The struggling K Street corridor in Sacramento suddenly is receiving lots of attention – from competing hotel proposals to new pressure for Downtown Plaza renovations to possible car traffic in the pedestrian/light-rail mall.
As the mayor and council weigh options, they need to remind the public – and themselves – what their overall aims are. Too often the mayor and council seem simply to be bouncing from proposal to proposal without a coherent plan for this crucial street.
A proposed 165-room, 12- story hotel at 10th and K streets is backed by Brian Larson (who was part of the team that did the Citizen Hotel), Tony Giannoni (who built the Marriott Residence Inn at 15th and L streets) and Jim Brennan (who developed office condos on a corner of 10th and K).
A proposed 409-room, 25- story hotel for Eighth and K streets is backed by Bob Leach (who built the Le Rivage Hotel in Sacramento), downtown businessman Moe Mohanna, Sacramento's Parkcrest Development Corp. and Roseville's RCH Group.
While it's a good thing that multiple developers seem interested, elected officials need to ask: What are the projections for needed hotel space? What is the proper mix of hotel and housing that would make the K Street area a live-eat-work-play-shop area that generates 24-hour, seven-day-a-week activity?
And what, really, does the city want for the adjoining L Street area? The developers of the Eighth and K hotel want to build a six-story parking garage at Eighth and L streets on the site of a 1910 landmark building (Bel-Vue Apartments). Designed by the same architect who did the Citizen Hotel, the three-story building in its current shape doesn't look like much from the L Street side – but its features shine through from the alley.
Demolishing this historic building for a parking garage is not a good use of the building or of L Street. Fortunately, council members told the developer they'd like to see "adaptive re-use" of the Bel-Vue building and Leach said he is willing to "work through" the issue. But he's still talking about a garage "in or around the building."
On Tuesday, the mayor and council gave this development team 90 days to get a $91 million commitment on financing – or the site will be open to others. Whoever develops the Eighth and K site, the mayor and council need to articulate a vision for L Street. That half-block is ripe for redevelopment – not just a parking garage.
In other K Street news, the mayor has given an ultimatum to Westfield on the Downtown Plaza: Come up with plans for the promised $120 million renovation by the end of the year, or get out. Again, this cries out for larger vision. What changes would bring the right mix of retailers and shoppers? The design of that mall needs major rethinking, especially its lack of any inviting presence on J and L Streets or from the Interstate 5 ramps to downtown. Cosmetic change won't do.
The spotlight on K Street is a good thing – if the mayor and council aim high and express a clear vision to the public.
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