It looks like a beautiful redo of the historic building is shaping up, something we can be very proud of.
Bob Shallit: History becomes hip at new downtown Sacramento hotel
By Bob Shallit - bshallit@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sacramento's newest downtown citizen is shaping up as a bit of a split personality. And that's exactly what developers of the Citizen Hotel, at 10th and J streets, have in mind.
The 14-story hotel, which has been covered in scaffolding for weeks, is still seven months away from opening. But workers recently finished two "model" guest rooms that give a glimpse of what's coming: rich fabrics and only-in-Sacramento political touches.
Like lamps and sconces with fabric shades depicting the state Constitution. (Great for insomniacs.) And framed prints of political cartoons by the late Newton Pratt, a Sacramento Bee editorial cartoonist for more than 30 years.
The rooms are "relatively conservative with a humorous twist," says hotel managing director Brian Larson.
The overall effect: "Haberdashery," he says, noting the striped walls could serve as a clothing palette for "a gentleman from a certain political era gone by."
But the rooms – and traditional elements like the building's classic exterior and marble staircase – contrast with features designed to reflect the city's "sexy, cool, urbane" side, says Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels, the hotel operator.
Upping the hipness quotient: the red-hued lobby with law- library motif, an upscale restaurant (as yet unnamed) with a two-story wine tower, and a mezzanine bar with DJs spinning tunes.
Conley says it all fits with Sacramento's younger side that's now becoming more visible downtown.
"There's a whole new energy here," he says.
