BY MARC DE LA VERGNE Originally Published in the Blvd. Park Neighborhood newsletter.

Living in the Central City, you probably live in an old house with original lath and plaster walls. And if your house is like the one my wife and I own, some of your walls may be cracked and in need of repair. In our case, we have a guestroom that had walls that were home to a spider web of cracks. And though they were annoying, they weren’t bad enough to put that project at the top of my “honey do” list –especially given what I’d heard about the work involved in repairing them correctly. So, year, after year, I ignored the cracks, focusing on other projects. Then, two things happened to get me motivated to fix up the room. First was the impending visit of a guest and the other was an episode of “Ask This Old House,” a show that answers viewers’ questions about old home challenges. I had to get the room ready for our guest and the show showed me how – using Big Wally’s Plastermagic.  I’m not a contractor, I don’t work for Ask This Old House and I’m not in the employ of Big Wally’s, but take it from me, this product works as advertised. It’s faster and easier than other approaches fellow home-improvers in the neighborhood I know have used. (more…)

By SOCA Board Member William Burg, Originally posted on Sacramento Press on July 3rd, 2009.

The city of Sacramento has announced its plans to demolish the Bel-Vue Apartments, a registered city landmark, in order to clear land on 8th Street for a potential future parking structure.

Located adjacent to the now-vacant corner of 8th and K Street, the Bel-Vue was built in 1910 as the American Cash Apartments. Built in the Craftsman style with Asian overtones, the three-story brick building contains apartments above a commercial ground floor. When the Bel-Vue was built, it was one of many downtown apartment buildings. If it was built today, the Bel-Vue would be described as a mixed-use, transit-oriented infill project. The building is currently owned by the city of Sacramento’s housing and redevelopment agency, the result of a complex land exchange between Mohammed “Mo” Mohanna, Z Gallerie owner Joe Zeiden, and the city of Sacramento. This land exchange was part of the currently stalled plans to rehabilitate the 700 block of K Street.

Below is a sample of the issues and related activities the SOCA Board of Directors participated in this past year. 

• Continue to work with the City Preservation Commission on minimum maintenance standards for historic properties to prevent “demolition by neglect.”

• Monitor the restoration of the Historic Southern Pacific Depot as it becomes a part of the new Intermodal Transportation Facility

• Work with State Parks to assure appropriate historic designation boundaries for the Railyards as the National Register nomination is prepared

• Work with the city of Sacramento to survey the historic underground sidewalks for the potential of becoming a popular tourist destinations and saved from demolition

• SOCA opposed an effort in 2009 to by the Development Oversight Commission to eliminate the Design Commission

• SOCA opposes the demolition of the Bel Vue Apartments, a historic building on 8th Street between K and L Streets. 

• SOCA joined other organizations in 2008 and 2009 in opposition to extending HOV lanes to downtown where traffic would empty on to residential streets. A settlement was reached with CalTrans in 2009.

• SOCA testified at the Sacramento City Unified School District about the future of their historic buildings in the Central City and organized two tours of the Old Jefferson School at 17th & N Streets. Tours were attended by several developers and architects.

• SOCA has organized and co-sponsored quarterly meetings of the Preservation Roundtable

• SOCA held a mixer with neighborhood association leaders to strengthen relationships.

• SOCA conducted a successful home tour in Boulevard Park in 2009, showcasing eight homes and involving over 100 volunteers.

Join fellow city-lovers on May 1st at 10:00 a.m. for Sacramento’s first Jane’s Walks—held in honor of Jane Jacobs: writer, urbanist, neighborhood activist, and author of the seminal book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities.” Jane’s Walks began in Toronto in 2007 and have spread across the globe.
This year Sacramento joins the party in a big way with walks held in K Street Mall, Oak Park, Alkali Flat, and Winn Park. Each walk of approximately two hours will look at features in the neighborhood that make it livable: sidewalks, businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, variety of housing types, greenery and more. All are welcome and invited. Walks will be accessible for wheelchair users. Attendance is free.
Jane Jacobs documented the way city vitality is promoted through diversity of residents, buildings, land uses, and transportation modes. Jacobs believed strongly that local residents understand best the details of their neighborhoods and she spent her life encouraging locals to have a voice in the planning of their cities. “We are excited to bring Jane’s Walks to Sacramento and anticipate many more such walks throughout the region in years to come,” said Kay Knepprath of the Jane Jacobs Reading Group.
Walks are being coordinated by the Jane Jacobs Reading Group with co-sponsorship by the Sacramento Old City Association and WALKSacramento. Information is available at http://janeswalkusa.wordpress.com/ and www.walksacramento.org.
For additional information, contact: Kay Knepprath at 457-3793 or Anne Geraghty at 446-9255.

If you have a question or comment for our Sacramento area elected officials, you can get a lot done with a letter. Our Sacramento area elected officials really do carefully read and consider letters from citizens.

in late 2009, SOCA spearheaded and effort to save the Bel-Vue Apartments. The Bel Vue Apartments were designed by George Sellon the first State Architect and designer of the Cal Western Building at 926 J Street (Currently the Citizen Hotel). The Bel Vue in on the City of Sacramento’s Historic Register and is desinated a city Landmark Structure! Currently, plans are moving forward to rehabitliate the 700 and 800 Blocks of K Street. The selection committee charged with making recommendations to the City Council on which of the four developer submitted plans the Council should choose, has recommended a plan that includes the restoration and rehabilitation of the Bel-Vue. SOCA supports the selection committee’s proposal.

PRESIDENT – Linda Whitney

PAST PRESIDENT – Kay Knepprath
TREASURER – Jennifer Stanley

BOARD MEMBERS At-Large

William Burg

Vivian Gerlach

Meg Glynn

Kathleen Green

Guy Guarige

Linda Hinchey

Luis Sumpter

Vickie Valine

Sacramento’s Preservation Roundtable is a quarterly gathering of local history and historic preservation organizations, intended to share current information on local preservation topics, public policy, events, and plans in progress. Everyone is welcome to attend.

A number of endangered structures will appear on Sacramento’s “Fainted Ladies List.”  The SOCA board is working to revitalize this program.  Neighborhood Associations are encouraged to name three structures in their area that are in need of repair. If possible, do not name structures that are owner occupied.  Send the list to sacoldcity.org.