilton hotel at 8th & K Street along with a seven-story parking garage for the corner of 8th & L Street in downtown Sacramento.


http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/34/hiltonhotel8andkstreet2.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/hiltonhotel8andkstreet2.jpg/)

This current proposal really bugs me in that there’s a massive parking garage planned for the corner of 8th & L Street. The hotel tower portion of the proposals decent and it would be great to see Hilton on K Street, but the massive parking garage planned next to the tower would be a horrible mistake devastating another pedestrian friendly corner of the city. This is the same design flaw that was used when the Library Tower was built nearly twenty years at the corner of 8th & J Streets. The Library Tower included an eight story parking garage next to the office tower leaving much to be desired for what could have been an awesome block.

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6343/hiltonhotel8andkstreet3.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/i/hiltonhotel8andkstreet3.jpg/)

The tower is decent...unfortunately the parking is a necessary evil. If not undergrounded, fingers crossed there is substantial commercial space on the ramp's ground floor.

Necessary evil? Maybe for the project but not as a parking garage. I would recommend
that the developer somehow tuck the parking into the structure like what has been
done with a majority of other high-rises in downtown Sacramento. Incorporating the
parking into the structure or underground would make the street appearance of the
project much more attractive and would also avoid making the same mistake that
the Library Tower made which is now a daily reminder of what poor city planning can produce.


I'm going to oppose this project if this is how they wanna do it.

As of now, this is just a concept and has not been through any of the cities Planning or
Design Committees where I would hope that they will also see this design error in wiping
out another corner of the central city for a parking structure. If this current choice of
design is acceptable and built as planned, downtown Sacramento will soon resemble
downtown Phoenix where huge parking structures are prominent on every other block.

At long last, some development news. No pictures, sorry.

http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/19315/Docks_Area_steps_closer_to_development

I hope this doesn't become yet another project that has a lot of hype but never goes through. This project would really add a lot of density both to the skyline and to the downtown area in general.

http://www.sacbee.com/driver/story/2435414.html

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=73344

I figured somebody had to post the new stadium and revitalization plans here. Definitely newsworthy.

K Street Projects Revealed

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1589/theauthenticity.jpg

Read more about the proposals here (http://www.cityofsacramento.org/econdev/news/documents/700800LK_RFQ_Update.pdf)

I like it. The four-story building in the 800 block by Taylor is decent too.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9473/downtownsacpanoramasmal.jpg

innov8, your photos are magnificent.

Thank you Tony Anderson.

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/1395/kstreetclubssm20100601.jpg (http://img824.imageshack.us/i/kstreetclubssm20100601.jpg/)

Work continues along the 1000 block of K Street where David S. Taylor Interests Inc.
and CIM Group are bring a vintage Dive Bar, pizza restaurant and upscale night club to
three building that have been vacant more than eight years. The project received a
$5.7 million subsidy from the city which also included the land last year to kick start the
project. The money came from a pool of proceeds from the sale of the downtown
Sheraton and are earmarked for downtown development. San Francisco entrepreneur
George Karpaty, a seasoned night club and restaurant owner, plans to open three
venues on the block: a nightclub for the over 30 crowd; a "dive bar" with an aquarium
behind the bar; and a gourmet pizzeria. Karpaty will try to stand out in Sacramento
with three unique businesses: Frisky Rhythm Dance Club, Pizza Rock and Dive Bar which
will be a warm water, 100,000-pound aquarium with an occasional visit by a mermaid or
a merman. It looks to me the exterior design changed a bit since the renderings were
released, the buildings now look to have second story windows, but I don't think they
are anything more than show.

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7650/10thandkbydaysm.jpg (http://img812.imageshack.us/i/10thandkbydaysm.jpg/)

To see more goings on in Sacramento visit http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/

that pizza rock seens very unique !!

innov8, your photos are magnificent.

Thank you Sir!!!

It's been a while since I released a new set, so I got inspired in early spring
and went out and got some good shots.

