Residential Construction Ramping Up in Sacramento

More than 3,000 units are being planned for the city's downtown, a huge increase from recent years. A wide range of homeowners is being targeted.

By J.T. Long

California's capital is busy making room for an anticipated increase in population over the next two decades. More than 3,400 units of condos, lofts and townhomes are proposed for 15 separate projects, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of Sacramento's central business district.

Daniel Libeskind

"That may sound like a lot for a city that built only 452 units between 2001 and 2005 and has 974 units currently under construction," said Michael Ault, the partnership's executive director. "From a regional standpoint, however, that isn't all that many."

The population of Sacramento County was 552,000 in 2000 and is forecasted to increase to 854,804 by 2020, according to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Downtown, which was home to 103,625 people in 2000, could grow to 155,336 by 2020.

Ault points to the range of prices as proof that a wide market is being targeted.

High-end Aura

At the high end is the Aura residential tower by Denver, Colo.-based BCN Development, which will offer units priced up to $1 million.

"This will be the highest grade of everything, from the appliances to the architect," said Craig Nassi, president of BCN Development.

Architect Daniel Libeskind designed the signature 37-story residential/retail monument at Capitol Mall and Seventh Street as a sleek, flowing tower of blue glass.

"It creates, rather than blocks views," said Jeffrey Rock, senior project manager for the New York-based Turner Construction Co., the project's general contractor. "The small footprint and unique design create challenges as well."

A material hoist and crane will be operating 24 hours a day at certain points in the 21-month construction window to move workers and materials up and garbage out.

"High-rise residential is twice as complex as office space because all the plumbing has to line up," said Rock, who expects to break ground in the beginning of 2006 on what will be 373 for-sale units ranging in size from 700 to 3,000 sq. ft. The building will also include 11,500 sq. ft. of retail, a rooftop pool, gym and parking.

Tenant move in could start in 2007.

advertisement

Twin Towers

Down the street, Turner and San Mateo-based Webcor Builders Inc. are working on Sacramento-based Saca Development's Towers on Capitol Mall, a 53-story condo/hotel project that was designed by Bellevue, Wash.-based MulvannyG2 Architecture.

Prices in the Towers on Capitol Mall will start at $500,000 for a 1,100-sq.-ft. loft. These amenity-laden spaces could be ready for move-in at the end of 2007.

Saca is also in the permitting stage for two smaller projects, a 35-story retail/condo project at 10th and J streets and a 22-story retail/condo/loft project on Seventh and K streets.

Another change that would make a big difference in the central corridor is Sacramento-based Benvenuti Properties Inc. proposal to build a residential/retail/office space at Seventh and L streets, once the Greyhound bus station finds a new home.

Pre-cast Plaza Lofts

Already under construction is the eight-story, $47 million Plaza Lofts project at Ninth and J streets. The 225 loft-style apartments and 21,000 sq. ft. of retail was designed by LPA Sacramento using a hybrid moment frame system and precast components to allow for large wall-size windows. Turner Construction worked with West Sacramento-based Clark Pacific Construction to complete the main tower. Rents range from $1,000 for a 550-sq.-ft. studio to $2,500 for a 1,360-sq.-ft. two-bedroom apartment.

Conversion to Capitol Lofts

Construction is scheduled to start in April on the $32 million, 122-unit Capitol Lofts project in an old industrial district near downtown on the south side of R Street between 11th and 12th. The project entails conversion of a seven-story, 52,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, plus a parking garage and new construction. Regis Homes of Irvine and Holiday Development of Emeryville are partnering as the owners/developers; San Francisco's David Baker and Partners is the architect; and Los Angeles-based Cannon Constructors is the general contractor.

North End Lofts on the Way

Sacramento-based developer, designer and contractor Sheppard Johnson is building North End Lofts, an 11-lot subdivision at 14th and C streets. The detached loft homes will have lots of low maintenance glass and steel and stucco on the outside. On the inside, they are long, narrow, three-story expanses of "undefined space."

Rocklin-based Gordon Rogers Architecture created the renderings and working drawings for the wood-floored, long, narrow spaces with high ceilings. Buyers can have Sheppard Johnson break into rooms with walls and closets or leave them open and airy.

The 1,600- to 2,400-sq.-ft. spaces, with garages and small yards, will sell for $500,000 and up. Foundations were set to begin pouring in February with completion in late fall.

"We have had phenomenal interest," said Fran Dixon, Ellington Properties' real estate broker representing Sheppard Johnson, which has also purchased land in old Roseville near a rail stop to build a similar project of 28 live/work lofts that will sell for between $400,000 to $500,000 for units ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,600 sq. ft. The subdivision map has been approved and construction could begin as soon as April.

Developers say that several factors- baby boomers looking for less maintenance and more amenities near restaurants and shopping, young people waiting longer to marry and have children and increased land costs-are driving the trend to move into the city.

"People appreciate the opportunity to have the best of everything in a convenient location," said BCN's Nassi.

There are benefits for developers, too. Developers point to the ability to get liability insurance after AB 800 went into effect in 2003, a law that gives contractors the ability to try to fix a defect before a lawsuit is filed, thus reducing liability and making projects easier to fund.

"It isn't a cure to homeowners' association suits, but it helps," said Sacramento developer John Saca.