City officials merging plans for arena, transit center

[Mike0476]

Sacramento officials believe a new arena can be integrated with a future regional transit center in the historic downtown railyards – making this one of the country's most eco-friendly sports and entertainment facilities, Assistant City Manager John Dangberg said Tuesday.

"It is not another disposable arena that we see in so many cities, but something that will be here for many, many decades or a hundred years as our central shops have remained in place and really a permanent part of our urban fabric and history,” he added.

At that time, staff will discuss predevelopment costs the city will incur and provide a critical path and preliminary schedule to the City Council. Dangberg also has been talking with the city attorney about the process to select a development team. Think BIG Sacramento will provide a list of financing options.

http://sacramentopress.com/headline/53290/City_officials_merging_plans_for_arena_transit_center

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

That's great news.The more people at the top who are on the same page here, the better. This is a unity we've never seen in past arena efforts. It's pretty encouraging.

 

[Return To Glory]

This sounds promising. Let's keep it going KJ!

 

[TheWileyVet]

Party party

 

[JB_kings]

Thanks for the article. Lots of challanges ahead and it's good to see that they are working hard with a team of people.

 

[cfechter]

No excitement until they actually specify how they plan on financing this thing.

 

[Livinthedream]

No excitement until they actually specify how they plan on financing this thing.

Looks like they are laying the groundwork to address as many public concerns as possible before they announce the final plan. So, whether we have the exact financing down right now or not, at least they are taking the appropriate steps to sell this thing. Something that was not done in the past.

 

[kennadog]

The big presentation, including financing proposals is supposed to take place on September 8th. I'm glad they are on track with a lot of work to be completed before then.

 

[Purple Reign]

Can't you hear Grant Napear say "Good Evening everybody we bring you Sacramento Kings basketball live from the Amtrak Center in Downtown Sacramento".

 

[Telemachus]

Can't you hear Grant Napear say "Good Evening everybody we bring you Sacramento Kings basketball live from the Amtrak Center in Downtown Sacramento".

I like the sound of that much more than "New Power Balance Arena".

 

[Sluggah]

Brilliant idea, honestly. Hope it gains traction.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Can't you hear Grant Napear say "Good Evening everybody we bring you Sacramento Kings basketball live from the Amtrak Center in Downtown Sacramento".

Well...has a nice ring to it, but not sure how the Amtrak sponsorship would happen, but I guess it could...DEFINITELY like it better than PBP, though!

 

[Livinthedream]

I'm not sure how they can fit Amtrak Arena and the transit center on that one small site. I can't see this getting done without additional land being purchased. Unless this is going to be an underground transit center? But more importantly, if they merge this into one big city project, then perhaps they could also charge transit users a user fee to help finance the project. Not sure exactly how it works, so I'm speculating here, but if there are more federal dollars to be had for building the transit center, then the onsite infrastructure costs get reduced. Just that much more financing help for the arena. Piggy back off of the new courthouse infrastructure as well and you start to fill in those funding gaps using money that was already going to be spent from other projects. I see what they're doing....

 

[The Hammer]

Brilliant idea, honestly. Hope it gains traction.

Yes, any transportation center plan would of course need to gain traction. That goes without saying, wouldn't you say?

 

[Mad D]

Brilliant idea, honestly. Hope it gains traction.

Spoiler

 

[Trueblood]

I'm not sure how they can fit Amtrak Arena and the transit center on that one small site. I can't see this getting done without additional land being purchased. Unless this is going to be an underground transit center? But more importantly, if they merge this into one big city project, then perhaps they could also charge transit users a user fee to help finance the project. Not sure exactly how it works, so I'm speculating here, but if there are more federal dollars to be had for building the transit center, then the onsite infrastructure costs get reduced. Just that much more financing help for the arena. Piggy back off of the new courthouse infrastructure as well and you start to fill in those funding gaps using money that was already going to be spent from other projects. I see what they're doing....

If I'm not mistaken, they are going to be moving the tracks about 500 feet to the north. That creates an extra 500 feet between the tracks and I street to the south. Then you would have the freeway to the west and the rest of the downtown buildings to the east. I'm guessing the extra 500 feet is the difference between having enough space and not having enough space.

 

[Mike0476]

This weekend my wife and I went to San Jose for her college graduation. We stayed at the Marriott in Downtown San Jose and their downtown is beautiful. It is clean and there are lots of shops, restaurants, foot traffic, public transportation, etc. I saw just one homeless person too and he wasn't bothering anyone. The HP Pavilion is located across the street from their own transit center (Amtrak). I wish Downtown Sacramento was the same. It can and it will. The revitalization begins with a new downtown entertainment and sports complex followed by a new regional transit center.