148 replies to this topic

[ChipShot]

I love the stinky, smelly bums, panhandlers, and beggars in Old Sacramento....They add so much flavor and character. How charming.

[Chad Vander Veen]

I love the stinky, smelly bums, panhandlers, and beggars in Old Sacramento....They add so much flavor and character. How charming.

My experience has been that most bums are in the city, not old town.

[Dave Burrell]

I hate Old Sacramento. Hate the wooden sidewalks, the assortments of shops and the general cheese factor that permeates the area. I realize it's a big step up from its previous life, but feel like it's an empty shell. Looks OK but has no soul, no substance. The restaurants aren't good, the shops are generally tacky and except for the train museum, there's not much reason for locals to visit again and again.

I respectfully disagree - I really like that Old Town Sac remains authentic to the original history of the area. The wooden sidewalks were how it was back in the day and its really neat.
The shops are ok too as are the restaurants - several are top notch (such as Rio City Cafe)

the beauty of preserving history is that it give us and others a look at how life was in the past - it doesn't have to match current malls and shopping galleries - its a historical place to visit which should be emphasized more then turning it into another shopping mall

just my 2 cents - I'm really stuck on keeping historical places in tact for future generations. I'm personally tired of every place being turned into a modern day shopping area

[Dave Burrell]

My experience has been that most bums are in the city, not old town.

ditto

been to Old Town Sacto many times - never saw any bums - course I didn't go out of my way to look for them either

[Steve Heard]

I wasn't going to make further comments, so as not to dominate the thread, but there is so much misinformation, to quote the great Michael Corleone, ""Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

One thing is evident by the comments; everyone will get exactly what they want and all will be pleased. Either that, or no one will be please, whether they refurbish or leave it alone.

So far we've got,
*make it like Old Sac
*don't make it like Old Sac
*I like outdoor dining
*let Palladio have outdoor dining
*widen the sidewalks
*leave them alone but build decks
*just leave them alone
*the buildings need refurbishing
*I like the gritty originality
*they're gonna paint the Wells Fargo building
*it will be another McDowntown
*it will cost $115 million
*it wil cost $1.5 million
* they're hiding the costs

This is why we have the public process, and for over 2 years, and have had open meetings, where the public was asked for their input.

I don't have all of the answers, but would like to. I spoke with Jeff today. They do not have costs in the presentation because it is a conceptual design at this point. They don't know what the costs will be until the put the project out to bid. The major cost will likely be demolition of the medians and shed roofs and pouring cement for the sidewalks. The other costs will come from plants, trees, benches, lighting and other elements of the streetscape.We don't know what that will cost, but it is probably closer to the $1.5 million guess than the $115 million guess.

[cw68]

I respectfully disagree - I really like that Old Town Sac remains authentic to the original history of the area. The wooden sidewalks were how it was back in the day and its really neat.
The shops are ok too as are the restaurants - several are top notch (such as Rio City Cafe)

the beauty of preserving history is that it give us and others a look at how life was in the past - it doesn't have to match current malls and shopping galleries - its a historical place to visit which should be emphasized more then turning it into another shopping mall

just my 2 cents - I'm really stuck on keeping historical places in tact for future generations. I'm personally tired of every place being turned into a modern day shopping area

I like the way it looks (but strollers on the sidewalks are baaad, same with wheelchairs). It's the tenants that I don't like. How many t-shirt shops and trinket shops do locals want to visit. Fine for a strictly tourist area, but I was always bummed that I lived so close to Old Sacramento, on the river no less, and really didn't have much reason to go there, except for said train museum.

[ChipShot]

been to Old Town Sacto many times - never saw any bums -

They're all over that general region (Old Sac, Downtown). Maybe you didn't see them after those long shifts you put-in at Fannie Ann's........ Which is fine....been there, done that....

[supermom]

Rio City Cafe is not that good. Just has a good location.
Fat's is fine.
I found the Firehouse to be way overrated and I so wanted it to be good. Tried it a couple of times in hopes of just that.
Joe's Crab Shack fits the soulless vibe.
True, good comedy club.
Don't get to hang at dive bars anymore.
Don't know about Fannie Anne's.

