Upcoming Events:
Alley Activation Pilot Project Grand Opening!
Come celebrate the unveiling of the first alley activation project in Sacramento, Saturday November 13th from 4-8pm.
The pilot alley is located between L Street and Capital Avenue, between 17th and 19th Streets. The UDA, Alley Activation Alliance, Midtown Business Association, Councilmember Steve Cohn, Stitch-Space, Old Soul, Zocalo, and many other supporters of this project will be present to talk about how we got it done!
Past Events:
On The Riverfront: Exploring Sacramento’s Evolving Riverfront
William Burg and Rachel Hazlewood
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 @ 6pm to 7:30pm
This dialogue provided an update on the Sacramento Riverfront, with Rachel Hazlewood from the City of Sacramento and William Burg, a local historian. The presenters discussed the riverfront’s past landuses and history and Rachel discussed what’s new and forth coming on the riverfront.
Next Design Frontier: The American Suburb
Presented by David Mogavero, AIA
Wednesday, April 28th @ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
The Next Design Frontier: The American Suburb
Experimental design may not seem appropriate for Sacramento’s Central City, but the unique set of constraints existing in a less-urban fabric is an ideal setting. Among Sacramento’s suburbs exist great opportunities, where the outcome has the potential for huge impacts on the region. It is here that design challenges and a convergence of cultures are giving way to a unique new paradigm. Reduced traffic congestion and access to affordable housing were just a few of the results explored in this dialogue.
“Under The Radar” – Building Small in Sacramento
a presentation by David Sarti, AIA
Wednesday, March 24th @ 5:45-7:30pm
A presentation by David Sarti
Urban Design, and more specifically infill design, has become one of the most desired types of development in the central city and surrounding residential neighborhoods. With continued concerns about the city’s design review process, lack of neighborhood support and a host of other issues, architects often find it challenging to fully express themselves through their architecture.
David Sarti is an architect who studied and practiced in Sacramento, before building his career in Seattle. David’s affordable-modern approach to design has landed his “Little Red House” in countless blogs including Apartment Therapy, Future House Now and Small House Style in addition to the pages of Dwell magazine and Metropolis.
After living and practicing architecture in Sacramento for several years, David Sarti of Flex Architecture has some interesting ideas about building small. In this presentation, he asked the dialogue participants: “Why is Sacramento so slow to embrace modern Architecture?”
By designing small, urban and affordable David sees this as an “Under the Radar” path to a more interesting Sacramento.
>> Listen to David’s presentation now on Vimeo!
The Central City Parking Master Plan Update
a presentation by Howard Chan, City of Sacramento
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 @ 5:45pm
Central City Parking Master Plan
Parking is a significant component of any urban development project and impacts the quality of urban spaces. In February’s design dialogue, Howard Chan, the City of Sacramento’s Parking Services Manager, spoke about the Central City Parking Master Plan Update.
The presentation discussed:
- Supply and Demand Analysis
- Efficiency Gains through use of Technology
- Planning Policy Revisions
- Economic Development Implications
Integrating Climate and Form: A Valley City in Paradise
a presentation by Matthew Piner, owner/principal, PinerWorks Architecture and Building Group
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 @ 6pm to 7:30 pm
How do designers’ and builders’ responses to climate become elements of architectural form and style? Sacramento architect and green builder Matt Piner will discuss examples from local, global, and historical perspectives. What kinds of building forms “belong” in Sacramento in terms of accommodating our climate and our geography? How did Sacramentans respond to climate in the buildings they created 100 years ago, giving us architectural forms that we still love today? What will we build that might garner that kind of appreciation from future generations?
Handout: UDAClimateandFormDialogueNotes
Sac Press Article on Climate and Form: See “News Covering 4WDD” on top right of page
K Street- a Postcard Into the Future
Panel Discussion
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 @ 6-8 pm
NOTE LOCATION CHANGE: Crest Theater, 1013 K Street
Q & A Facilitated by Bob Chase, AIA, ULI
Design Challenges for Urban Agriculture: July Design Dialogue
Wednesday, July 22nd
6:00-7:30 pm
AIA, Central Valley Conference Room
1400 S Street (enter from 14th Street)
This dialogue featured a presentation by Bill Maynard, Community Gardening Coordinator for the City of Sacramento. It also included a participatory design charrette, during which attendees broke into groups to address the challenges of creating an edible garden on an urban site in Sacramento. Solutions were presented and discussed at the end of the program.
The UDA has compiled a list of topical websites on our resources page. Check out our resources page to see the list, and to link to sites where you can learn more about this topic!
Broadway: The Edge Effect: May Design Dialogue
“Edge effect” is a term borrowed from ecology, where it refers to activity in the areas between different land uses. Broadway exhibits a degree of diversity that is similar to nature’s edge effect. On Broadway, these characteristics add up to a high-energy center that draws people from other parts of the city as well as from adjacent neighborhoods. The question of interest from an urban design perspective is: Will future development enhance or diminish Broadway’s edge effect?
May’s presenters included Tina Suarez-Murias, AICP, an environmental planner who discussed the “edge effect concept;” Robin Datel, PhD, an urban geographer who discussed the historical transformation of Broadway; and David de la Pena, an architect and urban designer who framed the role of designers in communicating Broadway’s future. Brian Fischer, founder of MidtownGrid.com, facilitated an interesting dialogue with the audience and the panel. Teresa Rocha, Executive Director of the Greater Broadway Partnership, provided closing remarks. In sum, Broadway was deemed to be a place that offers many different functions to many different people, and as such, the future of the corridor must look to the organic and complex nature of its past and present.
Alleys in Sacramento’s Future: March Design Dialogue
The UDA kicked off the 2009 Design Dialogue series with “Alleys in Sacramento’s Future,” a Dialogue about recreating public and private spaces within Sacramento’s alleys.
“Alleys in Sacramento’s Future” consisted of a panel discussion and a facilitated question/answer session. Panelists Jeremy Drucker, Principal of Stitch-Space, and Aaron Zeff, Project Developer of Restaurant Row, discussed their inspiration for developing Sacramento’s alleyways. City of Sacramento Planning Manager Tom Pace explained Sacramento’s plans for incentivizing alley development in the future. A dialogue between attendees and panelists followed. If you missed this event, you can read the dialogue notes posted on the “Resources” page.
Imagine Alleys: Second Saturday Event
The Urban Design Alliance sponsored “Imagine Alleys,” an interactive Second Saturday event in two midtown alleys.
The UDA’s goal was to stimulate active use of Sacramento’s many alleyways by demonstrating the myriad of alley spaces possible. Activities included sidewalk chalk art, a farm stand, fresh snacks, live music, and exhibits of alley developments happening in Sacramento. The UDA also compiled and presented a slide show highlighting active use of alleys around the world.
In preparation for a proposed local ordinance that authorized the naming of Sacramento’s alleys, the UDA gave every interested person a chance to suggest a name for his or her favorite alley. The City Council heard this ordinance in September.
Alleys can be more than dumpsters and driveways. Imagine!
Our Fair City: State Fair Exhibit
The Urban Design Alliance researched, arranged, and staffed a detailed exhibit of Sacramento communities from past to present.
This event would not have been possible without the 75 docents who collectively volunteered 460 hours of their time to talk about the exhibit with the public.