Sacramento Urban Pleasures
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1171931


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20Urban%20Pleasures%202010/058-1801-K-Steet-lobby-2010.jpg
1201 K Street lobby

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Sacramento%20-%20Urban%20Pleasures%202010/109-Lightrail-stop-at-8th-.jpg
Light rail stop at 8th & Capitol Mall


Sacramento Urban Pleasures
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1171931

Developers still have a month to turn in proposals for a destination entertainment complex at 10th and K streets. But there's already a buzz building around one still-evolving plan that would put residential, retail and office buildings, along with entertainment venues, on at least three of the intersection's four corners.

hI,
I am pienaar.
I am new to this skyscrapercity.............. It's been a while since I released a new set.. Thank you.

Developers still have a month to turn in proposals for a destination entertainment complex at 10th and K streets. But there's already a buzz building around one still-evolving plan that would put residential, retail and office buildings, along with entertainment venues, on at least three of the intersection's four corners.

You're gonna have to cite your sources, dude. I haven't heard anything about something at 10th and K. There's already the Cabaret there. So . . . link?

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6149/foggysacskylinepanorama.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/i/foggysacskylinepanorama.jpg/)

Fall mornings lay a nice thick haze in the air creating awe-inspiring silhouettes from the west.

Taken 9-26-2010

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/2333/capitolmallpanoramasm.jpg (http://img691.imageshack.us/i/capitolmallpanoramasm.jpg/)

Iconic Capitol Mall
One of my favorite views down Capitol Mall from the Embassy Suites.
This sure would have been an awesome view if just a few more of
the proposed towers came to fruition a few years ago. This is a
five photo stitched panoramic taken on 9-3-2010.

^^ That's a remarkable angle because it makes Bank of the West vanish.

http://www.vanirdevelopment.com/doc.asp?id=46

Some developer has a proposal, an idea, a real idea. Given our luck with downtown development, I have zero hope and faith in this project until I see a crane in the sky.

I took this set in late summer during Gold Rush days in Old Sacramento.

Old Sacramento - Gold Rush Days

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1283879

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Old%20Sacramento%20Gold%20Rush%20Days/016Old-Sacramento-2010-09-0-87.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Old%20Sacramento%20Gold%20Rush%20Days/065Old-Sacramento-2010-09-05_7.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mz1613/Old%20Sacramento%20Gold%20Rush%20Days/055Old-Sacramento-2010-09-0-54.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1283879

Steel Rises at Sutter Medical Center

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/705/suttermedical0111201100.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/705/suttermedical0111201100.jpg

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/705/suttermedical0111201100.jpg

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/705/suttermedical0111201100.jpg

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/705/suttermedical0111201100.jpg

In the current Feb/Mar Sactown magazine there is well written piece by Rob Turner on
the many reasons why the proposed superior county courthouse should NOT be built on
Capitol Mall but instead built over at the other proposed site in the railyards. The list of
reasons and examples includes the 2002 East End Project that was also a State funded
project that ignored the pleas of the Sacramento review board and was not subject to
any authority in how it was built... just how like this building will also be exempt to any
design oversight. The article really nails it when it talks about how the area would also
have a steady stream of felons and accusers at a site that
should be reserved for something special.

The articles called "Courting Disaster" and I highly recommend picking it up or viewing it
here (http://bit.ly/eCkxzx).

Wake up, sleepy thread....


Sutter Medical Center May

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTEtl75W-DA/Tb8aaYtjkgI/AAAAAAAACx4/zDZZFSV06bI/s1600/Sutter+construction+4-29-2011+4.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsiC0dc2Syc/Tb8aNClAYMI/AAAAAAAACxs/qgVrzCveFkM/s1600/Sutter+construction+4-29-2011+3.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEg7iWW_TzI/Tb8aQ89BFgI/AAAAAAAACxw/h6nohcgUIa0/s1600/Sutter+construction+4-29-2011+2.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PA4_xxhLvHQ/Tb8aX_Gma0I/AAAAAAAACx0/Adx03DtSojg/s1600/Sutter+construction+4-29-2011.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9t_1yjb03M/Tb8aJP_3tnI/AAAAAAAACxo/5NBclfvPR0s/s1600/Sutter+construction+4-29-2011+5.jpg

