New Website - www.calexpo2015.com

[RookieOfTheDay]

And I think the people wondering about it are hyper-ventilating over a something that isn't a huge issue. They apparently have never lived or traveled much in big cities where a lot of people get around by public transit and walking. Natomas is never going to have the kind of multi-transportation access that the rail yeards are going to have.

I'd be happy to take light rail any day, or walk a half mile in an active and interesting urban area over walking across poorly lit, acres of asphalt that is not close to anything else by walking. I'l love to park near an arena and walk by a variety of restaurants and entertainment on my way to and from the arena. There are some okay restaurants in Natomas, but you can't walk there from Arco, its certainly more than 1/2 mile and then I sure wouldn't want to walk back across the Arco parking late at night. I was impressed with LA Live across from Staples and the multitude of eating, drinking, entertainment options and lots of people on the streets enjoying themselves until late into the night.

Arco has created no entertainment district or lively, energized "destination" around it. Even ICON said if its built there, it needs to be moved close to the street. That would only marginally help as the identity of the area is already pretty much plain vanilla suburbia, dominated by the usual shopping destinations and fast food or chain restaurants you can find in suburbia almost anywhere. Nothing in the area really stands out or identifies it as Sacramento.

Just to be clear, I'm not worried what happens afterwards. Things will fall into place and people will adjust. I'm worried about potential snags or complications delaying things at a time when there's no time for delays. from my perspective it seems like a pretty legitimate concern, so I'm a little baffled as to how folks dismiss it as if it's nothing.

 

[Livinthedream]

Just to be clear, I'm not worried what happens afterwards. Things will fall into place and people will adjust. I'm worried about potential snags or complications delaying things at a time when there's no time for delays. from my perspective it seems like a pretty legitimate concern, so I'm a little baffled as to how folks dismiss it as if it's nothing.

I hear ya. But if the city lets a few naysayers dictate how this gets built it won't get built anywhere. The media is in business to report bad news and controversy. If the city leaders try to solve problems introduced by the media, it won't get built. I don't get the feeling that the city really cares to let the media or public have a say in this, which is why I'm not as concerned. Parking is the hot topic because its easy for naysayers to point out and makes for an easy story for the Bee. But in the end, the city will do what they need to do to get it built downtown the right way..hopefully

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Rookie, how many cities have you lived in or spent considerable time in where people don't drive or park to go to their arenas, parks and fields? In most places I've lived it is the norm. The reason it's no big deal is because really it's only a big deal for people looking for excuses to sink the deal. Put free parking for everybody in an underground garage with tube access from their car door straight to their seat and they will find something else to complain about.

Plus don't underestimate the parking garages that exist to maximize their revenue potential by making sure that every last car is out of their lot/garage by 5:30 on game nights so that fresh cars can come in. Again, this is something every other city in the world has figured out long ago and I am sure these guys are licking their chops at how an arena is going to allow them to double or triple their regular income.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I hear ya. But if the city let's a few naysayers dictate how this gets built it won't get built anywhere. The media is in business to report bad news and controversy. If the city leaders try to solve problems introduced by the media, it won't get built. I don't get the feeling that the city really cares to let the media or public have a say in this, which is why I'm not as concerned. Parking is the hot topic because its easy for naysayers to point out and makes for an easy story for the Bee. But in the end, the city will do what they need to do to get it built downtown the right way..

I'm not that familiar with that part of the city but just looking on Google earth i only see one parking garage within a half mile of the lot and that's near the south end of the lot (where i'm assuming the arena would go but if it does go there, there a bunch of old buildings there now that will need to be torn down) and takes up the block between 7th and 8th and G and H, I'm not sure how many cars that garage holds but it would need to hold at least 6000 or so I'd think. if there were other events in the area at the same time as a game or concert, it could be mayhem. The fact is, if there's a chance you may have to struggle to find a parking space and then walk 30 minutes to and from the arena, that's going to deter a lot of people. You can call them lazy, spoiled, or whatever but the reality is people like convenience. There's a huge difference between a 10 minute walk to an arena and a 30 minutes one. I just hope they can get all this worked out in time for next March. It;s cutting it too close for comfort as it is and having all these parking questions around it just makes me a little nervous.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Rookie, how many cities have you lived in or spent considerable time in where people don't drive or park to go to their arenas, parks and fields? In most places I've lived it is the norm. The reason it's no big deal is because really it's only a big deal for people looking for excuses to sink the deal. Put free parking for everybody in an underground garage with tube access from their car door straight to their seat and they will find something else to complain about.

