148 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

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

oh man please don't give them ideas like this.... starbucks was already proposed once...

maybe they can put in another bank too while at it....

[mylo]

Chevy's used to be where Q'Bole is now...

[john]

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.

This is kind of why I put a poll out there. The numbers are coming in and it seems pretty consistent that those who are in favor of the proposed designs are a little under 30%. The most popular choice is repairing/re-doing the parts in need of repair, around 45%, with varying degrees in between.

I still think a 30% approval rating is not a good indicator this will be well received.

I'm going to try and shut my trap now. Keep the comments going everyone, this is great discussion.

[ChipShot]

starbucks was already proposed once...

Oh, I forgot about Starbucks....How about a Starbucks and a chain bakery next door ?? Then, a TGI Friday's....that would be awesome !!

[mylo]

This is kind of why I put a poll out there. The numbers are coming in and it seems pretty consistent that those who are in favor of the proposed designs are a little under 30%. The most popular choice is repairing/re-doing the parts in need of repair, around 45%, with varying degrees in between.

I still think a 30% approval rating is not a good indicator this will be well received.

I'm going to try and shut my trap now. Keep the comments going everyone, this is great discussion.

Well, "Do Nothing" isn't a legal option, so redistribute those votes somewhere else.

[supermom]

Well, "Do Nothing" so redistribute those votes somewhere else.

ha ha

you must be a disciple of Bushism greatest axiom (also known as the mythical pink elephant religion)

[Steve Heard]

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.

Over a 2 year period, in all of the discussions, meetings, proposals and threads, I've never seen or heard ANYONE say they wanted a shiny new shopping center, but instead have had heard EVERYONE say they wanted to preserve the history of the area. That's what this is all about, revitalizing the area while preserving its historic character, charm and assets. That is the challenge.

Also, there was much discussion and consideration given to the type of tenant mix. Most want unique, non-chain tenants shops and restaurants, not Starbucks, Chili's, Applebee's and the like.

I have to point out though, that in this country, landlords are free to rent or sell to chains if they want to.

[Dave Burrell]

Over a 2 year period, in all of the discussions, meetings, proposals and threads, I've never seen or heard ANYONE say they wanted a shiny new shopping center, but instead have had heard EVERYONE say they wanted to preserve the history of the area. That's what this is all about, revitalizing the area while preserving its historic character, charm and assets. That is the challenge.

sorry dude, thats just how the conceptual drawings appear to me, including the pic that is posted here on the home page. I know there's lots of good intention and desires to preserve the area, however..

Also, there was much discussion and consideration given to the type of tenant mix. Most want unique, non-chain tenants shops and restaurants, not Starbucks, Chili's, Applebee's and the like.

however....

I have to point out though, that in this country, landlords are free to rent or sell to chains if they want to.

bingo

and we've seen what the landlord's done so far, sure it looks nice, but as cw would say, its soul less and the tenent not one I'll ever need to visit, have you used their services yet? (on a side note: wouldn't a brewpub have worked much better there? even if it cost a little to get it going at first)
....... just sayin'

[john]

Over a 2 year period, in all of the discussions, meetings, proposals and threads, I've never seen or heard ANYONE say they wanted a shiny new shopping center, but instead have had heard EVERYONE say they wanted to preserve the history of the area.

Unfortunately, that conceptual drawing looks an awful lot like 2000's Walnut Creek and not an awful lot like an 1850's gold rush town.

/just sayin'

[folsom500]

Historic or not - I think the shed roofs add a lot to the scene as does the center median- but mostly the shed roofs- - Heck- without them on a hot summer day heads will toast ---

I bet the proponents of the changes want to see another broadstone and everyplace else like frontal assault of the facades to bring in the high power stores and shops that dont belong on sutter street - as Steve said - we dont need no stinkin starbucks, applebees. chevys or chilis or bananas or whatever chain gangs on Sutter street -- we need old time private owned charm as is there now ...

