Sacramento’s downtown, walled off by interstate freeways and levees, rises up in the middle, pointing upward to the sky. Prior to the market bust, buildings endeavored to punch higher, with proposed high-rise spires stabbing into the competition for regional tallest. Energy and growth was focused on the Central Business District (CBD), but this is changing.

Today as I walk down J Street, heading away from the core of downtown, I’m excited to say that Sacramento is finally growing again. With the new Sutter hospital, midtown gushes up against the freeway and now connects with East Sacramento in a convincing, yet not so delicate way. I will make no commentary on the inconsistent and obtuse design of the medical center (save it for another post), but will say that I’m glad we’re growing.