ASW continued: Day 3 of Arena meetings - DEAL REACHED

[PurpleHaze]

Thanks Kennadog. There's also the issue of moving the tracks towards the historic buildings so that they can fit the arena in. I'm wondering how long that will take. Is there any chance that they can do all this stuff simultaneously and break ground as early as this August or is that just impossible at this point?

In my earlier post I talked about usual "snail pace" of such projects (or almost any building project) in Calif. I was at railyards over the summer (about 8 mos ago) and they were "working" on the tracks. I'm not sure exactly what all those hardhats were doing but they looked "busy" or wanted everyone to think they were hard at work. The current gigantic infill project to ultimately result in new arena cannot really be underway fully until city council approves the "deal", all contracts are signed, final project design is submitted and approved, all permits (enviornmental impact reports) statisfied, and then proverbial first shovel is in the ground. I heard that the plan is for spring 2013 to be that first shovel and that is why I made my earlier prediction on (hoped for) time frame.

 

[Trueblood]

In my earlier post I talked about usual "snail pace" of such projects (or almost any building project) in Calif. I was at railyards over the summer (about 8 mos ago) and they were "working" on the tracks. I'm not sure exactly what all those hardhats were doing but they looked "busy" or wanted everyone to think they were hard at work. The current gigantic infill project to ultimately result in new arena cannot really be underway fully until city council approves the "deal", all contracts are signed, final project design is submitted and approved, all permits (enviornmental impact reports) statisfied, and then proverbial first shovel is in the ground. I heard that the plan is for spring 2013 to be that first shovel and that is why I made my earlier prediction on (hoped for) time frame.

Thanks. I can deal with the spring of 2013 as a start date. That gives them 30 months to have it ready by November of 2015 and arenas typically take 28 months to finish so that would give us 2 months worth of leeway in case there are construction delays and what not.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

For what its worth council members D. Fong, Pannell, Ashby, Cohn, Schenerir were all standing behind the Mayor.

That was Rob Fong, not Darrell Fong...Rob is a definite YES vote.

 

[Dreamtiger]

The tracks are being moved now. I can't be sure, but I think they are looking at summer to be finished.

Here's a recent update.. http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,2684440

And a shot I just pulled off Google Maps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20150918@N05/6940164529

Looks fairly recent to me. I'm guessing they'll need to to pull up the old tracks before starting arena construction?

 

[Gary]

I doubt it, the developers have already been going through that, right?

It would go, draft EIS or FONSI (in this case it may be a FONSI, since the railyards are desolute), demonstrate compliance with NEPA if no EIS is required, or facilitate the EIS, which may take waaaaaaaaay more than a year. In CA we have CEQA and call impact statements EIRs, which is just elitist.

I think they already have a project for some state building on the railyard field as well which was almost a year ago I believe. Wouldn;t that cover it?

 

[slugking50]

And a shot I just pulled off Google Maps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20150918@N05/6940164529

Looks fairly recent to me. I'm guessing they'll need to to pull up the old tracks before starting arena construction?

That pics atleast 5-6 months old........I think.

 

[Dreamtiger]

That pics atleast 5-6 months old........I think.

That's pretty recent for a Google satellite pic anyway. I've been looking for any recent aerial shots of the railyards, that's the most current I could find.

The timing is so perfect for the arena to happen now-- with hundreds of millions of public money going into railyard infrastructure. There's no way this would happen if some of that had to be rolled into arena funding. And because of that, this arena won't be built on the cheap like Arcos I and II-- there will be bells and whistles worthy of a world class facility.

 

[kennadog]

I think they already have a project for some state building on the railyard field as well which was almost a year ago I believe. Wouldn;t that cover it?

New federal courthouse.

 

[JB_kings]

This is from about February 10th.

 

[Emma]

I don't have a clue what this means.

Don't worry, the EIR was all wrapped up in 2007, apparently: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/projects/railyards/deir/

Whenever any structure is built on a large scale or where there may be adverse environmental impacts the builder must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In this case, since roads and the causeway are in play, it fits the bill. We will be seeing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), either from the railyard developer's previous plans, or scientists on the job will have to draft one soon. California has a mini NEPA which is known as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which also necessitates an EI(Report), which is often complied with simultaneously. The average time for an EIS to clear muster is 1 to 2 years. If you get a lawyer or agency involved that has an interest in seeing the project fail I have heard of the process being stretched out for much longer.

