Mogavero Architects

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Work

Loma Rica Ranch – Specific Plan

Originally approved as a thoroughbred horse ranch, Loma Rica Ranch in the Nevada County foothills was poised for development. Our firm was asked to provide concept and schematic designs for development, including a program summary, constraints analysis, draft and final schematic plans, and a measured base plan. The ranch is surrounded by a bustling commercial district, business parks, medical complexes, market-rate and multi-family housing, and presents an ideal infill development opportunity. Using high-density, mixed-use product and best management practices, development will be clustered to preserve sensitive habitat and provide substantial quantities of open space for active and passive recreation. An alternative water treatment plant will be utilized and sustainable, energy-efficient programs will be implemented.

Work

Fair Oaks Village Plan

The Fair Oaks Village Enhancement Committee was formed to pursue improvements for this unique portion of the community to provide a means to preserve and enhance the historic, neighborhood serving village through a collaborative process. The committee partnered with Sacramento County, the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, Mogavero Architects and others to guide improvements to the Village’s commercial area, resulting in the creation of a visioning document. The Village Enhancement Vision provided an opportunity for community members to shape the neighborhood where they live and work. The visioning process addressed land use, zoning, transportation, and urban design. The goal of the Village Enhancement report was to summarize the work completed to date and to provide a document that could be used to implement a shared vision over a period of time.

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Grass Valley Downtown – Strategic Plan

The critical role of Downtown Grass Valley as the economic and cultural heart of the community was recognized by the City’s 2020 General Plan. This Plan identifies Downtown as the preferred location for various public amenities such as a community plaza, performing arts center and central transit facilities, as well as the logical center for a balanced mix of land uses including retail and service¬†commercial, office and affordable housing. The purpose of the Downtown Strategic Plan was to translate the broad goals and visions of the General Plan into specific priorities and implementation activities. The desired outcome of the Strategic Plan would: Identify “highest and best use” potentials for vacant parcels and opportunities for redevelopment/reuse of developed, but underutilized properties throughout the planning area; Develop strategies for job generation and affordable housing opportunities; Define location opportunities and cost estimates for development of public improvements, facilities or amenities which would strengthen the sense of place and economic vitality of the planning area Identify potential funding resources for implementing needed and desired public improvement, facilities or amenities.

Work

Grass Valley – General Plan Update

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Grass Valley is a Gold Rush era town with significant historical resources; Mogavero Architects helped the City of Grass Valley update its General Plan in October of 2006. Prior to this effort, the City of Grass Valley was experiencing significant population growth and housing demand. As such, this planning effort focused on issues such as how to grow while maintaining its small town feel along with how to ensure that residents had a variety of housing options. As a result, the Workforce Housing Task Force was formed to help address residents’ concerns about a lack of affordable, work force housing in addition to overall community form. Over the last 25 years, there has been substantial low-density residential and commercial growth in the city as well as beyond city limits creating significant transportation and community connectivity problems. The downtown had already undergone substantial revitalization, but challenges in newer parts of town included traffic congestion and lack of mobility options. Our firm’s work focused on preparing the Urban Design Element which planned for the integration of urban form and transportation as well as connectivity for three new areas proposed for annexation to the city. The firm also facilitated the participation of a very active citizen base concerned about growth, its impacts on the community at-large, and the resultant built environment.

Work

Martin Luther King Boulevard Streetscape & Urban Design

This master plan envisions the revitalization of Martin Luther King Boulevard in south Oak Park, a challenged neighborhood with tremendous opportunities. During a 16-month collaborative design process, our team involved members of the community and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, engaging them in planning for the street’s rebirth. Stakeholders coalesced around the ideas of creating a sustainable, integrated strategy that improves resident quality of life and enhances the character of the streetscape. Work included a survey of existing conditions along with investigations of opportunities and constraints. As ideas emerged and plans evolved, community member input was sought to make sure the design team was on track. Extensive input from stakeholders ended up being included in the plan, which called for undergrounding utilities, widening sidewalks, improved lighting, and installing bus shelters and landscaping. Key intersections were targeted with pedestrian enhancements as well as catalyst development projects identified and vetted by the team.