I have voted to restore what is there-- and then leave it alone ---

[Barb J]

I'm coming late to this conversation so please forgive me if this has already been addressed - I tried to read through the 7 pages of posts but it just wasn't happening!

I have no problem with removing the medians and shed roofs as they were not "original". But I really hope the sidewalks aren't changed too much. I think it's really cool that they are so high - on my daughter's recent field trip to Old Town, they explained that the sidewalks were so high off the ground to accomodate the ladies getting out of carriages (so their skirts wouldn't get muddy). I think those are the types of things that make our Old Town so wonderful. We did have to scoot past Ms. Teaz really fast with the kids though!

I understand the need for ADA compliance, but isn't something like that grandfathered in because of it's historic value?

I recently went down to Sutter Street with some girlfriends - we had lunch at Hop Sing (hello Billy!) and had dessert at the Black Rooster. It was a perfect day! We had a ball.


Barb

[Steve Heard]

and we've seen what the landlord's done so far, sure it looks nice, but as cw would say, its soul less and the tenent not one I'll ever need to visit, have you used their services yet? (on a side note: wouldn't a brewpub have worked much better there? even if it cost a little to get it going at first)
....... just sayin'

That has nothing whatever to do with revitalization. If plans are dropped today, the landlords are still free to put in chain places. They don't want them. No one wants them.

[4thgenFolsomite]

Once again we see that, since no historical study was conducted, we have misinformation.

Let's all be clear that the shed roof awning style was consistently in place on the 700 and 800 blocks from at least the 1860s into the twentieth century at least as late as the 1940s. most of the awnings today are reconstructions of the earlier awnings. The early awnings had a flatter slope and had lathed posts. The same posts were used up and down the street, which indicates the merchants pooled their money to buy the same style of post and create a unified look. Same with the sidewalks (which were boardwalks until 1907 when the merchants again pooled their money to put in the concrete that has been in place for the last century. This same style of awning was used throughout the motherlode region. It's still present today in Placerville, Auburn, Jackson, Sutter Creek and Dry Creek. Also in other little towns throughout the mining regions.

Nearly all our promotional materials, websites, tourism language, etc. talks about historic Folsom and how historic Folsom is. It is indeed very historic and something we should be proud of and protect. We need to be more clear about what constitutes "historic" before we start to change it in irrepairable ways. We only really have a few short blocks of historic commercial structures. Once that's gone, we've lost it. That would be a big loss for our community. I think it would be a big loss for people outside of our area too. After all, its their history too.

[Dave Burrell]

Once again we see that, since no historical study was conducted, we have misinformation.

Let's all be clear that the shed roof awning style was consistently in place on the 700 and 800 blocks from at least the 1860s into the twentieth century at least as late as the 1940s. most of the awnings today are reconstructions of the earlier awnings. The early awnings had a flatter slope and had lathed posts. The same posts were used up and down the street, which indicates the merchants pooled their money to buy the same style of post and create a unified look. Same with the sidewalks (which were boardwalks until 1907 when the merchants again pooled their money to put in the concrete that has been in place for the last century. This same style of awning was used throughout the motherlode region. It's still present today in Placerville, Auburn, Jackson, Sutter Creek and Dry Creek. Also in other little towns throughout the mining regions.

Nearly all our promotional materials, websites, tourism language, etc. talks about historic Folsom and how historic Folsom is. It is indeed very historic and something we should be proud of and protect. We need to be more clear about what constitutes "historic" before we start to change it in irrepairable ways. We only really have a few short blocks of historic commercial structures. Once that's gone, we've lost it. That would be a big loss for our community. I think it would be a big loss for people outside of our area too. After all, its their history too.

those are exactly the right reasons why it shouldn't be changed - great post, thank you

[redman]

I like this idea a lot. Yes you can modernize Sutter St while retaining the historic character. That median in the middle is unique but rather useless. I'd rather they use the space for wider sidewalks. I think outdoor seating adds a LOT of character to a downtown because you create a more social environment around the businesses, plus more space for tables.

I'm also open to going pedestrian only, at least for a few blocks, though that always seems to make business owners nervous.