Sacramento Developer Mark Friedman’s recent work on an arena was part of an effort to keep the Sacramento Kings from leaving. The project will likely benefit another of Friedman’s developments in West Sacramento -the Bridge District. On a recent tour of the area, Friedman pointed out the sightlines of the project just south of Raley Field.
”You can see the city skyline, you can see the Tower Bridge, you can actually see where the arena’s gonna be, he said. "You can see where the arena’s gonna be, you know, literally 1,000 yards from this site.”
Construction will begin this summer on the first phase -32 town homes and 96 apartments. He says the first of 10,000 people expected to live in the district will be able to start going to events at the arena less than 24 months after they move in.
“Having the arena so close creates an opportunity for people to go out, listen to a concert, to watch a basketball game, to dine and then to literally jump on a streetcar and find themselves back home in five minutes,” he said.
As Friedman’s talking, Dave Harzoff stops his bike ride and interrupts to thank Friedman for his work. Harzoff says he moved to West Sacramento 20 years ago expecting the area to be developed then.
“I was totally thrilled when they were able to get in the backbone infrastructure because it means it’s real now. It’s ready to go. The table is set!"
Friedman replied, "They’ve got tractors over there going vertical.”
Harzoff laughed in his excitement, "I know! I drive by it all the time and I go, ‘Oh, good! Have they got the foundation started yet?’”
The first buildings will surround Garden Park -an area with olive trees, granite benches, and a community garden. The design for this phase is to have the facades of the townhomes and apartment buildings act as walls to the park.
Friedman says small shops and stores will be built near Raley Field with construction of office buildings two years from now. The arena across the river is scheduled to be completed within three.
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