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T9t_1yjb03M/Tb8aJP_3tnI/AAAAAAAACxo/5NBclfvPR0s/s400/Sutter%2Bconstruction%2B4-29-2011%2B5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/&usg=__VPO2xl2HRCUAoEGrvApvW3vczrI=&h=266&w=400&sz=28&hl=en&start=7&sig2=IDnNdso9Ln7E7VhH84DLSw&zoom=1&tbnid=QQ2S_jmiHkz1HM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=124&ei=pF3LTaKHE5GCsQPSpemPDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsutter%2Bmedical%2Bcenter%2Bsacramento%2Bmay%2B2011%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS278%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D562%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

Seventh & H SRO May

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh5FtdeEsjs/S8fZlBpBH0I/AAAAAAAACiY/CIaDpLIHhe8/s1600/7th+%2526+H+2.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o4rawV7f2Rg/Tbw2uSjXMCI/AAAAAAAACxQ/2cD8bwbySNE/s1600/SRO+foundation+work+4-29-2011+1.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-13CJltkkevs/Tbw23c4x_5I/AAAAAAAACxY/Bi2i8E1eHew/s1600/SRO+foundation+work+4-29-2011+3.jpg

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/05/drilling-piles-at-seventh-h-sro.html

La Valentina Station May

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DN5QV-75auc/SZZGSNoHFxI/AAAAAAAACAw/axC_LbrwAOU/s1600/La+Valentina+Station+rendering+.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIa_1Aba1iI/TbzPvjL9AFI/AAAAAAAACxg/_XqO4lrB65s/s1600/La+Valentina+Station+4-29-2011+2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aCTk4clxQgM/TbzPs4aHA6I/AAAAAAAACxc/iq0i-In3A-U/s1600/La+Valentina+Station+4-29-2011+1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aZAW3C4trR0/TbzPzLVwQ0I/AAAAAAAACxk/Xulw-8gQBxw/s1600/La+Valentina+Station+4-29-2011+3.jpg

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/05/construction-update-la-valentina.html

DMV Headquarters May

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lokPZpH44Lw/TGmoj-H7jnI/AAAAAAAACrc/0AxeRxRtY0Y/s1600/DMV+Northwest+View.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5aU0tEELY4/TbtD9lnrsBI/AAAAAAAACw8/eYdnzZR7rZE/s1600/DMV+remodel+4-29-2011+4.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LuV7axo7RpA/TbtEKmZW5LI/AAAAAAAACxA/8k2W4E55-uo/s1600/DMV+remodel+4-29-2011+3.jpg

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/search/label/DMV%20Headquarters%20Renovation

Powerhouse Science Center

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9W37sdq3xYI/Sm_WpJ_p7jI/AAAAAAAACUo/2yIRfHzUIO0/s1600/Powerhouse+Scince+Center+1.jpg

The Powerhouse Science Center has been awarded a $7 million grant to pay for the first of three buildings in its planned $50 million science museum on the banks of the Sacramento River. The money comes from Prop. 84, a 2006 bond measure that provided $5 billion for water-quality projects, including public access to natural resources. The center is expected to open in 2013.


http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/04/powerhouse-awarded-7-million.html

Rail Yards Preferred Site For New Courthouse (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/04/railyards-preferred-site-for-new.html)

The city block bounded by H Street, 5th Street, G Street and 6th Street is now the preferred site for the new Sacramento Criminal Courthouse, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) announced today. The site, Lot 41-Railyards, was endorsed today as the preferred site by the project advisory group, which includes members of the Superior Court of Sacramento County, city and county officials, and the AOC. The block, part of which is currently a city parking lot, is at the southernmost end of the Sacramento Railyards project, near existing court facilities and key justice partners, with ready access to transportation, including Amtrak, light rail, and bus service.

The Railyards site has received strong support from community leaders, including a June 2010 resolution by the Sacramento City Council and the County of Sacramento in favor of the site for the new courthouse, because it would jump-start vertical development and provide an opportunity for a landmark building in the area. The city is working with the Railyards owner, Inland American, to relocate railroad tracks that currently run through the site.

“The Railyards is the most appropriate site for the new state criminal courthouse due to its close proximity to the county jail, sheriff’s department, District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office, as well as transit services, bail bond, and law offices,” said Supervisor Susan Peters.

The AOC recently published its draft environmental impact report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which includes two sites: the Railyards site and 301 Capitol Mall. The AOC will accept public comments on the draft EIR through May 24, 2011; a public meeting on the draft EIR is planned for May 4, 2011. The AOC must conclude its environmental review, complete due diligence and acquisition negotiations, and secure approval by the State Public Works Board before site acquisition can be completed and architectural design can proceed. The local architecture firm of Nacht & Lewis and the global firm of HOK already have been selected to design the proposed new courthouse.