Work

Parkview Strategic Revitalization

In concert with the City of Redding, our firm participated in the Parkview Strategic Revitalization Plan as part of Redding’s Market Street Redevelopment Project. The Plan area was characterized by an increasing number of rental units, deferred maintenance of housing and infrastructure, low property values, a high concentration of low-income and senior fixed income households, coupled with a low median age and corresponding large number of young families. The recommendations included an identification of a 5-year list of priorities, responsible parties and action items, funding sources, and a proposed budget. The elements contained in the Plan are aimed at enhancing the livability of the neighborhood and were developed and combined into a comprehensive program. The Plan emphasizes and recommends an implementation program that can be carried out through public and private sector partnerships. The project was recognized by the American Planning Association, Sacramento Valley Chapter, and was awarded a Planning Award for an Outstanding Focused Issue Planning Project.

Work

Dawson Drive

Dawson Drive, a key corridor in the City’s industrial area, was master planned for revitalization, including a set of design standards and improvements that will, when implemented, create a vibrant, mixed use district that services a variety of land uses. Entry monuments identify the area, particularly as it is accessed from Highway 101, and visually links the Plan area to Camarillo’s downtown. Over time, it is envisioned that the concepts and design guidelines will encourage property owners, businesses and residents to improve properties and create infill development that will unify the area and create stronger linkages to the City at large.

Work

Good Project

Good is a high-density residential project in West Sacramento with a site plan that includes 33 single-family detached homes and two duplexes with a mix of two and three-story building types. With ground floor garages, each home has living areas and a balcony on the second level with bedrooms on the ground floor as well as on the second or third floors. Each of the homes has elevated front stoops that are situated along an internal lane similar to the historic alley pattern of the surrounding neighborhood. Unique to this project site are four large oak trees on the southwest corner of the site that have been preserved within an urban park. The park is an asset for the project, but also serves as a front porch to the community. The site has a community garden and open space situated around four heritage oak trees and an urban park. The park serves as a front porch to the community and can be observed by ground floor studios or offices and second floor decks.

Work

Metro Square

Located near downtown Sacramento, Metro Square was developed through a partnership between a merchant builder and the local redevelopment agency. This infill market-rate single family housing project helped transform the central city housing market. The project featured 45 single family homes on 2.2 acres (21 dwelling units to the acre) which ranged in size from 1,150 square feet to 1,550 square feet. Each unit has a front porch, a small private backyard, and a one or two car garage tucked under the unit. The 2-story homes offered two to three bedrooms, and up to two and one half baths. Some plans featured dual master suites, den/library or private decks. The Redevelopment Agency loaned the developer $1.2 million to reduce the land costs and mitigate the risk of building in the central city rather than in the suburbs. Architectural design balanced contemporary construction needs with the existing character of the neighborhood. A central courtyard serves as a focal point for community interaction. The street appearance of the project conformed to that of an early 20th century residential neighborhood, while the interior emphasized community interaction and contemporary development. This project included primarily one car garages discouraging auto ownership, roof orientation for photovoltaic retrofits, surface drainage to reduce water pollutants, and architectural character sympathetic to the existing neighborhood. Making it more inviting to pedestrians and bicyclists, Metro Square has connected streets, bicycle network markings, crosswalks and other traffic controls at intersections, traffic-calming measures, and shade trees along its sidewalks.

Work

1015 20th Street

1015 20th Street is an urban infill renovation project, in the heart of Sacramento’s  Midtown district, with historic preservation criteria, seismic and structural updates, and significant changes in building purpose all wrapped into one through our holistic design approach. The project consisted of renovation of a 70-year-old, 10,700 square foot mortuary building that is on the City of Sacramento’s Historic Preservation List. At the beginning of the project, this building was a one-story, masonry brick volume, with a historic façade directly addressing the street. The building now has two stories of interior office space, with significant daylighting to create a pleasant and efficient working environment, nicely marrying current urban vocabularies with the subtly-enhanced historic façade. The seismic and structural retrofit work was  accomplished leaving the  historic character untouched, and integrates well with the contemporary æsthetics of the new rear steel stair, making this solution integral to the design rather than simply being added on.  Second floor area was created with the addition of a penthouse structure, designed to be in keeping with the building’s historic character, yet without being directly imitative or derivative in nature; this structure also allows for a contemporary interior feel with excellent daylighting. Creative design solutions were required to provide seismic safety in the historic building with tight budget constraints.