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Originally Posted by urbanadvocate
IN regards to 700K there's a lot of reasons it got delayed--including preservation and restoration (I think the interior's will be rad) and the death of one of the key developers.
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Preservation and Restoration MAY be reasonable defenses for the delays at 700 K street.
However, I doubt Ali Youssefi's death slowed development that much. Ali's death was a horrible tragedy. He loved Sacramento, and his vision for the city was unique and beautiful. I had the honor of meeting him once, and I've followed his career. I can say that Sacramento is less without his guidance, youthful outlook, enthusiasm, ideas, and total love for his hometown. Still, he passed only a few months ago - well after the bulk of 700 K's development was completed. Let's not forget that D&S Development (Bay Miry) is also a developer for the project.
Besides, two of the excuses that you listed were definite "knowns" before 700 K even got its first permit. That site had been walked multiple times; and many "fine toothed combs" were sacrificed during the planning. The developers knew that preservation and restoration would be hard. Yet, once construction commenced, they were very confident in an 18-month timeline. Also, I think they probably knew that Ali Youssefi was sick well before he died; so I doubt that 700 K had the rug pulled out from under it upon his passing.
700 K received a lot of help from the City, which began assembling those properties over a decade ago. The project began in March of 2015; and it was supposed to be complete when the arena opened in October 2016. Here we are, almost 3 years and 3 months after construction began, and 700 K is still not open for business.
I walked around the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street. The area still smells like piss; and most of the people I saw were homeless and downtrodden. Heck, not that long ago, the City spent significant time and money repaving that area with brick. Now, many of the pavers are loose and have been "replaced" with asphalt patches. Yuck!
We've heard that construction at 800 K should begin this Summer. When I was down there, I did not see any sign of work. Before Ozone so nicely and pleasantly informs me that the Summer is still young (as he did to someone else a few posts ago), I do understand that there is a lot of time for construction activity to begin. However, I'm not pleased at how long these projects are taking. They've had a lot of help from the City, they have huge backers (including the Kings); so hurry the f#@k up!
While I was there, I walked over to DOCO quite a few times. I don't like it. DOCO is like a fortress cut off from the rest of the city. Also, it's mostly, eerily quite at night - we're talking Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I did hear some activity from the rooftop pool at The Sawyer. However, I was not allowed to go up there - guess I was not rich or douchey enough.
After years of development and lots of public dollars, K street is not very impressive. Yes, there is still a lot more work to be done, but it does not help that two very well-subsidized, large projects have taken their sweet time getting to the finish line. Also, I stand by my criticism of 700 K's overall "look." The front of it is just OK. (The older buildings were never spectacular examples of architecture to begin with.) However, the backside (the new side) of 700 K is terrible. Living here in Orange County, we see that Developer Moderni$m style a lot - it's a fake-looking, cheap-o attempt to make a timber framed box look "urban."
Sorry to be so negative and repetitive - I did like a lot of what I saw; but I simply don't think the city has gotten its money's worth on DOCO and 700 K. Hopefully, I'll get to check back in another year and eat some crow. Still, even if those projects develop into nice pieces, I think the city could have done a lot more for its money.
I really hope that over the next few years, the countless "holes" in the central city get filled. Last Saturday night I attended the Music Circus. I know that SKK development is making a big push in that area, but I was surprised that the narrow lot immediately to west of the theater (on 14th and H) shows no signs of development. What a great spot for a 3-4 story, narrow apartment building with a ground floor cafe and maybe a small boutique! #FillTheHoles