The answer to the question, based on past experience, is no, and that is too bad; but one does sense a building of feeling out there that the leadership to tackle these big issues, while not currently in place, does exist here and may soon (fingers crossed) come to the fore.
We anticipate that arrival. Our city needs it to truly become big, in the largest sense of the word.
An excerpt.
Editorial: Full plate: Four big issues will test Sacramento
Suddenly, the air is full of big ideas. Is the city big enough to handle them all?
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, July 16, 2006
Sacramento is facing a convergence of several big ideas coming to the forefront at about the same time. In normal circumstances, any of these ideas would consume the attention of local government. But these aren't normal circumstances. Some serious municipal multi-tasking is necessary.There is no other way to handle the regular routine, plus:
• The arena. The time is beyond ripe for the public to review, debate and decide on a serious proposal to build a downtown arena. In looking at the birthing process of a new arena in other communities, voters tend to reject one idea before they finally embrace another. To date, Sacramento hasn't even learned a lesson from a defeat. (This isn't to say that the fate of any proposal is preordained.)
This November's election will have relatively few hot-button local issues on the ballot, so this is as good a time as any.
• The railyards. Sacramento's downtown could double in size if 240 acres of decaying railyards are converted into high-rise housing, offices and new retail and entertainment districts.
Developers with Thomas Enterprises have submitted their plans to the city. And the long-awaited sale of the railyards from Union Pacific might happen. (Note the lack of certainty. When the UP is involved, nothing is certain except that things will be difficult.) The planning and logistical challenges of a project like this would tax any big city -- even if it didn't involve a railroad and the likely site of any new arena.
• A landmark park. With as many as 10,000 new housing units in the railyards, the city will need to maximize the potential of its nearby natural assets, the Sacramento and American rivers. A coalition of civic leaders has put together a bold and intriguing proposal to create a park just north of the railyards, on the south side of the American River, that would start at the confluence with the Sacramento and head upriver to the Capital City Freeway overpass. The proposed Gold Rush Park would be a stunning riverfront park unlike any other in the region.
Some complex land swaps and property negotiations would have to take place. But the idea is impressive in scope and sophisticated in its proposed financing. With the city reviewing the general plan that governs its long-term growth strategy, now is the time to give this idea a serious look.
• Executive Airport. The general plan review mentioned above is already examining a contentious issue for the southern part of the city, the possible reuse of Executive Airport. While the airport is a hub for general aviation activities in the region, it sits on 540 valuable acres of city land. This property's potential for redevelopment is enormous.