Well, I'm too cheap to eat in those places. When I take my kids to "historic" kinds of places--we pack a lunch--just like the people did in the old days. We really get into it. I mean-- I even premake the sandwhiches and put them in a pot like the pioneers put their lunches in their kettles.

But, once upon a while ago I went with a "friend" to the crab shack. I gottaq say-that place is far from being "soul-less".

They only hire the most energetic of teenagers. These kids were bopping all over the restaurant. The music was great-certainly not no dang elevator music. The place felt alive.

The only bad thing was waiting in line for ever. But the meal and atmosphere was one hundred times better than anything remotely like something you would get in Folsom restaurants.

[mylo]

[john]

I like the way it looks (but strollers on the sidewalks are baaad, same with wheelchairs). It's the tenants that I don't like. How many t-shirt shops and trinket shops do locals want to visit. Fine for a strictly tourist area, but I was always bummed that I lived so close to Old Sacramento, on the river no less, and really didn't have much reason to go there, except for said train museum.

So what's your point? You like the way it looks but don't like the tenants? Like the tenants are really going to be the same?

[Dave Burrell]

They're all over that general region (Old Sac, Downtown). Maybe you didn't see them after those long shifts you put-in at Fannie Ann's........ Which is fine....been there, done that....

true, I go there to enjoy myself and enjoy the scenery, not to go looking for bums

[Dave Burrell]

I wasn't going to make further comments, so as not to dominate the thread, but there is so much misinformation, to quote the great Michael Corleone, ""Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

One thing is evident by the comments; everyone will get exactly what they want and all will be pleased. Either that, or no one will be please, whether they refurbish or leave it alone.

So far we've got,
*make it like Old Sac
*don't make it like Old Sac
*I like outdoor dining
*let Palladio have outdoor dining
*widen the sidewalks
*leave them alone but build decks
*just leave them alone
*the buildings need refurbishing
*I like the gritty originality
*they're gonna paint the Wells Fargo building
*it will be another McDowntown
*it will cost $115 million
*it wil cost $1.5 million
* they're hiding the costs

This is why we have the public process, and for over 2 years, and have had open meetings, where the public was asked for their input.

I don't have all of the answers, but would like to. I spoke with Jeff today. They do not have costs in the presentation because it is a conceptual design at this point. They don't know what the costs will be until the put the project out to bid. The major cost will likely be demolition of the medians and shed roofs and pouring cement for the sidewalks. The other costs will come from plants, trees, benches, lighting and other elements of the streetscape.We don't know what that will cost, but it is probably closer to the $1.5 million guess than the $115 million guess.

True, not everyone will be happy - some want it to be a shiny new shopping center, others want to preserve the history of the area.

[Dave Burrell]

Well, I'm too cheap to eat in those places. When I take my kids to "historic" kinds of places--we pack a lunch--just like the people did in the old days. We really get into it. I mean-- I even premake the sandwhiches and put them in a pot like the pioneers put their lunches in their kettles.

But, once upon a while ago I went with a "friend" to the crab shack. I gottaq say-that place is far from being "soul-less".

They only hire the most energetic of teenagers. These kids were bopping all over the restaurant. The music was great-certainly not no dang elevator music. The place felt alive.

The only bad thing was waiting in line for ever. But the meal and atmosphere was one hundred times better than anything remotely like something you would get in Folsom restaurants.

I've only been there once but it did seem pretty lively and fun.

I prefer Rio City Cafe - mainly because its very nice, excellent food, great views and the manager there is a bud of mine who was the former manager of Yagers.

[Dave Burrell]

So what's your point? You like the way it looks but don't like the tenants? Like the tenants are really going to be the same?

there's a solution for strollers on wooden sidewalks...

[ChipShot]

True, not everyone will be happy - some want it to be a shiny new shopping center, others want to preserve the history of the area.

And many, like me, would like to see more chain restaurants on Sutter Street. A good start would be a Chevy's.