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Our Vision for O Street

We are so excited to work together to make our neighborhood more vibrant, safe, and welcoming! Here is what we are teaming up to achieve:

Envision O Street Plan

In 2019 and 2020, the Capitol Area Development Authority, (CADA) in partnership with key O Street stakeholders including multiple State of California Agencies, private land owners, neighborhood businesses, local nonprofit organizations, and interested neighborhood residents, crafted the Envision O Street Plan. The CADA Board of Directors adopted it in 2020. The Plan called for significant physical improvements to the ten blocks between 7th and 17th Streets, which once implemented would revitalize the street, make it more vibrant, interesting, environmentally sustainable, and safer. Since then, significant portions of the plan have been implemented, particularly along the western half of the corridor. CADA currently is working to implement the plan on its eastern portion. CADA is seeking funding to enable it to build on the progress it has made so far.

If you would like to give us your feedback, please review our plans below then take our 3-question survey.

O ST Survey

Envision O Street Projects Under Way or Imminent

900 Block O Street
O Street Aerial Drawing

Planned Envision O Street Projects Contingent on Receiving Grant Funding

1400 Block Construction Plans 1500 Block Construction Plans 1600 Block Construction Plans

Beyond O Street – Envision N Street, Envision P Street, Envision Q Street and Envision 16th Street

O ST Survey

R Street Streetscape Improvements

Since the inception of the R Street Corridor Master Plan, CADA has been leading the way to implement the mixed-use, transit-oriented development vision of R Street.  CADA’s most significant contribution to the corridor to support such development has been the total reconstruction of the R Street Streetscape between 10th and 18th Streets. Completed in 3 phases, CADA  helped design and fund streetscape improvements to provide a safer and more pleasurable experience for pedestrians on R Street.

The R Street Streetscape Improvements included

Phase I Improvements from 10th to 13th Streets were completed in  2012

Phase II Improvements from 16th to 18th Streets were completed in 2015

Phase III Improvements from 13th to 16th Streets were completed in 2018

10th Street Commercial Facades and Streetscapes Improvements

This project focuses on modernizing the streetscape directly fronting CADA commercial tenants on 10th Street between O and P Streets across from Roosevelt Park (Yummy Choice, OB 2000, Bagel Time, and Goodyear Cobbler & Cleaners), and at 11th and P Street (Le Croissant). The improvements are designed to enhance this neighborhood commercial node by making the area more attractive, creative, contemporary, and tasteful through pragmatic, cost-effective improvements. The goal is for the proposed improvements to encourage pedestrian and bicycle activity, assist the existing commercial tenants, activate the underutilized spaces, and enhance the overall livability of the neighborhood by making the pedestrian connection between R Street and the Capitol Park/O Street district more pleasant.

Engagement

Throughout the process, CADA has engaged the commercial tenants to ensure the proposed improvements fulfill the area’s needs. CADA also coordinated with the City of Sacramento to ensure consistency with planned improvements and project feasibility.

The proposed improvements are designed to achieve the following outcomes

Improving Sidewalks.

Paving. The sidewalks will be repaved to City historic design standards to even out the grading, thus ensuring ADA compliance. The new paving in the café seating areas (between the sidewalk and roadway) will have a distinctive top cast finish.

Underground downspouts. The current drainage system has drain pipes along the building with downspouts that flow water directly onto the sidewalk. As part of the paving improvements, the downspouts will be undergrounded beneath the sidewalk to flow water into the landscaping areas.

Expanding the Public Sphere.

Bulb-out. The improvements include a bulb-out in front of Yummy Choice at 10th and P Streets to allow for more outdoor seating.

Parking Pay Machine Tower. There are currently individual parking meters along 10th Street, which will be replaced with two parking pay machine towers. This will reduce barriers on the sidewalk.

Enhancing the Outdoor Dining Experience.

Lunch counter with custom perforated panels. There will be custom lunch counters with perforated panels between Yummy Choice and OB 2000, in front of Bagel Time, and in front of Le Croissant on the P Street side. The steel panels will be laser cut with illustrations designed by Studio Tutto and have a powder-coated finish. The panels are designed to complement the wildlife mural and provide a unique and functional art piece to enhance the neighborhood.

Seating. There will be permanently-fixed stools for the lunch counters. There will be movable chairs and tables.

Additional Amenities. There will also be a litter receptacle, pet waste station, and bicycle racks in the middle of the commercial tenants on 10th Street in front of OB 2000. There will also be two metal umbrellas covering the tables outside of Le Croissant along the P Street frontage.

Improving Landscaping.

Drought-tolerant Landscaping. The existing plants will be removed and replaced with a new climate-appropriate planting palette, which will include Greensphere Manzanita, Bush Anemone, Cleveland Sage, Berkeley Sedge, Atlas Fescue, Lime Tuff Dwarf Mat Rush, Hummingbird Sage, and Island Alum Root. There will also be a short metal garden fence around the planting areas to protect plant material from pedestrians.

Adding Art.

Mural Extension. Artist Stephen Williams extended the 10th Street wildlife mural that he painted to include the small rectangular overhang above Yummy Choice on the P Street side.