The new courthouse, 405,000 square feet and up to 16 stories tall, would provide 44 courtrooms (35 to be relocated from the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse and 9 for new judicial positions), would consolidate most of the court’s criminal operations, and would centralize court operations from other downtown leased facilities. The proposed project includes a renovation of the Schaber Courthouse, and the AOC is also making plans for public parking options as a part of the project.

The proposed project is funded by Senate Bill 1407, enacted by the state Legislature in 2008 to authorize up to $5 billion for 41 new and renovated court facilities using court user fees, without impact on the state’s General Fund. This project was ranked as an “immediate need” in the judicial branch’s capital-outlay plan, making it among the branch’s highest-priority infrastructure projects. The project is expected to generate economic benefit in the form of thousands of jobs, both those directly related to the construction effort and others indirectly affected by it. Construction is scheduled to start in early 2013 and be completed in 2015.

Steel rises at Sutter Medical Center May 17

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z6YpAQEFEM/TdMuieBplYI/AAAAAAAACyE/BIkD96A8aVM/s1600/Sutter+2011-05-14.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_13L4Hg7k_0/TdMupAEOQTI/AAAAAAAACyM/P3sliT1PTV8/s1600/Sutter+2011-05-14_2.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_13L4Hg7k_0/TdMupAEOQTI/AAAAAAAACyM/P3sliT1PTV8/s1600/Sutter+2011-05-14_2.JPG

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/05/steel-rises-at-sutter-medical-center.html

livinginurnsac (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/06/paying-for-new-arena.html)


Friday, June 03, 2011
Paying for a new Arena?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWknPUf3loo/Tem6TqD0snI/AAAAAAAACyg/zVzW0FHMC4A/s1600/2011+Area+sketch+4+sm.jpg

I think we all know why the Kings are still in town… passionate fans and a last ditch effort by politicians and local businesses to show that Sacramento can still pull together big deals. Building a new arena is now priority #1, a big spending project that should be done for the greater good of Sacramento.

In the last issue of Sactown Magazine (April/May) there is one section called: “Riverfront: Veto the Vote” that talks about whether the Kings decide to stay or go, and that it's time to start treating the arena issue like every other major project the city has undertake for the good of the people. And that means not asking the people what's good for them.

This method that Sactown Mag., refers to is done by raising bonds with the backing of public money. The Sacramento bond project list is longer than you might think. Just to list a few, there’s the billion dollar airport expansion, $751 million “Capitol Improvement Program” in 1987, both the Hyatt and Sheraton, and the convention center expansion in 1992. None of these projects went to a vote of the people; the city did not wait around and hoping for some wealthy family or company to build for us allowing others to decide our fate for us. All these were done by raising bonds and backing it with public money. The bonds were paid off with funded user fees (where ticket buyer pay a few extra dollars each visit), hotel, car rental, parking, and concessions.

This has been a standard method for several other cities to build big project when private money was not enough to make it happen. Since an arena serves a public purpose, therefore it does not need voter approval.

If our city leaders are serious about keeping the Kings in town, they better look to the past to help finance a new arena in the near future. Take a moment to check out the article here, it illustrates the point much better than I have.

http://blogs.endonline.com/files/2011/05/arena1.jpg



-----------------------------------------------------------

Update:

Downtown Arena Funding Unveiled (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/09/downtown-arena-funding-unveiled.html)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-el0cJCekLR0/S1KXNhWAG9I/AAAAAAAACco/eIb-Qd57geE/s1600/Sacramento+Intermodal+Transportation+Facility+1+small.jpg

With the Sacramento Kings on the verge of moving to southern California, both The Think Big Sacramento task force and Mayor Kevin Johnson have unveiled today several funding sources that could keep the Kings in town. The plan must be in place by next March or the Kings' owners say they will seek NBA permission to move the team out of town.

The project will lean on a mixture of income that has a connection to the arena, leasing city-owned parking spaces to private operators, surcharges on tickets and concessions, hotels “taxing” themselves, and a sell off five different land parcels.

