The Sacramento neighborhood known as Alkali Flat has a history going back to the 1850s and 1860s. Thanks to preservation efforts, many of the beautiful Victorian houses have been restored to their former glory and hopefully will survive many more years into the future. I could happily watch an entire show about these historic buildings; but Huell’s visit to the former site of Globe Mills plant is pretty amazing too. The structure was built in 1913 and came very close to having a date with the wrecking ball during the 1970s. Its restoration has transformed this historic building from a burned-out embarassment to a prize-winning design that includes both lofts and affordable housing.

You may never heard of a neighborhood with name “Alkali Flat”, but it’s Sacramento’s oldest and has gone through an amazing renaissance. Once a derelict area filled with falling down Victorians, it’s now the pride of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. Huell starts his visit among some victorian painted ladies that now rival any in San Francisco, and then it’s off to the old Globe Mills flour plant which was considered “the” blight of the neighborhood and is now the jewel in the crown. The architects did an incredible job of turning an old mill into amazing loft-style apartments. The developer also added over a hundred units of low-income senior housing, which filled an important void in the community.

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)