Safe Ground Sacramento will hold a weeklong festival starting Wednesday to raise funds and awareness for its goal to create a sustainable community for the area’s homeless population. Live music, poetry readings and inspirational speeches from community leaders are a few of the festivities lined up for Safe Ground Stake Down at 12th and C Streets in the Alkali Flat neighborhood downtown from May 1 through 8. The activities will begin in the afternoon while people will camp out in tents at night. The event’s goal is to highlight the need for a “safe ground” for those impacted by homelessness. “Safe Ground is sometimes mistaken for being about tent camping,” said executive director Steve W

Many who visit downtown Sacramento note that, on evening or weekends, it seems like a ghost town. There is little pedestrian traffic, and most businesses are closed. In some ways, downtown Sacramento became a ghost town when half the central city’s population was forced to leave, and their homes were destroyed. Perhaps the ghosts of 30,000 former residents wander the streets, wondering what happened to their downtown neighborhood? The drop in Sacramento’s downtown population after 1950 is easy to see using census data. The US Census tracks population down to the “Census Tract” level, neighborhood-sized chunks of about 4,000 people. In 1950, the portion of Sacramento now known as “the grid

style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; height:; line-height: 14px; width: 416px;" width="416" BUS ROUTE RIFT: A flap is brewing in Alkali Flat over a recent bus stop swap that sends a Regional Transit bus on a new path through the neighborhood. Emails to City Councilman Rob Fong and RT from concerned residents say they are worried that RT's decision to change the bus stop that was at 12th and D streets (on the La Valentina side of the street) across the way to 12th and E streets has driven up foot traffic, creating hazards for pedestrians trying to get back across 12th Street (which is a feeder street into downtown) and, to add insult to injury, neighbors say that the bus is

A traffic-calming plan proposed for Alakli Flat will move forward without a contentious back-in angled parking element that was part of the original proposal. Despite traffic studies and neighborhood outreach from city staff and members of a neighborhood traffic-calming committee, the proposal met with strong resistance from residents because the plan called for back-in angled parking. Jessica Equihua spokeswoman for City Councilman Rob Fong, said Tuesday that back-in angled parking was ultimately removed from the plan after city staff determined that the majority of ballot responses from the 1000 block of F Street – the block that would be most affected by the parking element – opposed

Back-in angled parking has popped up one block at a time in Sacramento over the past few years, causing cyclists to breathe a sigh of relief – and making some residents fume. In the Midtown and downtown areas, the city is challenged with providing enough parking spaces for residents and their visitors and providing safe bicycle routes and lanes for the bicyclists that often share neighborhood streets with cars. One solution to this challenge is back-in angled parking, according to Ed Cox, Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Sacramento. The backlash from a recent attempt to install back-in angled parking as part of a traffic-calming plan in Alkali Flat caused a long thread of

A recent attempt to plan traffic-calming measures in Alkali Flat created a firestorm among neighbors, leaving them anything but calm. When neighborhoods experience traffic issues, they often turn to the city for relief through the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program – a program designed to get the neighbors involved in finding solutions to problems of speeding, traffic volume and other road- and vehicle-related issues. The traffic-calming program for Alkali Flat began last March, according to the city website. That process included studies of traffic patterns in the area, a variety of public notices and a public meeting on a proposed plan for measures to ease traffic. The final plan wa

Alkali Flat is the oldest standing residential neighborhood in Sacramento, with homes and businesses that date back to the early 1850s. The story of Alkali Flat is etched in the constantly shifting cultural and socioeconomic climate and the homes and buildings themselves. Alkali Flat is nestled between Midtown and downtown. It lies within the boundaries of H Street and North B Street and extends from Seventh to 13th streets. I have lived in Alakli Flat with my husband for nearly six months. Curious about the history of the buildings that I walk by regularly, I started researching the stories behind the homes and businesses that surround us. Tom Tolley and James Scott’s book, “Sacramento

Neighborhood Advisory Group members expressed concern about the growing number of social services centers – and the type of people they attract – within the Alkali Flat, Mansion Flats and Boulevard Park neighborhoods at the NAG meeting Monday night. A new Goodwill drop center is planned for the corner of 16th and G streets and none of the speakers at the meeting were in favor of the new development. Members said that these drop centers are often neglected and become a hub for vagrants. Martha Domjanovic, a Midtown resident and representative for the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, shared her concerns at the meeting with the lack of knowledge she had of the proposed Goodwill dro

Sacramento Jane’s Walk 2011: Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 Jane’s Walk USA is a series of free neighborhood walking tours that helps put people in touch with their environment and with each other, by bridging social and geographic gaps and creating a space for cities to discover themselves. Since its inception in 2007, Jane’s Walk has happened in cities across North America, and is growing internationally. Sacramento’s Jane’s Walk series incorporates elements of urban planning, neighborhood advocacy, urban history, and architectural history, to demonstrate how a neighborhood’s physical form promotes its walkability, sustainability and economic and social vitality. All tours are free o

Alkali Flat may get new streetlights, which city officials say will make the area more pedestrian-friendly. “The project will replace the masthead lights that are intended to illuminate the roadway with 220 historic-looking acorn-style streetlights you see around downtown that are intended to better illuminate the sidewalk,” Sacramento Department of Transportation spokeswoman Linda Tucker said in an e-mail. Lighting was something area residents have wanted for a long time, according to City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby, whose district includes the neighborhood. “Much longer than I have been here, the Alkali Flat community has advocated for lighting,” said Ashby, who took office last Nov

