SACRAMENTO-
The just-released environmental report on proposals to turn Downtown Plaza into the Kings new throne, points to things like damaging construction vibrations to historic buildings like the Hotel Marshall.
Such damage would force costly repairs dictated by federal standards.
Fixes for concern about spillover light from an operating arena on nearby offices and residences was addressed in the report by shorter candle-style lighting.
Downtown construction has few fans right now and the environmental impact report suggests an arena could put at least 16,800 more cars on surrounding roads on a game night.
That could leave drivers delayed near the J Street/3rd Street/I-5 ramp area for about 10 minutes instead of less than one as the wait is currently.
“[Arena backers] are not listening to the people,” said Julian Camacho of Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (S.T.O.P.).
Camacho, leader of a ballot effort that could undo plans for the arena, is dismayed by all the work going in to what he says the voters still need weigh -in on.
“We have a lot of questions about their approach to this,” he said.
“If they would just read the environmental impact report they would see the details of the good this will bring to Sacramento,” said Joshua Wood with DowntownArena.org and The4000, two pro-arena groups.
The petition circulated by Camacho’s group is just one full day into the verification process required by the county’s office of elections.
Aside from no project at all, the environmentally superior alternative listed in the new analysis includes an arena complex with 79 percent less office space and 44 percent less retail – still not good enough for Camacho.
For its part the city still making moves as if the arena subsidy won’t go to a public vote – planning to change details on the arena term sheet.
If approved Tuesday, those changes would give the city the land under the proposed arena and it would keep Haggin Oaks Golf Course.
In exchange Sacramento Basketball Holdings would get sites on 10th, H and K.