Also, the arena could seek investment dollars from foreign nationals under a federal program known as EB-5, a controversial program that offers green cards and a path to citizenship to foreign nationals who invest at least $500,000 into U.S. businesses that create at least 10 jobs. The program has helped create jobs at the former McClellan Air Force Base in North Highlands.

Voters won't be asked to approve a sales tax increase to finance the $387 million facility.

[...]

Frankly, I can imagine better uses of funds for Sacto than that.

Frankly, I can imagine better uses of funds for Sacto than that.

Of course you can. :ohno:

Sutter Medical update > July 15

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PuHIeqpGLSI/Th9KSmZKvoI/AAAAAAAAC2k/xXrdLv9fEFM/s1600/DSCN4913.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BaeMTJKuiyk/Th9LLMTQrRI/AAAAAAAAC2o/-1_e7ey-8jo/s1600/DSCN4904.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--iJWbXbdZ3g/Th9LMI-IaUI/AAAAAAAAC2s/9MEHAoykQ9M/s1600/DSCN4906.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1m50xHANk0g/Th9MS1g8psI/AAAAAAAAC20/pNbHAMeY6jA/s1600/DSCN4909.jpg

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4820/railyardstrackrealignme.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/225/railyardstrackrealignme.jpg/)

Railroad Track Relocation

The project will relocate and realign about 2.3 miles of Union Pacific railroad track to
make room for an expanded Sacramento Valley Station, which will be turned into an
intermodal hub that will handle Amtrak and Capitol Corridor service as well as light rail
and bus services.

Granite Construction Inc. was awarded $41 million last March for the track relocation
project, which includes major utility infrastructure and site improvements, construction
of multiple access tunnels for pedestrians and service vehicles as well as new
passenger tracks and platforms.

The project is being paid for by 12 funding sources, including $26 million in federal
stimulus funding, state bond funding and funding from Amtrak, the federal Department
of Transportation and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments

The track relocation project is estimated to be completed by December 2012.

Capitol Mall Design Competition (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/10/capitol-mall-design-competition.html)

Here are some entires:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w4q5hPg8VV8/Tp5dWO7koXI/AAAAAAAAC94/wzTRVWHPAEE/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb95fKdoB1o/Tp5deOk9cSI/AAAAAAAAC-g/ehSmExRTkGk/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition6.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBPATPJlwhw/Tp5dbX1RdfI/AAAAAAAAC-Q/Bhr6Op9_cT8/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition4.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1kRp0iTT1J4/Tp5dcsJOsNI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/4djpsz7FSKM/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition5.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9GShwQY7Ado/Tp5dZOKyVgI/AAAAAAAAC-A/Jl943-5NYnw/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FpNNm1lxLYI/Tp5dahlML0I/AAAAAAAAC-I/3IaUv6l9jyY/s1600/Capitol+Mall+Design+Competition3.jpg

Sutter Medical Center update:

All photos, Zwahlen Images

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxg_1Dcgxeg/TpO5aQYzlfI/AAAAAAAAC9M/xdxTJ1BeFI8/s1600/Sutter+Medical+Center+2011-09-30_1sm.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r8CaoLurJ0Q/TpO5e7FOD-I/AAAAAAAAC9U/TYgRK0t67lA/s1600/Sutter+Medical+Center+2011-09-30_2sm.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-maE0CXA_w84/TpO5iylfAdI/AAAAAAAAC9k/GNTxeNe672k/s1600/Sutter+Medical+Center+2011-09-30sm.jpg
http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/10/sutter-medical-center-expansion.html

Railroad track relocation: (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/10/railroad-track-relocation.html)


http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/4820/railyardstrackrealignme.jpg

This project will relocate and realign about 2.3 miles of Union Pacific railroad track to make room for an expanded Sacramento Valley Station, which will be turned into an intermodal hub that will handle Amtrak and Capitol Corridor service as well as light rail and bus services

Curtis Park remediation project

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EIRU5YpTKwA/ToQAqmA947I/AAAAAAAAC8c/TGrRpF5POok/s1600/curtis+park+village+project+2011-09-26.JPG

Recent projects:

626 I Street rehab
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uvtpw8KvRY/Tlr-Q68W8aI/AAAAAAAAC5E/9eUbPOXppW8/s1600/I+Street+bldg+2011-08-27.JPG