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to slash redevelopment agencies spurred a protest and press conference at the Convention Center Friday, bringing together Sacramento leaders and about 100 officials from cities throughout the state. Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, said that cities may consider suing the state if it disbands redevelopment agencies. Brown’s office contends that local services, such as schools and public safety, could receive the funding currently used by redevelopment agencies if the agencies shut down. But city leaders in Sacramento and throughout the state argue that ending redevelopment agencies would seriously harm jobs and local develo

Sacramento’s Central City has received a lot of media attention for shootings and muggings in recent months. However, the area is also frequently in the spotlight because of large-scale development projects, such as the downtown Railyards or George Karpaty’s trio of businesses on K Street. The Sacramento Press recently interviewed three City Council members to learn about their plans for the Central City. Councilwoman Angelique Ashby and Councilmen Steve Cohn and Rob Fong shared their priorities for the different parts of the Central City they represent. Ashby’s portion of the area includes the downtown Railyards, K Street, Old Sacramento, Alkali Flat and the River District. Ashby mentio

Developers are promising to bring new life to a blighted section of Alkali Flat following the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for 81 units of affordable housing adjacent to the Alkali Flat/La Valentina light rail station. The site on the corner of 12th and D streets has been vacant for more than 20 years and previously housed an auto repair shop. The new construction will include 63 apartments and 18 townhouses, the latter being the first “Net Zero” site designed for Sacramento, meaning all energy consumed on the site will be produced there. “We’re here to bring, I think, the most contemporary, most cutting-edge design that we could bring to one of the oldest residential neighborhoods

In a sign of uncertain economic times, a developer building in Sacramento is moving forward slowly with one housing project while another remains stalled. Kevin Noell of San Diego-based Metro Nova Development has jump-started construction of four more brownstone-style homes at Tapestri Square, T and 20th streets, by offering reduced prices and more amenities. But work remains on-hold to develop his other Sacramento project – the old Crystal Cream & Butter Co. site, located downtown at 1013 D St., into a mixed-use redevelopment dubbed the Creamery. Tapestri Square plans call for 58 energy-efficient, single-family detached homes built to resemble urban row houses on an entire block. Fourt

Angelique Ashby Announces Series of Community Forums Throughout District One It's become common, often expected, for politicians to have goals for the first 100 days in elected office. But what about goals for the 100 days prior to taking office? On Monday, Angelique Ashby commemorated the 100 day countdown by unveiling Community Connections, a series of district-wide meetings seeking ideas, thoughts, input and experiences related to the challenges and successes throughout the region. Ashby was elected to Sacramento's City Council on June 8 with 51% of the vote in a dramatic three-way race, unseating incumbent councilmember Ray Tretheway after nearly ten years in office in District One

One of Sacramento's oldest markets — a store that stood in the heart of Alkali Flat since 1868 — was ravaged by fire Sunday. The little brick store had first been damaged by fire last December after a blaze at an adjacent apartment building spread. The market was shut down, then fenced and boarded up. A man had been squatting in the building recently. Nearly 40 firefighters from nine companies responded Sunday after neighbors heard a boom and saw fire break out on the second floor of the building, 427 10th St., at about 7:30 a.m. A search dog found no one was inside. Firefighters stopped the fire from spreading but weren’t able to save the building. A city crew later tore the rest of th

The waiting game for the District 1 City Council race continues. The Sacramento County elections office released new vote tallies Friday afternoon, and has counted about 35,000 of the roughly 86,000 that remained after Election Day. However, the new ballots still don’t definitively show whether Natomas activist Angelique Ashby has won the District 1 seat, or if she will compete in a runoff in November with incumbent City Councilman Ray Tretheway. The county elections staff still needs to count more than 51,000 ballots. Voters cast ballots for many state and local candidates Tuesday, so it’s unknown how many of the 51,000 ballots include votes for the City Council races. With 5,405 votes

The hotly debated District 1 Sacramento City Council race could wind up in a runoff, Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno said Wednesday morning. With all precincts counted, Natomas neighborhood activist Angelique Ashby had just under 51 percent of the vote. Incumbent City Councilman Ray Tretheway followed with 41.5 percent of the votes cast. Mizuno said she would be hesitant to say that Ashby holds a clear majority. The city will need “to wait and see what the final results are,” according to Mizuno. Ashby had 4,310 votes, while Tretheway’s count was 3,513. One of many controversies in the District 1 race involved a youtube video that showed Corin Choppin of Tretheway’s campaign remo

Special interest groups for and against Sacramento City Council candidate Angelique Ashby have spent large sums on mailers blasting or lauding her campaign. While business interests poured about $36,000 into campaign mailers backing Ashby, a major local union paid $23,577 on mailers attacking her.  The Sacramento Building Trades Council Political Action Committee spent $23,577 on anti-Ashby mailers, according to statements filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office and the Sacramento city clerk’s office.    Mailers from the committee depicted Mayor Kevin Johnson as a king with a crown and Ashby as a puppet. In response to questions about the attack mailers, Matt Kelly, an of

Two children were greeted by a chain link fence surrounding Zapata Park's brand new playground Tuesday afternoon. The park at Washington Square, located in Alkali Flat on 905 E St., was scheduled to open yesterday after the cement foundation solidified. Maria Kernan, a representative of the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation regarding the park, said that the fence would be removed at noon tomorrow. Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that builds playgrounds across the nation, teamed up on a project for the park that took over two months to complete. The playground was erected and the park was rejuvenated last Thursday with the help of over 250 volunteers. The pl