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[Steve Heard]

In response to concerns raised by Historic District residents and their supporters, the Folsom City Council recently designated the district an 'Entertainment District' and enacted new regulations to control the hours of live entertainment, and to hopefully cut down on the noise and other problems associated with late night partying.

 

This move was hailed by some, who say 'it's about time', while others think it doesn't go far enough, as it still allows partying and live music in what is also a residential area. Some residents don't like the idea of their neighborhood being called an 'entertainment' district. Still, something had to be done. 

 

Murray Weaver, owner of the district's largest and most popular entertainment venue, the Powerhouse Pub, arguably has the most to gain and lose as the Historic District gains in popularity and in dining and entertainment options, bringing more people to the district to enjoy all that it has to offer.

 

With that in mind and sensitive to the feelings of the Historic District residents, Murray has written the following open letter to Folsom residents:  

 

"As we are all aware the recent multi-million dollar revitalization of Sutter Street has enhanced activity in the Historic District, as anticipated, both day and night.

 

With the increased attraction in dining establishments, wine rooms, brew pubs and entertainment venues has come the challenges common to hundreds of other communities operating with similar infrastructure and parking issues.

 

Also the introduction and popularity of various street events have added to the equation.

 

The city Council has recently set up the Entertainment District in order to address a piece of this challenge as a long term solution for the city, businesses and residences.

 

As both a property and business owner, I applaud the difficult job and resulting end product the council has created. The entertainment venues are held to a high standard via this ordinance with regard to hours of entertainment, noise reduction, security standards and refuse maintenance. I for one believe the conditions as set forth, although strict, are reasonable and have us all heading towards a solution.

 

While the entertainment venues will implement the district conditions to the best of their abilities they can’t make people park in the public lots or garages. They can’t stop people from parking in the residential neighborhood.

 

The entertainment venues appreciate the issues raised by the residential neighbors and truly want to work as team players to resolve concerns permanently.

 

It must also be noted that the thousands, yes thousands of folks who partake in the Folsom nightlife, i.e., dine, shop and entertain in the Historic District are by and large Folsom residents.

 

For the Powerhouse alone our Facebook, email data base and ticket sales tell us over 75% of our clientele are Folsom residents. I would assume that it is probably the same for the other nighttime venues as well.

 

These are the happy customers, the return patrons, the folks no one hears from because they enjoy the Sutter St. nightlife and continually return with their families and friends. And they are voters.

 

So let’s try to help our City leaders work through the issues by being part of the solution through compromise and cooperation. These same issues are being worked out all over the country where residences and hospitality /entertainment districts co-exist.

Murray Weaver- Powerhouse Pub"

 

So, what do you think? Is there too much entertainment in the Historic District? Not enough? With the new restrictions help? 

[4thgenFolsomite]

Murray has been a leader of the various existing later night venues in the HD and he really does work very hard to strike a balance and listen to all concerns.  I think we are very lucky to have him in charge of the biggest venue there.  If he says he's going to do something, he does it.  And he also supports all events, not just his own.

 

His letter is primarily reaching out to the residents concerning parking, right?  That is a tough one.  As long as there are big events happening on a regular basis, there will be parking issues.  And even on regular nights the lack of parking on the street itself is obvious.  How do you get people to refrain from parking in the residential area?  I guess you have to provide a more attractive alternative.  Like free valet parking, shuttles to the parking garage, who knows.  It seems like most of the issues the residents have are in the 500 and 600 blocks of Figueroa, although I have heard of some in the 800 block and along Wool.  The visitors who seem to cause the commplaints are going to the late night venues in and around the 600 block (Hamptons, Powerhouse, Hacienda and Folsom Hotel).  Those areas are a good two to three blocks from the parking garage, so people are always going to try to park closer.  They can't park on Riley and the lots below the 600 and 700 blocks could be filled by employee parking alone.  I dont think the money exists to build a second parking structure along the 700 block of Leidsdorff, but a three level structure there could do a lot of good.

 

Maybe a unified approach to looking at the calendar to see which events/activities cause the most problems for residents and then make sure we don't just keeping piling on more.  As the city starts to rent out and use the amphitheater area and the plaza, some of those events (that aren't related to the street and aren't all public) take up valuable parking in the parking structure.  Numerous organizations see Sutter Street as an event venue, but if we want it to retain its charm and vitality as a business district, we can not lose sight of the needs of the merchants who struggle to keep their doors open.  There has to be a balance.  A biking event like Amgen is awesome for bringing international attention to the district, but it doesn't help the merchants that day.  I think a bike event like that (that closes the street and restricts access to the stores) should happen no more than once a year.  The same for other events that appeal to a specific audience and restrict access to the stores.  I think I'm rambling, but what I'm trying to say is this:  actively monitor which events actually cause issues for the residents and limit them.  I don't think most regular nights of the year are nearly as troublesome as say, Folsom Live or Cinco de Mayo. 

 

I am more concerned by the continued conversion of existing retail stores to places that sell alcohol.  Even We Olive tried to get a liquor license.  As we lose more retail stores, the shopping opportunity mass breaks down, decreasing the street's attraction to shoppers and tourists.  The Fire and Rain Art Gallery shop, for instance, on the 600 block is becoming a wine lounge.  707 Sutter is converting from an antique store to a cigar lounge.  Carriage House and Gray's Place antique stores will both be closed within the year.   Its hard to imagine them being replaced with retail, but we shall see.