Rejuvenating Downtowns: Lessons from Sacramento

Heather FargoFormer Mayor

City of Sacramento, California

CORE STRATEGIES

River DistrictPolicy Framework“Setting the Table” River District

Specific Plan Special Planning

District Design Guidelines Historic Landmarks Finance Plan

RailyardsPolicy

Framework Specific Plan Development

Agreement Infrastructure

DesignOwner

Participation Agreement

WaterfrontPolicy Framework Riverfront Master

Plan Docks Specific PlanParks Master Plan

Creating Places for Celebration

O

Enhancing the Green Corridor

Downtown Activation Strategy- Focus the approach on key areas

- No need to wait for big projects

- Demand shows enough space exists

- Deliver something different that is not offered in suburbs

InitiativesRetail RecruiterFocused Incentives Infrastructure StudyStreet Aesthetics Increase HousingRefocus on the GridReintroduction of

Vehicular Traffic

CORE STRATEGIES• Plan broadly and long-term; Implement

incrementally• Maximize resources• Work across and around• Aggressively pursue opportunities• Strengthen connectivity between areas• Don’t lose focus

• Don’t lose focus

Capital Mall500 Capital Mall

621 Capital Mall

Old Sacramento

Orleans Ebner

J Corridor

Elks

• Grand listed structure two blocks from Capitol

• Retrofit of ground floor from small interior offices to destination restaurant

• Catalyst for retail and office leasing in rest of building

• Loan repaid with building’s success; restaurant guaranteed operation for 10-years

Citizen Hotel

• 197-rooms, signature restaurant and unique outdoor dining

• $9.85 million project-related tax increment pledged back to project

• Catalyst project adding street-level vibrancy and activity

• Forgivable loans for structural/historic elements

• Permanent loans repaid with share of hotel and restaurant revenues

• Opened 2008

J Corridor

K Corridor

Ella’s

Cosmopolitan/Cabaret

K Corridor

Streetscape

Crest

Cars on K

K Street: 1960’s

19

Esquire /IMAX• New architectural elements

inspired by historic art deco facades, theater marquees

• $6 million Agency funds used for public elements – upgraded streetscape, artwork, historic preservations

• Developer tax increment guarantee key to public assistance.

• Adjacent to convention center and convention hotels

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Public Market – Sheraton Hotel• Unique Non-profit

corporation ownership

• Innovative jacking technique to transfer loads to new framework

• Active historical use reinvented for today’s needs

• Convention hotel with a boutique feel

• Activates city’s main arterial

21

Ransahoff’s – Pyramid Brewery• Former department store &

restaurant

• Forgivable loan structure for preserving the historic and stabilizing building

• Incorporation of historic blade signs, retractable awnings, mezzanine

• One-block from state capitol

• Attraction of a flagship brewery

22

Elliott Building- East End Lofts• Former automobile showroom

• Downtown’s mixed-use project w/ residential, retail and office on one of City’s busiest intersections

• Historic value with contemporary excitement

• Ground floor retail - PF Chang, Mikuni’s, Design within Reach

• Catalyst for similar privately financed mixed-use projects in following 2-year period

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REA Building- Mixed-use Office

• Adjacent to train depot & future intermodal site

• Severely deteriorated building structure rescued from demolition by local developer

• Public/private funds combined with historic tax credits

• New transit serving retail and commercial office

•Workshop held in October 2004•250 Community members in

attendance•Follow up session in December

2004•Council Action Plan in January

2005

JKL Corridor Vision Summary

Downtown Guides

Reinforcing a Web of Connectivity