Plus don't underestimate the parking garages that exist to maximize their revenue potential by making sure that every last car is out of their lot/garage by 5:30 on game nights so that fresh cars can come in. Again, this is something every other city in the world has figured out long ago and I am sure these guys are licking their chops at how an arena is going to allow them to double or triple their regular income.

If you think my goal is to sink the deal, you simply aren't understanding me. I'm just worried whether there's adequate parking within a reasonable distance. If there is, then fine. But if there isn't, I see a lot of problems.

 

[JB_kings]

I'm not that familiar with that part of the city but just looking on Google earth i only see one parking garage within a half mile of the lot and that's near the south end of the lot (where i'm assuming the arena would go but if it does go there, there a bunch of old buildings there now that will need to be torn down) and takes up the block between 7th and 8th and G and H, I'm not sure how many cars that garage holds but it would need to hold at least 6000 or so I'd think. if there were other events in the area at the same time as a game or concert, it could be mayhem. The fact is, if there's a chance you may have to struggle to find a parking space and then walk 30 minutes to and from the arena, that's going to deter a lot of people. You can call them lazy, spoiled, or whatever but the reality is people like convenience. There's a huge difference between a 10 minute walk to an arena and a 30 minutes one. I just hope they can get all this worked out in time for next March. It;s cutting it too close for comfort as it is and having all these parking questions around it just makes me a little nervous.

Take a few minutes and do a side trip down there. There is lots of parking under the freeway for old Sac. There are garages all over the place. Parking will also be popping up with new development like the new courthouse. The only parking issue that is of concern is the premium parking for suite and club level high rollers. That's they guys that they want to sell and cater to all their needs. George sees what most of us who looked at the plan see, about 100ish spaces located next to the arena. That isn't going to stay that way. That number is going to have to get up to 1500-2000 in order to make this work for an NBA arena. And the NBA will back the Maloofs on this one. Go Google all those downtown arenas built in the last 10-15 years in similar cities and you always see a nice big 2,000 seat garage next to each arena. Those are premium cost parking and they have to have them as part of the bait to sell premium tickets.

Going back to the Anaheim deal, the Maloofs didn't get to dip into all the parking. The nice thing is that the city, county and private garages would be generating cash after 5 PM that has never been there before.

 

[kennadog]

Why is everybody talking as if there won't ever be any new parking facilites in the rail yards? Whether its part of the arena plan or not, there is very likely going to be parking built in the rail yards at some point. As pointed out, probably for the new courthouse in the rail yards for one.

If you don't think the parking garages will be pretty empty before game time approaches, you haven't worked downtown much. I did for 25 years up to 2005.

First, most of the downtown employees are state workers, like I was. Most of them leave at 3:30. (You have the option of coming in early to leave earlier.) In my last years with the state, I opted to come in later and leave later. I left at 5 PM, and the building (and our parking lot) was pretty empty by then. I also faced much less traffic coming in at 8 and leaving at 5.

There are quite a few parking garages and lots near the rail yard site. You can see a map of some of the privately-owned ones at this website: http://sacramento.citysearch.com/listings/sacramento/parking_stations_garages/55922_324

The city garages are mapped here: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/dot_media/parking_media/pdf/Off_Map.pdf

Please note that a good many of the private and public parking garages are multi-story, so the map hardly reflects the reality of the number of spaces.

The report said 8,200 within 1/2 mile. That means some spaces are less than 1/2 mile. Some are considerably closer.

It wouldn't be hard to add shuttle buses/trolleys for parking a little farther away and for those who can't (or won't) walk far.

AMTRAK, light rail and buses all have stops right there near the arena. Yes, Arco has a big parking lot, but it is to the detriment of the appeal of the neighborhood. You have a barn of a building that is surrounded by acres of asphalt and separated from any commercial development. You don't walk across the street or around the corner to a nice restaurant there. You have to drive. I'd love to go eat after a game and let the bulk of the crowd leave.

 

[kennadog]

Forgot. I've worked with too many development p[rojects to not know by now, that no matter what is proposed or where its proposed, there will always be people who will say its a flawed plan. And if you prove there argumant against something isn't true, they just come back with another reason its a bad plan.

I'm not saying that arguments against a particular development are always wrong and I've been against some developments. However, as with any decision, you tally the negatives vs the positives, see what compromises or mitigation is possbible. If the positives outway the negatives in the end, you make a decision to go forward. No location or plan is going to satisfy everyone, period. Opportunites can be lost by endlessly slogging around in the quicksand of doubt.