Railyard Project gets the green light

Speaking of eyesores, the Railyard project got a green light from the City Council on Tuesday. Over the next 20 years, in theory, the project will begin to develop downtown into a "real" city. We'll see jobs, stores, mixed use housing projects, a cultural center and a major infill project take form.

I'm in support of the idea of the railyard project, I really am. But is this the city council to do it? So far we've seen the arena fall through, the completely botched development of North Natomas, the big hole known as The Towers and the troubled Aura Condo project. Sure, it's a down market but it wasn't in the 90's when they approved the debacle of North Natomas. The city surely has had an economist or two studying the market and preparing for fluctuations, right?

As a longtime resident of Sacramento, I'm ready for an all new council full of young, entrepreneurial talent with bold ideas, creative plans and a environmentally friendly way to make Sacramento really shine. This council is none of those... We can only keep our fingers crossed that the next election cycle will bring out some new blood.

Thanks Pardee Homes for the big, ugly eyesore

It's no secret that I live in North Natomas and that I'm concerned with the development in the area. We fell for the big lie in 1999 and now we're stuck. But the big lie just gets worse as weeks go by and suddenly we're left considering turning our house into a rental just to get out of here. Is that really what's best for the city? For the neighborhood?

The latest thorn in my side is the hugely ugly eyesore that Pardee Homes has left on the corner of Del Paso and Gateway Park. A big concrete wall advertising Natomas Meadows, a chainlink fence surrounding the entire development and pipes sticking up everywhere. They didn't even stick around long enough to finish the road damage caused by their heavy machinery. Eight houses sit very lonely in the middle of all the mess, with lights on full-time burning up kilowatts for nothing.

According to the Sac Bee, Pardee Homes decided not to play the game anymore and shut the development. Since they couldn't charge the exorbitant and outlandish rates of two years ago, they mothballed the whole thing. They reassured the Bee that they'll be back when they can make more money and they'll finish the development.

In the meantime, those of us still here are stuck with the damaged road and the hideous fence to stare at every day driving to work. It's all a big reminder of the big lie.