Streetscape Revitalizes Art Scene in North Sac

By Tiffanie Yang, Voice Staff Writer

NORTH SACRAMENTO- The newly reconstructed and revitalized, or “streetscaped” Del Paso Boulevard is up and running bringing the “Second Saturday” art walk back with free activities and entertainment for the public .

Café Refugio, which has been on the Boulevard for over a year now, offers free live music on “Second Saturday” and every Thursday night as well. “Second Saturday is a huge thing,” Joy Mosgosian, owner of Café Refugio, said, “the streetscape helps people get out onto the Boulevard.”

Live music performances can also be found at other coffee shops along the Boulevard such as at The Dose. “Second Saturday” offers free tours of art galleries and exhibitions to the public at places such as Artisan Gallery.

According to Dana Thompson, administrator of Artisan Gallery, local artists volunteer to show their artwork and the kinds of art shown varies from painting to sculpting. Thompson said the streetscape has made “Second Saturday” better. “It really cut down the [vehicular] traffic.”

The streetscape is planned to improve Del Paso Boulevard by making it a safer street for pedestrians and traffic and to make it more attractable. The new design for the street includes new street lamps, angled parking and a new median that includes public art. The streetscape also reduced the boulevard from four lanes to two.

“The addition of angled parking… provide many benefits and enhancements to the area,” Ya-yin Chiang, SHRA Redevelopment Planner wrote in a memo that was published online on the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce website.

“Not only [will] needed parking for businesses in the area be provided, but the reduction in the travel lane, addition of parking, and new bulb-outs create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, all of which… contribute towards the revitalization of Del Paso Boulevard,” Chiang wrote.

The total cost of the streetscape, was $6.7 million.

Mosgosian said that at first the streetscape slowed down business because it was hard to get around the Boulevard with the reconstruction but now that it’s done, business is going back to normal. “I think it helped change people’s perspective on what the neighborhood is like because it was kind of sketchy,” Mosgosian said.

Ruben Parker, who comes to help his friend during “Second Saturday” at The Dose, said the streetscape was a blessing. Parker said he feels more comfortable on the street now.
“Every time I come out here, I relax. I used to have to look over my shoulder,” Parker said.