If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed.
I have been realizing something that I thought I would jump on here and share. We have been getting ready for the launch of our B St West Project in West Sacramento and doing some internal searching to really nail down our story and come to a place where we can effectively talk about B St West. Through the process I have come to a realization that there are often lots and lots of stories to tell but very few of them actually are worth telling.
For instance we could go on and on about the layout, livability, design, green features, location, building materials, lot size, building process, waste recycling programs. I literally could write for about an hour and still not be done.
But what we came to understand is that the really important thing is narrowing the whole thing down to a core truth or a simple story that people will actually want to hear.
That story for B ST West…
Dream Big
Live Small
Do Good
All the rest is just noise. Once we were able to focus down and tell a simple story about what the project was born from, then we start to have something. From there we were able to see that the project needed a new name. I am going to wait to tell you what it is and about the other fun things we are deciding to do with this project but wanted to share the insight that enabled us to clear our heads and move forward with what we know.
Levi
5 responses so far ↓
1 Steve // Oct 12, 2007 at 10:33 am
That is a powerful statement of principles!
2 Joseph // Oct 12, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Bring it on! Finally a vision that has teeth. Finally a mission that changes minds. Finally a goal that is attainable. Narrow it down and go deep I love it!
3 Jason // Oct 12, 2007 at 3:34 pm
What’s been fun for me about this process is seeing how the search for the (formerly dubbed) B Street West story, we actually nailed our story. Levi nailed it when he said its our story and its the story of our project on 5th and B Streets in West Sac. The project is one expression of it but its really the purest core expression of what drives all of us at LJUrban. I can’t think of a single thing we’ve done yet that doesn’t come down to one or more or all of these statements.
There’s a whole lot more coming out of this than just a re-thinking of the B Street West story…even since this got posted two days ago. For LJUrban, there’s a greater solidarity and a greater clarity about why we’re here and what we’re going to set about to accomplish and how to do it…there’s been a buzz in the air of our work/playspace all week and the synapses are firing right and left.
We also think that there’s a whole lot of other people out there that are simultaneously tuning into the same vision, that are realizing this is their own story as well, so its really encouraging to hear some others connecting with it. Its the “unbridled optimism of we who think our time has come” I mentioned in an earlier post.
4 Collen Whalen // Nov 3, 2007 at 9:05 am
November 1st I visited B Street West for the first time. Yippie, Zippie, Sis-Boom-Bah! Hooray! What a great site.
I wasn’t able to get there in time to see Shiny Objects indie films “soft opening” of “Halloween Hangover” campy 1950’s sci-fi Halloween themed movies………but I arrived just as the film ended and had a chance to noodle around the site and schmooze with kindred spirits.
Getting there from Midtown on my bike in the dark was to say the least “an adventure”. I mistakenly thought the L Street Bridge had opened and construction was completed. WRONG! Then I spent an hour bicycling around Old Sac trying to find the entrance to the I Street bridge….oh yeah, then I got lost in West Sac and wound up in a residential neighborhood on 8th and Adams Street! I discovered parts of West Sacramento, I never knew existed!
The nice part of getting utterly lost on my way to B Street West, was discovering Sal’s Taqueria - a cozy, terrific, family owned Mexican restraunt in business since 1982. Check out the scintillating mosaic artwork created by Salvador, the owner of the taqueria….his mosaic portrait of Frida Kahlo is museum quality…..and the refried beans and salsa bar can’t be beat!
The B Street West building had a very funky kind of charm and reminded me of a 1920’s Oklahoma building reminiscent of scenery in Bogdonavich’s “The Last Picture Show” - it’s a vintage, 1930’s Longshoreman’s Union Hall with an old-timey, quirky vibe.
My favorite part was the magnificent enourmous trees in the back yard - the first thing I thought when I saw the huge back yard was what a cool community garden it would make! What a great place for community barbecues? Or am I too much of a romantic dreamer? The splendid, grand main hall with gorgeous, pristine hardwood floors and stage pixilated me with thoughts of the potential for performance art, bands and “happenings”.
That sites financial value for housing is probably more realistic than my touchy-feely hipster romantic fantasies? Irregardless, I am tickled pink Shiny Object, Movies on a Big Screen is back in business after being dormant, homeless in need of a venue for the last 4 - 5 months!
Colleen
5 Micah // Nov 3, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Colleen,
It is an incredible site isn’t it. There has been a lot of talk about the hardwood floors in the place. One thing I wanted you to know is that, that is the site for Habitat, our 62 unit condo project. Good (formerly B St. West) is actually over by Sal’s on 4th and B. Go ride around there again some time and check it out.
Thanks
Leave a Comment