$6 million in grants awarded to city to help restore Old Sacramento
SACRAMENTO — The City of Sacramento is getting millions of dollars to help fix up Old Sacramento, but the historic district is showing signs of its old age and has a long list of things that need to be fixed.
The city is getting more than $6 million in state and federal grants to help make waterfront repairs. Near the top of the list is restoring the barge where the Delta King riverboat is docked.
The city noted that the historic paddlewheeler may have to move to another location if the barge continues to deteriorate.
"The Delta King is iconic to the area. It has a great significance," said Delta Pick Mello, executive director of the Sacramento History Museum. "We don't want to lose that."
Another priority project is fixing the wooden boardwalks.
"The boardwalks are essential, people just step back into time when they go on these boardwalks," Mello said.
The city says there's over one mile of raised walkways in Old Sacramento, with wood that is deteriorating and needs to be replaced.
Other items include renovating the public market buildings and fixing the former Rio City Cafe, which closed last summer after its outdoor dining deck was declared unsafe.
The grants are just a fraction of the estimated $40 million it will cost to fully renovate Old Sacramento. Other money will come from the city's hotel tax.
"We've got about 160 property and business owners in Old Sacramento that I think over the years would tell you they've waited for an opportunity to see this type of investment," said Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
Plans also include building a new children's playground along the waterfront where the old schoolhouse is currently located.
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