Update! The Empress rises to new depths!

From "new depths" to new heights!  Empress Tavern opens today!  Read more...

The Empress and the Crest Theater

The historic CREST Theater was originally opened in 1912 as the Empress Theater and was used as a vaudeville venue for some time before it became known as the Hippodrome.  But the name change seems to have brought bad luck with it.  It's said that during one of the vaudeville acts a trapezist  fell to his death under suspicious circumstances; and in September 1946 the Hippodrome's marquee suddenly fell to the pavement below, killing one bystander and seriously injuring another.  Shortly after the tragedy, in 1949, the building was completely remodeled to it's present form as the Crest Theater.

But there's more for Downtown/Midtown to enjoy...

In 1986, Sid Garcia-Heberger and three partners - her husband Bill Heberger, Andy Field and Gary Schroeder leased the property and got involved in the running and restoring of The Crest to it's present-day glory. Then in 2011, Robert Emerick, a fifth generation Sacramentan purchased the property because he "wanted to preserve a signature regional asset".  When the tenant's lease came up for renewal last year, landlord and tenants were unable to agree on terms and Bob Emerick took over the operation of the theater, expanding the "going to the movies" concept to include serving alcohol and eventually food.

The Empress re-enters...

Bob Emerick has also put together a group to renovate and re-purpose the Crest's lower level (AKA the basement) with a side entrance.  They're putting in a restaurant/bar called the EMPRESS TAVERN serving high quality "Pub Food" with seating to accommodate couples, individuals and groups; and perhaps cooking classes too!. But the big news is the old world atmosphere they are aiming to create: brick lined, arched ceilings reminiscent of some of the taverns of London's Soho district or parts of France.

 Very Euro, very cool!

Sources: Wikipedia, Bob Emerick, Cathie Anderson at SacBee

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/cathie-anderson/article2607747.html#storylink=cpy

HOT stuff! Getting to 10,000 housing units...

Friday was HOT, both the weather and the talk about the need for overcoming inertia to get  ideas into reality for more housing in the city's core. (The A/C system at the invitation only event went on the blink so the venue really was HOT!)

The Mayor and several other civic and business leaders led a cheer leading session AKA the "Mayor's Housing Initiative Kick Off", the formal start to his goal of adding 10,000 housing units to Downtown and Midtown in the next 10 years.  Business leaders gave their personal insights of the benefits of creating a creative place for people to live, work and play.  Fascinating stuff!

[photo from SBJ]

Also on Friday, LaShelle Dozier, executive director of SHRA, (Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency - a joint city-county agency) said she and others are finalizing policy guidelines to simplify the approval path for developers who want to build those homes.

And the city is working on bringing in resources to help with infrastructure and financing.  Possibilities include using Cap-and-Trade dollars applied to transit-oriented developments and using the new federal "Promise Zone" incentives to expedite funding applications.


For more see getting to 10,000 housing units

Go Downtown Sac!

Downtown Sacramento Partnership launches its new consumer website and improves it's business oriented page!

After almost a year and a significant financial investment in determining what is needed for the public and for it's business constituents, DSP has rolled out it's new sites; and it's Mobile app is great too.

Two competing firms collaborated to develop very user friendly experiences that are really INFORMATIVE!



For businesses, check out http://downtownsac.org/ 

and...
Learn (about Downtown)
Start (a Business)
Grow (your business)


Consumers, visitors can GoDowntownSac

 and...
Explore downtownE
check out Events
get downtown and Midtown News you can use

The new DOWNTOWNSAC image represents our Downtown/Midtown re-birth, our rivers and the Downtown and Midtown/Central Business Grid.  I totally get that!

Streetcar vote coming up soon...

About 3700 voters in the Central Downtown district will soon be voting on Measure B, the Streetcar initiative.

Property owners in that district (and the ones who will pay the special tax) have already given a solid "YES!" in a recent advisory vote, but registered voters, whether property owners or not, get to vote on it.  And there are those who are opposed to the idea.

Perhaps these voters don't realize that the public's share of the cost of the streetcar, that could greatly improve getting around in Downtown and Midtown and get cars off the streets,  will cost just 1% of the total cost of building the first leg of this new connector.  That meants property owners will pay between $3 and $5 a month more in their taxes to greatly enhance connectivity between all the exciting things going on between Raley Field, Old Town, the Downtown Entertainment & Sports Complex, a re-born Downtown (with more jobs)  and the Theater district.  What a boon for our city!

Streetcars; the lowdown on the low down

Did you know that Streetcars are different than Light Rail trains and even buses in many, very positive respects?  For instance:

Streetcar chassis and their doors are designed to be low to the ground, almost at curb level, which has a number of beneficial results:
 - the cars are easier to step or roll in and out of
 - A low entry point makes for easier access for those with disabilities



 - There are typically 3 access doors on a streetcar so people can get on and off quickly rather than standing in line as for a typical RT bus
 - The low profile of the streetcar allows pedestrians to see through the car to the other side from the street, thus making the streetcar less imposing than a Light Rail vehicle.

Just some good reasons to consider Streetcars in Sacramento's Downtown and Midtown future!

Pillar to Post? Try, Rivers to Freeways

The Mayor's Strong Housing Task Force envisions a  fairly broad geographic area as well as a mix of market rate, Affordable and rehabilitated housing.

The area of concentration for the proposed "10,000 new homes" covers the city from "River to River, Freeway to Freeway" according to Cassandra Jennings of the Mayor's Office.  Specifically, it's bounded by the American River to the north, the Sacramento River to the west, Highway 50 to the south and Business 80/Route 160 to the east.  AKA Rivers to Freeways.  That covers Downtown, Midtown and more...

Their preliminary thinking is to encourage the building of about 6,000 "Owner Occupied" market rate housing units, 1,500 additional "Affordable Housing" units and about 1,500 rehab. or " Adaptive re-use" (i.e. re-purposed) housing units.  The Task Force is currently prioritizing and winnowing an initial list of identified issues needing to be addressed into recommendations that will be presented to stakeholders in May and the City Council in July.

Promises, Promises... ...it's all coming together

...This just in...

Sacramento has just been granted a "Promise Zone" designation by federal authorities.

According to  the city, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency will now get "priority points" when applying for federal grants under this designation which could enhance their chances of getting redevelopment funds for projects in the zone.  The Zone includes a number of challenged neighborhoods including Downtown and part of Midtown.

Read more...

Speaking of challenges:

The Golden Hotel

"Sandwiched" between a Coffee Shop and Restaurant

Maybe they can get some money to turn the Golden Hotel into residential units!  Just saying...