I hope I haven't hurt anyone's brain.

 

[Glenn]

Don't worry, the EIR was all wrapped up in 2007, apparently: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/projects/railyards/deir/

Whenever any structure is built on a large scale or where there may be adverse environmental impacts the builder must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In this case, since roads and the causeway are in play, it fits the bill. We will be seeing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), either from the railyard developer's previous plans, or scientists on the job will have to draft one soon. California has a mini NEPA which is known as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which also necessitates an EI(Report), which is often complied with simultaneously. The average time for an EIS to clear muster is 1 to 2 years. If you get a lawyer or agency involved that has an interest in seeing the project fail I have heard of the process being stretched out for much longer.

I hope I haven't hurt anyone's brain.

I get it. The one main thing I didn't understand was the referrence to Henry Winkler. (FONSI)

 

[JB_kings]

I *think* they will still have to do an EIR. The reason is because the old EIR would instantly get challenged because of all the changes the arena will have on the rail yards and surrounding downtown area. The main challenge will come with the traffic increase and how that will impact the area. The good thing is Jerry Brown signed AB 900 which streamlines the process for qualifying projects (ESC qualifies) and speeds up the judicial review process.

 

[Emma]

I get it. The one main thing I didn't understand was the reference to Henry Winkler. (FONSI)

“Aaaaeeeyyy!”

(Finding of no significant impact)

@JB_Kings, I knew there was a way to speed it up, I just couldn't remember the numbers and stuff. I'm rusty.

 

[slugking50]

New federal courthouse.

I think you meant the new Sacramento Superior Courthouse. The tall building on the right of JB's pic is the "new" federal building built about a decade ago.

For those of you from outside the area, That's where Ted Kaczynski, The Unabomber was tried and convicted.

 

[kennadog]

I think you meant the new Sacramento Superior Courthouse. The tall building on the right of JB's pic is the "new" federal building built about a decade ago.

For those of you from outside the area, That's where Ted Kaczynski, The Unabomber was tried and convicted.

Oops, I stand corrected. Thank you Slug. Too many courthouses downtown.

 

[JB_kings]

EIR is already under way: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/arena/EnvironmentalReview.html

 

[fiction916]

(off-topic?)
is there a practice facility included in the new design? is it possible they would sell/develop around the current practice facility in Natomas?

 

[kennadog]

(off-topic?)
is there a practice facility included in the new design? is it possible they would sell/develop around the current practice facility in Natomas?

I hadn't seen one in the very basic designs drawn up. I was wondering if that might have been what bumped the price up to $491 million from $487 million. After all, the practice facility sits on land the Maloofs are supposedly going to sell. They paid for construction of that facility, or financed it, most likely.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I hadn't seen one in the very basic designs drawn up. I was wondering if that might have been what bumped the price up to $491 million from $487 million. After all, the practice facility sits on land the Maloofs are supposedly going to sell. They paid for construction of that facility, or financed it, most likely.

And you're pocketing the rest of that $100M bump, are you? Next time I see you I might ask for a little "hush money"!

 

[captain bill]

This is from about February 10th.

I love this pic. The courthouse is gorgeous, and the near proximity to old town and the railroad museum is pretty great. As much as I love Arco, the idea of putting another arena near Natomas makes me puke. I'd rather go see a game in the heart of downtown, and there will certainly be plenty of nightlife nearby generated by the new arena. Sacramento is a great town, and having this sort of city center is going to do a lot to bring its image up. Having a third-rate arena in the middle of empty fields and strip malls is pretty yuck.

 

[The Hammer]

I love this pic. The courthouse is gorgeous, and the near proximity to old town and the railroad museum is pretty great. As much as I love Arco, the idea of putting another arena near Natomas makes me puke. I'd rather go see a game in the heart of downtown, and there will certainly be plenty of nightlife nearby generated by the new arena. Sacramento is a great town, and having this sort of city center is going to do a lot to bring its image up. Having a third-rate arena in the middle of empty fields and strip malls is pretty yuck.

Yeah, but it's so much closer to the airport so Coldplay would basically be there when they stepped off the plane. (actual response I read on sacbee.com-- beleive it!)