DMV Headquarters
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kKgH5U7bo48/Tlr-OqKn1oI/AAAAAAAAC5A/IOLDn6cJBC0/s1600/DMV+2011-08-27.JPG

La Valentina Station
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CG3r6TypsZM/Tlr-Ll4XBKI/AAAAAAAAC48/YtLC26qfrGo/s1600/12th+st+2011-08-26_1.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QtQ9VEDKObU/Tlr-JuwmHeI/AAAAAAAAC44/N84GekxsM3I/s1600/12th+st+2011-08-26.JPG

All photos- Zwahlen Images

http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2011/08/summer-2011-construction-rundown.html

“Seventh & H" SRO - 7th & H Street, $47.4 million project. Expected completion date, Spring 2013

http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/6619/7thhsro20111217.jpg

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/4028/7thhsro201112171.jpg

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8045/7thhsro201112172.jpg

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/451/7thhsro201112173.jpg

626 I Street Rehabilitation Project - $19.4 million. Expected completion date, Sept. 2012

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7343/istreetbldg20111217.jpg

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5796/istreetbldg201112171.jpg

La Valentina Station - 12th Street between D and E streets, $27 million project. Expected completion date, summer 2012.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1425/lavalentinastation20111.jpg

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1425/lavalentinastation20111.jpg

Sutter Medical Center - L & 29th Street, $600 million project. Expected completion date, late 2012.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1563/suttermedicalcenter2011.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1563/suttermedicalcenter2011.jpg

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/1563/suttermedicalcenter2011.jpg

^^
Awesome updates! :cheers:

Downtown Sacramento Christmas Lights

It’s that special time of year on Capitol Mall and Old Sacramento, Christmas lights are up
inviting people to walk a few blocks and the Capitol Christmas Tree which is decked out
in all its splendor. Over the last several years, it appears as if more lights have gone up
to enrich the overall experience as an inviting destination to visit and enjoy. The Wells
Fargo Center has done a fantastic job with a beautiful tree in the lobby and twinkling
lights inside and out.

Merry Christmas!

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/2643/sacramentochristmasligh.jpg

Hi All,

I can see this page isn't the most active in comparison to the one I use in the UK, so I'm not expecting a quick reply on this.

I'm soon to be at University, studying Architectural Technology. The specific uni has a student exchange offer on, one being between my area Birmingham, England and Sacramento, CA.

This exchange would happen in 2-3 years time and is in no way a definite deal, as I believe the uni is looking at Istanbul and Perm.

Anyhow, I was wondering what are the best consttruction and architect firms over your way in Sacramento. The only one I know is Dreyfuss Blackford.

Thanks.

Hi All,

I can see this page isn't the most active in comparison to the one I use in the UK, so I'm not expecting a quick reply on this.

I'm soon to be at University, studying Architectural Technology. The specific uni has a student exchange offer on, one being between my area Birmingham, England and Sacramento, CA.

This exchange would happen in 2-3 years time and is in no way a definite deal, as I believe the uni is looking at Istanbul and Perm.

Anyhow, I was wondering what are the best consttruction and architect firms over your way in Sacramento. The only one I know is Dreyfuss Blackford.

Thanks.

Go to Skyscraperpage.com. Then go to Forum, go down to Sacramento. I;m sure you'll get a response there.

livinginurbansac,com (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2012/03/framework-for-new-arena.html)


Framework for New Arena
Friday, March 02, 2012

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_TFO4o_1lI8/T1E1PrMejKI/AAAAAAAADNo/v8IUtDg7fOk/s1600/New+Railyards+Arena+rendering+3-2-2012.jpg

In addition to this new rendering for the proposed arena in the railyards, the city has released the financial term sheet detailing the huge finical commitment the city will be making to lease the city’s parking operations for 50-years.

City Public Commitment: $255.5 million:

· $230 million parking monetization

· $18.5 million from land sales. (Estimated total value of land sales is $30.7million; however, the City has used conservative assumptions. So only $18.5 million is budgeted for the ESC in order to address variability of market conditions and to account for expenses associated with sale of the land.)