Capitol Box Art Project. The traffic utility box on the corner of 10th and P Streets has an art wrap designed by Sherry Knutson as part of the Capitol Box Art Project.

Projected Construction Period: Summer 2022

Landscape Architect: Atlas Lab

Civil Engineer: Cartwright Nor Cal

900 Block of O Street Plaza and Landscaping

As part of implementation of the Envision O Street Concept Plan, CADA is preparing plans to create a multi-purpose outdoor art plaza and event space on the 900 block of O Street. CADA is also focusing on converting the existing turf into a climate-appropriate landscape on the block.

Click here for the initial design concept plan.

The prominent outdoor plaza will be at the southeastern corner of 9th and O Street. There will also be a small, welcoming seating area on the northwestern corner of 10th and O Street with a smaller shaded seating area that uses consistent design themes as the larger plaza. There will be a “loop” walking experience around the extension of 900 O Street around the light rail tracks to highlight the climate-appropriate landscaping.

The overarching design thread is the work of Ray Eames (1912-1988), who was a native Sacramentan and a leading American designer who worked in a variety of media including furniture, textiles, architecture, film, and toys. The block’s design will incorporate themes from her work and color palettes, with opportunities to collaborate exhibitions with the nearby California Museum and Crocker Art Museum. Proposed design elements include a sculptural seat wall, artistic and functional habitat markers, kinetic wind sculpture, canopy shade structures, and painting portions of the adjacent garages.

Major components include

Plaza Space Activation. Redesigning and upgrading the large plaza at the southeastern corner of 9th Street to include new public art, an artistic canopy, play and exercise areas, and micro retail. It will function as a major social gathering space to improve aesthetics, promote social interaction, and encourage people to be outdoors. The plaza is highly visible from adjacent office buildings, including the existing Natural Resources Building, Energy Commission, and the Bonderson Building.

Climate-Appropriate Landscaping. Providing habitat connectivity between the planted areas along the corridor, so they can serve as pathways for pollinators and birds, and also to help create visual continuity.

Parking Structure Façade Improvements. Enhancing both DGS parking structures with façade improvements that include new murals or art features (e.g., unique architectural elements, dynamic lighting, etc.).

Artistic Shade Canopies. Integrating artistic shade canopies at each end of the block that are functional and enhance the area’s sense of place.

Storytelling Elements. Incorporating informational kiosks and artistic medallions to highlight the important roles of State agencies with nearby offices.

Engagement

As part of the Envision O Street planning project, CADA held a workshop in February 2020 to reimagine the future of the block as an integral public gathering space that integrates art into a climate-appropriate landscape.

CADA also facilitated a year-long collaboration with a committee of volunteers from the Xerces Society, Audubon California, California Department of Water Resources, and the California Native Plant Society.

Projected Construction Period: Spring of 2022

Urban Designer: Atlas Lab

Landscape Architect: Miridae

Civil Engineer: Cartwright Nor Cal

Creative Crosswalks

Background

Creative crosswalks are among the set of improvements called for in the Envision O Street Concept Plan. The inclusion of creative crosswalks in the Plan initially came out of meetings with the O Street Steering Committee. This concept was tested during an outdoor pop-up workshop for the O Street Plan in June 2018. Over 300 people attended the event at 9th and O Streets. The most popular idea from the workshop was a creative crosswalk, which staff tested during a 9-hour window from 7 AM to 4 PM. There were zero collisions or pedestrian/driver conflicts during the pop-up creative crosswalk test.

Creative Crosswalks Case Studies

CADA prepared Creative Crosswalks Case Studies to highlight key features of successful creative  crosswalks that promote public safety and help eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries, while also cultivating a sense of place and economic development.

CADA prepared the case studies through research and informational interviews with leaders from across the state who have installed creative crosswalks in their cities. Communities include Long Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood.

Based on the report’s findings and the current status in Sacramento where the creative crosswalk concept has been tried in a few locations, the report recommends installing creative crosswalks through a segmented approach focusing on one intersection at a time. Additionally, the research suggests creative crosswalks should maintain the “transverse” or “continental” crosswalk markings. Crosswalk art should be added as a supplementary aesthetic feature using contrasting colors and a durable, retroreflective material. Where possible, the report also encourages the use of supplementary crossing facility enhancements such as pedestrian crossing signs, curb extensions, and lighting. Based on Federal guidelines, the safest and most effective crosswalks often use a combination of traffic control devices or design elements to inform both motorists and pedestrians.

A key take-away is that none of the jurisdictions studied have experienced any increases in accidents as a result of installing them, and in many cases the intersections were safer because of the addition of creative crosswalks. Further, none of the cities have been subject to a decline in Federal or State funding for transportation improvements as a result of installing creative crosswalks.

Next Steps

CADA is working with the City of Sacramento Public Works Department in an effort to gain approval to install creative crosswalks at an intersection on O Street. Staff is also working with members of the Caltrans Walk/Bike Technical Advisory Committee to modernize and clarify State guidance on crosswalk art.

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