The List…Top 10 urban projects

August 6th, 2008 · 11 Comments

Part of what I feel my job involves is staying on top of what else is going on it town and over time I have gone out and looked through a heck of a lot of urban projects all over the country. And I thought it might be fun to rank my favorites.

These are my top 10 favorite urban housing projects in Sacramento that are selling or renting today. I am being fair and not putting the Good project on the list, but of course you know it would be on the top if it were included….

I am judging based on design, livability, and how well they fit in to or benefit the community around them. Keep in mind that just because the project may be good, the developers might not have gotten the memo about the Internet and how people are using it to find homes (just a warning).

(UPDATE and an important one I must say.)

I am adding the 9onF project and putting it right on the top of the list. I in a complete oversight forgot about the project and the good things that Jeremy is doing over at 49 Mile for sustainability and urban development. (Sorry for the oversight Jeremy).

1A. 9onF

1. Sutter Brownstones

2. 4th Avenue Lofts

3. 1600 H St

4. L St Lofts

5. 500 N ST

6. 1801 L St

7. The Cathedral Building

8. Whiskey Hill Lofts

9. Alchemy at R St

10. 800 J Lofts

Levi

Tags: architecture · author: levi · community · design · housing · sacramento · urban design

11 responses so far ↓

1 dan // Aug 6, 2008 at 7:02 am

The Brownstones are pretty nice. Of course Good is better.
Alchemy on R – really? I think they almost got it right.

iLofts, City Homes, and So Cap Lofts would have made my list.
2 dustin // Aug 6, 2008 at 9:11 am

After celebrating the 25th Annual – National Night Out last night with my neighbors at the 4th Ave Lofts, I definitely think you’ve got it in the right place! It was a huge success and with only half of the units sold (5) so far. KJ and Laren Hammond both stopped by to say hello.
3 Juliet // Aug 6, 2008 at 8:05 pm

You got it all wrong.. All wrong.
For one Whiskey hill does not belong anywhere on this list and 800 J is a lame excuse for a apartment building.

I wont even go into why Alchemy does not belong here…
4 Kai // Aug 6, 2008 at 9:08 pm

You are treading on thin ice my friend
5 Annon // Aug 6, 2008 at 9:19 pm

500 N belinda on top because of the reuse factor. Way cooler than the reputation would have it.
6 Annon // Aug 6, 2008 at 9:38 pm

belongs not belinda whoever that is
7 Phillip // Aug 7, 2008 at 6:49 am

I think you pretty much got it right. Glad you added 9onF. The project broke to make rules and made to much progress in the area of sustainable design not to be on the list…
8 steve // Aug 7, 2008 at 9:07 am

I would also have to add the Elliot Building, O Lofts at K and 16th, Pensione K even though it is kinda old now, Naked Lounge and the units behind, and maybe Fremont Mews.
9 dustin // Aug 7, 2008 at 10:08 am

So many…that’s a very good sign!
10 wburg // Aug 7, 2008 at 10:09 am

I liked Alchemy on R better before SMUD came along and sawed down the row of London Plain trees that the developer had planted along R. They were new trees, in less than a year, easy to transplant, but SMUD just chopped them down with no notice. Apparently there’s a new federal regulation that prohibits trees within 30 feet of power lines.

And yeah, iLofts is pretty much at the top of my list, for the adaptive-reuse factor. The no-parking-included factor is there too… Speaking of reuse, there’s a historic 6-plex building near 9 on F that had a green/energy-efficient remodel and is now selling as for-sale units. Obviously I’m big on adaptive reuse: uses less resources, less landfill waste, preserves historic fabric and provides a unique living environment that new construction just can’t replicate.
11 Johnathan // Aug 7, 2008 at 6:03 pm

Went to see Good last weekend. Not only does it belong on top but it should be in a class all it’s own. Great job guys. There is truly nothing like it outthere!