All posts by Jeremy Bryne

Sacramento Planning New Bridge

Business news, ,

Sacramento is planning a new bridge across the river. If planned correctly, the new addition has the potential to boost traffic between the Bridge District and West Sacramento as well as enhance riverfront development by drawing cyclists and pedestrians.

The Sacramento community is going to be directly involved in the process, and the public has been invited to a meeting to participate in the discussion. The new bridge will redirect most of the traffic from the old I Street Bridge, which is over a century old and too narrow for many vehicles. The old bridge will remain available to carry commuter and freight train, and the viaducts will be demolished to open up the riverfront on both sides.

According to the Sacramento Bee, “The new span is planned just north and would be the first linking Sacramento and West Sacramento since the Tower Bridge was built in 1934.”

Plans are for it be used by “vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians and a possible future streetcar line. It would be a direct route from the railyard, where a Kaiser Permanente hospital and a Major League Soccer stadium are planned, to the mixed-use Bridge District, which is already developing.”

Sacramento To Launch New Bike Lane Design

Infrastructure, ,

Sacramento is planning to implement a new street design to protect cyclists without affecting local drivers next year. Called “parking-protected bike lanes”, the approach is aimed at separating the two modes of transportation with the help of a parking lane.

The Sacramento Bee reports:

 

Lyft Launches Black Car Service in Sacramento

Business news, ,

Due to increasing demand, Lyft, Inc. has begun offering its luxury service in Sacramento. Based in San Francisco, Lyft is a ride-sharing service which has swept across the United States since its launch in 2012.  Providing stylish “black car” transportation, Lyft’s new Lyft Lux and Lyft Lux SUV services are geared toward businessmen and other formal travelers. According to a Lyft spokesperson, the luxury drivers can earn up to five times the far of a regular Lyft driver.

“We’ve listened to our community and know that there is a need for a more premium ride. Our drivers who have high-end vehicles now have the opportunity to expand earnings and fulfill needs of their passengers,” spokewoman Darcy Nenni wrote in an email.

Lyfts new service will also be launched in numerous other cities across the country. Drivers who participate in the new venture will have to meet strict vehicle requirements: a 2011 or newer model car in excellent condition, black exterior and leather seats, and ratings of at least 4.7 of 5.

Sacramento Business Impacted by New Marijuana Grow Permits

Business news, , ,

Sacramento has approved 6 commercial grow permits, and dozen of other properties have also applied for permission to grow the plant on their properties. Real estate prices and local businesses are already being affected.

KCRA 3 reports that mall business owners throughout the city are concerned. The permit process has pushed commercial real estate prices up dramatically, and as leases expire, businesses are being forced to look for new locations.

Brian Bendix and his family run one such business. Their American Stripping Company, based in Sacramento, has been in business for over 30 years.  Now that marijuana grow licenses are bolstering the real estate prices in the area, they won’t be able to afford to stay once this year’s lease is up. They, like many other, anticipate having to leave the city to stay afloat.

 

Sacramento Resale Prices Reach Post-Crash High

Business news,

Prices of homes in Sacramento County have been on the rise, and have recently hit the highest mark since before the crash in 2007.

According to CoreLogic, the average resale price of a family home in the area was $340,500 in July. In August 2005, when housing prices were at their peak, the average price was $374,000, whereas prices in October 2011 dropped as low as $155,000.

The latest increase in prices, which is 10% higher than last summer’s, has been driven by a small market and high demand.

“New home sales were on the rise in Sacramento County, with a 29 percent increase since July 2016,”  CoreLogic reported. “That’s partly the result of a resumption of construction in North Natomas, after federal authorities lifted a de facto building moratorium they’d imposed because of flood risks.”

Some experts believe the new developments in the resale market will make new homes a more viable option for buyers. As a result, housing construction may pick up; a critical improvement to the Sacramento economy.

Sneak Peek into Amazon’s New Sacramento Facility

Business news, ,

Amazon has offered a sneak peek into its new Sacramento fulfillment center this week. According to County Supervisor Phil Serna, the construction is moving forward at a quick pace.

“I think it bodes well for the future of the business park and for other property owners here to see that this is not just going to be a very successful operation employing a lot of people, but that Sacramento County is very committed to making sure that the permits necessary to do something like this can be streamlined,” he said.

Sacramento Plans Full-Service Housing Facility for the Local Homeless

Community, , ,

Sacramento is pushing ahead a plan to move its homeless off of the streets and into a full-service temporary housing facility. Over the last two years, local homelessness has increased 30%. Sacramento City Councilman Allen Warren has been working toward a solution for months, and calls the current situation “a crisis.”

Mayor Darrell Steinberg added: “This is not just a sobering report, this is a damning report.”

Warren believes action is required now. “Let’s try and get as much done as we can while we’re here,” he says. “Why be complacent?”

His goal is to establish a full-service facility with restrooms, showers and some social services such as medical care. The cost for the project is estimated at $200,000-$300,000, and may not succeed in its mission.

“Is it a risk worth taking?” asks Warren. “Absolutely.”

He intends to move ahead as soon as the end of the summer.

CBS Sacramento reports: