On March 20, 2006 the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities began to upgrade the current water main system and storage capacity of the combined sanitary sewer system along R Street between 10th and 13th Streets. The combined sewer system portion of this public improvement project will increase storage capacity to mitigate the additional sewer flows generated from the anticipated development within the R Street Corridor. The water main portion of the project will include a new water main and fire hydrants to provide adequate fire protection and water service to the area. This is the first of several planned infrastructure projects in this portion R Street of in coordination with the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA) and other City departments. The long rainy season has delayed the project; however, the anticipated completion date for the project remains July of this year.
Although the R Street Urban Design Plan has not been adopted by the City of Sacramento, the City’s Department of Transportation has begun preparations for the implementation of the plan. In February, the City began the process of selecting a consultant firm to develop a final design for a new streetscape of the R Street between 10th and13th Streets. The City will review the proposals submitted, select a consultant, and approve a contract by the end of June of this year.
Construction of the streetscape will be completed in phases and begin the summer 2007. R Street, between 11th and 12th Streets, will be the first section of the streetscape to be reconstructed. This first phase of implementation will support the Capitol Lofts development. The remaining two blocks of the project area will be constructed sometime in 2008.
We’ve said it before but this time the final draft of the CADA R Street Urban Design Plan will be com completed by the end of April. Once the draft is finished, the City and CADA will release the draft plan and Mitigated Negative Declaration for a 20 day period for public review and comment.
Shortly after the CEQA review period ends, the City and CADA will bring the R Street Urban Design and supporting City Amendments forward to the City Planning Commission and the Design Review and Preservation Board for approval. Final adoption by City Council is anticipated to take place in July. The end is near and we will let you know about meeting dates in the next newsletter.
In addition to the CADA R Street Urban Design Plan approval process, the City of Sacramento will also propose zoning changes to the R Street Special Planning District. The proposed zoning changes intend to address standards in the code that have either prohibited or hindered development of the R Street Corridor. Many of the changes are minor, however two proposed changes could be considered significant. One amendment proposes to increase the allowed heights of new developments on RMX zoned properties, while another amendment will allow greater densities with the approval of a Planning Commission Special Permit. These changes will be apart of the MND for the R Street Urban Design Plan and will open for public comment during that documents review period. Additionally, the proposed zoning amendments can be obtained on the R Street website or by contacting either Jeanne Cocrean at the City of Sacramento or Todd Leon (916-323-1272) at CADA.
Implementation momentum continues on the R Street corridor. Last month CADA and the City of Sacramento received a Community Design Grant Award from SACOG for streetscape improvements for R Street between 16th and 18th Streets. The grant award jump starts a second phase of public infrastructure improvements for the corridor. The grant will not fund the entire design, construction, and approvals necessary to complete the project, so more funds will be needed.
The SACOG grant award could not have been timed better. The streetscape improvements will implement the Pedestrian Walkway and Market Plaza concept detailed in the CADA R Street Urban Design Plan. The R Street Walkway/Market Plaza has the opportunity to coincide with future private redevelopment projects of the old Crystal Ice Warehouse and Orchard Supply Building (The grant funds ensure needed public improvements, which will help support the private development projects to create a distinct area not only for R Street but for the City).
CADA launched a new R Street Corridor website on February 2, 2006. The new R Street website is dedicated to all things R Street. Although up and running, not all of the sections of the site will be available right away. Due to the ambitious amount of information the website plans to house, the site will not be fully finished till the end of the year. The website site currently includes the corridor’s history, planning efforts, and key developments to date. In time the site will also showcase future development projects, current businesses, parcel information, and community activities related to R Street. The web address is: www.rstreet.info
On February 2, 2006 the City of Sacramento, CADA, CalPERS, and the State Department of General Services hosted a community meeting to update R Street stakeholders and other interested parties about the future development of the R Street Corridor. The meeting took place in the new CalPERS complex on R Street and was attended by over 200 stakeholders. Judging by the number of participants at the meeting, interest in the development of R Street remains strong. If you missed the event, the PowerPoint presentation and handout is available on the R Street website: www.rstreet.info
R Street Project Updates
A new mixed use project will move forward on R Street. Developer Tom Soto plans to rehabilitate an existing mixed use, landmark building into 8 residential loft units and over 2,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. Mr. Soto’s project completes redevelopment of the north side of the 1400 block area on R Street. The lofts and new retail shops should open in Winter 2006/2007. We will keep you posted on the exact commercial/retail uses planned.
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.