· $5 million Sheraton MOPA (for predevelopment costs under a public-private partnership)

· $1.5 million parking infrastructure fund(for predevelopment costs)

Capital Campaign (e.g., bricks, other) $3 million

Sacramento Kings $73.25 million

Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) $58.75 million

TOTAL $390.5million

The new arena plan includes a 30-year commitment from the Kings to stay in Sacramento, and a 30-year operating lease with AEG. All non-Kings events will be charged a Facility Fee of $1 per ticket. There will also be a tiered revenue-sharing plan that gives the city 15 percent of the first $10 million net operating profit from the facility, and 30 percent of the next $5 million of profit. The city would get 50 percent of all net profit after that.

The ICON-Taylor team has guaranteed to deliver a completed arena by September 2015 – in time for the start of the 2015-16 basketball season – and cost overrun protection, assuring the city of a $391 million final price tag. Taylor would build a $25 million adjacent garage with a combination of private funds and profits from a previous city/Taylor redevelopment project.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iB62szQ9g1w/T1FacKYmHzI/AAAAAAAADNw/uUljRyQpj_8/s1600/New+Railyards+Arena+rendering+3-2-2012+2.jpg

[...]



Looks like Sacramento will keep the Kings and get a spectacular entertainment venue too! :banana:

Arena Debacle? (http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2012/03/arena-debacle.html)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onPMyYA0qaI/T15bFrS0W0I/AAAAAAAADOw/wCXWwiJjaFs/s1600/RailYards_07.jpg
livinginurbansac


It looks as if U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui might derail the proposed new arena in the railyards shortly after Sacramento Mayor Johnson declared that the city is "on the verge of doing something very special." Her statement was made on where the proposed arena is planned and where the intermodal transportation center (ITC) was also originally supposed to be built.
In a SacBee Editorial: Don't build a big barrier inrailyard, Matsui draws attention to how the current arena plan might not work. Before the arena plans came to be, for ten years ITC was in the planning stages with both renderings and site plans released in the last two years. This current arena effort would toss out all those dollars spent and years planning the ITC. After reading the article, Matsui draws concern by emphasizing that the aim should be to create a well-integrated center of architectural and functional significance that has a strong sense of place. I heard that statement to infer that the new arena would greatly reduce the functionality of the transportation center using the current plans, thus putting Federal Funds in jeopardy to fund the ITC.


Looks like a looming turf battle between proponents of the massive new urbanist RailYards redevelopment and the new arena. Sray tuned but time is ticking for Sacramento to get an arean plan fully approved and financed...

Sutter update:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMuT4YwvtbY/T3vL1HBo50I/AAAAAAAADSI/1wo08EEToqE/s1600/Sutter+construction+2012-03-30.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhkkhqPH0Ws/T3vL9Iv8WOI/AAAAAAAADSQ/HkGusvRo2WA/s1600/Sutter+construction+2012-03-30_2.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1Iynuxc7bU/T3vMEZccCRI/AAAAAAAADSg/FRtc7dQjG7o/s1600/Sutter+construction+2012-03-30_1.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t62ijPdQarQ/T3vMKAAmc9I/AAAAAAAADSw/nid8Hpu1xt0/s1600/Sutter+construction+2012-03-30_5.JPG

All photos: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2012/04/sutter-medical-center-expansion.html

626 I Street:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8HHFCtndgO0/T3kbYHo1vJI/AAAAAAAADR0/AwwwDpkw1Tw/s1600/626+I+Street+Rehabilitation+Project+2012-03-30.JPG
http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2012/04/626-i-street-rehabilitation-project.html


This project will be completed in September 2012; it will consist of 108 units for extremely low income elderly persons. Rehab cost $19.4 million.

7th $ H SRO update:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-577M4keItl4/T3ipI6D_YdI/AAAAAAAADQ0/UMGYhRti1IY/s1600/7th+&+H+SRO+2012-03-30.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfKtEWsgGB0/T3ipMjw2v-I/AAAAAAAADQ8/oxLhTZPCLrI/s1600/7th+%2526+H+SRO+2012-03-30_2.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vuql71b-1Gg/T3ipQbMx3-I/AAAAAAAADRE/wQx4xjKfxAg/s1600/7th+%2526+H+SRO+2012-03-30_1.JPG

All photos: http://livinginurbansac.blogspot.com/2012/04/7th-h-sro-construction.html