Local control

When it comes to land use and develoment, our community is at the mercy of someone else. We deserve better.

A bustling market scene with people browsing stalls, showcasing various goods, highlighted by Swedish flags and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

June 27, 2017

Coping with the Decline of Retail

The Local Government Commission (LGC) is a local non-profit organization that, among other things, advises local officials and staff, gives presentations and offers conference planning services that support education on various issues that confront local government in California. This week, LGC Executive Director Kate Meis wrote on the LGC web site about how local governments can deal with the…

A sunny outdoor shopping area with people walking, trees, shops, and a cart selling goods.

June 26, 2017

Standard Malls vs People Places

In a Los Angeles Times column today, entitled "Dying Malls Offer a Chance to Build Something Better", Steve Lopez spoke of the opportunities presented by repurposed shopping malls that offer more than retail and can attract people who don’t even go there to shop. The traditional approach for retail shopping is focused on attracting and maintaining retail tenants. The Times article noted the…

A community meeting is taking place with attendees listening to a speaker and viewing presentation materials on a board.

June 24, 2017

A wall that saves developers money can lead to problems for adjacent neighbors

June 24, 2017

The image shows a site plan with retail shops, parking spaces, and landscaping, including stores like PetSmart, Rite Aid, and Smart & Final.

June 16, 2017

"Revised" shopping center still seeks special privileges

On June 22nd at 7:00pm in the Arden Dimick library the Arden Arcade Community Planniing Advisory Council (CPAC) will consider the proposal by the development firm of Merlone Geier to spruce up the Petsmart/Smart&Final/RiteAid shopping center at Arden and Watt. Following a firestorm of public outcry, the proposal has been revised since the CPAC workshop held in April. The changes are not well-…

The image promotes "The Boulevard" in Sacramento, a retail space near busy intersections, featuring shops, restaurants, and key demographics.

May 26, 2017

Similar settings, two different concepts

The Sacramento Business Journal today featured an article on the proposal by developer Paul Petrovich for a shopping center at the SW corner of Howe and Fair Oaks Blvd. Petrovich's "The Boulevard" is billed as a site located at the intersection of two major streets -- one of which crosses the American River -- and amidst thousands upon thousands of people and close by many people who are well-off…

A busy street scene with parked cars, trees, and a shopping plaza in the background under a clear blue sky.

May 25, 2017

Community discussion about Arden Town Center

Cross-posted from Nextdoor.com: "Important Community Meeting About (2) Proposed 24-hour drive-thru restaurants (Arden Way/Watt Ave.) PLEASE COME to learn more about the development proposed for the shopping center at the Arden Way and Watt Avenue intersection across from Arden School. The purpose of this meeting is share information and gain community focus. We will discuss the variances requested…

The image shows a parking lot with various vehicles, a "For Lease" sign, and a store called Smart & Final, along with a coffee stand.

April 18, 2017

It's baa...aack..... So please go to the meeting.

The Merlone Geier speculative shopping center project will be presented at the Arden Arcade Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC) meeting on 4/27 at 6:30pm at the Arden Dimick Library at Watt & Northrup. From the agenda, it appears nothing in the proposal has changed. Was it delayed in the hope that opposition would go away? The proposal was the subject of our 3/26/17 post "Are we guided by…

Map of Arden Creek Town Center featuring stores like PetSmart, Smart & Final, and Rite Aid, with parking areas.

Are we guided by lack of vision?

March 26, 2017

The image shows a site plan approved in 2007, an aerial view of the area, and a street view of the location.

March 16, 2017

Is "Something" always "Better than Nothing"?

Next week (3/23/2017) the Arden Arcade Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC) holds its regular monthly meeting at the Arden Dimick library. One of the projects on its agenda is particularly interesting because it just screams "urban planning failure". The project, on the agenda as "PLNP2016-00454 Pine Time Extension" is a request to extend for 5 years the time for a developer pipe-dream…

The image shows an aerial view of roadways, parks, and building developments near Elvas Freeway and Capital City Freeway.

February 16, 2017

McKinley Village

McKinley Village is a new 336-unit infill residential development in the City of Sacramento on 50 acres of land. It offers a variety of owner-occupied single-family residences and condos. There are 6-plex townhomes, zero-lot-line houses with alley-served garages, clustered homes with shared driveways and even a few traditional homes on regular lots. The prices (not counting upgrades) range from $…

A meeting at the Sacramento County offices, featuring two officials and an audience member speaking. American flag visible.

September 7, 2016

The Bee says what we already know: developers always get whatever they want

September 7, 2016

The image shows a modern multi-unit residential building with a combination of gray and red exterior, surrounded by landscaping.

September 1, 2016

Tax-increment-financed housing WITH elevators

Time and again Arden Arcade is told to be thankful to get something instead of nothing. So it always grates when it turns out that other communities get better solutions because the local governing body cared. Here's the latest example: The City of Rancho Cordova has proudly announced the opening of Mather Veterans Village. It's a low-income housing project that targets homeless and disabled…

A person in a long dress stands on a balcony of a multi-story apartment building, seen through a metal fence.

July 10, 2016

Sac Bee article about the sad state of rental housing in Arden Arcade

July 10, 2016

A roadside view showing a car wash, traffic lights, and a street sign for Blue Ravine Road under a partly cloudy sky.

May 20, 2016

Same business, different places

A new Quick Quack car wash is about to open on Watt Avenue south of Arden Way. Quick Quack's own web site says this new one, in "Arden Park" will be its 11th location in the region (http://www.dontdrivedirty.com/location_california.php). Let's compare it with one of the other ones. Please look at the two photos below and ask yourself which one looks better, which one seems to fit better in the…

A bustling shopping area with greenery, storefronts, and parked cars under a partly cloudy sky.

March 14, 2016

Shopping centers

The Fountains shopping center in Roseville is popular and does well. It has an attractive design, with lots of "people places". The stores are nothing special. They are like the ones found locally. But every time people in Arden Arcade ask when this style of shopping center will be built here we are told to "forget it, it will never work". Why is that?

The image depicts a detailed site plan for a residential development featuring multiple buildings, green spaces, and parking areas.

Woodland low-income housing vs. low-income housing here

February 5, 2016

A view through a fence of a construction site with rubble and debris, palm trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

November 30, 2015

Only one end of Arden Fair is livable?

November 30, 2015

A construction site with heavy machinery, dirt excavation, and equipment under a clear blue sky.

October 21, 2015

Site construction is underway

October 21, 2015
The Cinemark Theaters are showing "The Martian", which is a terrific movie that's well worth seeing on a big screen. If you go see it now you will find the remaining theaters in the midst of a construction zone. Much of the main parking lot off Ethan is being graded for the new "big box" theater that will replace the iconic mid-century modern domes. Most people in the region are…

The image shows various views of a circular theater, including the audience, domed ceilings, and an empty screen.

September 15, 2015

Typical behavior from Sac County Planning Commission

September 15, 2015

The image shows a demolished building with two large dome structures in the background, surrounded by a fence and debris.

June 5, 2015

Dead domes

June 5, 2015

The image is a site plan for a retail development, showing building layouts, parking areas, and project details.

June 5, 2015

After the domes

June 5, 2015