:: R Street Corridor ::

Environmental Document Released for Urban Design and Zoning Amendments Finally, after two years of reviews, edits, and revisions the CADA R Street Urban Design Guidelines (Project No. M04-053) and the R Street Special Planning District (SPD) Amendments (Project No. M05-048) are ready to move forward for adoption. On Thursday, June 22, 2006 the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for both projects was released for public review. The MND addresses the proposed project’s comprehensive set of inter-related actions to further the redevelopment goals and purposes of the CADA R Street Corridor Redevelopment Area and the City of Sacramento’s R Street Corridor Master Plan. The specific actions covered in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration include: 1. Environmental Determination: Mitigated Negative Declaration 2. Mitigation Monitoring Plan 3. Central City Community Plan Amendments relating to streetscape cross sections, pedestrian circulation, and open space between 9th and 19th Streets in the R Street Corridor. 4. Central City Neighborhood Design Guidelines Amendment to adopt new design guidelines for the R Street area from 9th to 19th Street. 5. Ordinance amending various section of Chapter 17.128 of Title 17 of the Sacramento City Code (zoning code) relating to the R Street Special Planning District. A copy of the document can be obtained at the North Natomas Permit Center, 2101 Arena Boulevard, Second Floor, Sacramento, CA 95834. Additionally, the document can also be reviewed at the New City Hall, 915 I Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814, or at the CADA offices at 1522 14th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Public Review period will end on July 12, 2006. Comments regarding the proposed project and MND may be submitted no later than 3:30 PM Wednesday, July 12, 2006 by mail to the attention of Dana Allen, Senior Environmental Planner, 2101 Arena Boulevard, Second Floor, and Sacramento, CA 95834 or by email at dallen@cityofsacramento.org. This is the first step towards adopting the Urban Design Plan and Zoning Amendments. After the document’s public review period ends, the proposed project will be presented as a public hearing item to the Design Review and Preservation Board, Planning Commission and finally the Sacramento City Council. The dates of these public hearings have not been finalized. Keep checking back to the R Street webpage for updates. 2003 Grant Project Moving Forward In June of 2004, the SACOG Board approved $1.6 Million in Community Design Grant Funds to construct critical safety and accessibility improvements to the 13th Street and 16th Street light rail station areas. After a number of project delays, the project will be ready to begin in late summer/early fall of 2006. The light rail stations improvement project will include at least two public workshops or open houses to obtain feedback regarding the design of the improvements. More details will be available later this summer. R Street Project Updates Icon Closes The “Icon” restaurant adjacent to the successful Empire club at the corner of 15th and R Streets closed it’s doors last month. The building’s owner, Randy Paragary, plans to re-open the space with a similar concept to the popular Monkey Bar and Café Bernardo’s combination located at the corner of 28th and Capitol Ave. Look for updates later this year on the opening. R Street Water and Combined Sewer System R Street water main and combined sanitary sewer system storage project is nearing completion. The project completes the first phase of vital infrastructure improvements scheduled for the R Street area between 10th and 13th Streets. The water main portion of the project includes a new water main and fire hydrants to provide adequate fire protection and water service to the area. The combined sewer system portion of this public improvement project increases storage capacity to mitigate the additional sewer flows generated from the anticipated development within the R Street Corridor. Alchemy on R New Faze Development has started construction of Alchemy at R Street located on R Street between 26th and 27th Streets. This mixed use development will include detached homes, lofts, townhouses and commercial space. The project will face the light rail line on R Street and provide a catalyst housing project for the east end of the corridor. For more information visit the project website at: www.newfaze.com/properties/alchemyAtR/alchemyAtR.php 26th and R Townhomes Construction has started on a new four-unit townhome project across R Street to the south of the Alchemy at R Street project. The project includes both two and three bedroom units with one car garages. Whiskey Hill Lofts A new Rite Aid Drugstore opened on the R Street Corridor on the northeast corner of 21^st and S Streets. The Rite Aid is the first phase of a horizontal mixed use project by Petrovich Development. Construction has started on the second phase of the project that will bring over 30 units of loft style residential units to the R Street Corridor on the northwest corner of 22^nd and S Streets. Capitol Lofts Capitol Lofts, the long awaited CADA, Seris-Regis, and City of Sacramento condominium loft project at the corner of 11^th and R Streets, is currently under City review for planning and building permit approvals. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall 2006. CADA R Street Area Affordable Housing CADA has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for limited funds to assist the development of affordable housing along R Street. For further information contact Tom Kigar at CADA (322-2114) or visit the CADA website at www.cadanet.org. The CADA R Street Project Area is generally 9th to 19th Streets and Q to S Streets. If you wish to receive this bimonthly newsletter electronically, please contact CADA at www.cadanet.org to request your name be placed on the newsletter mailing list. For further information contact Todd Leon, CADA’s R Street Development Manager, at (916) 323-1272.