Gratitude, Giving, and Community Spirit

We’re gearing up for some of the most anticipated holiday happenings—from the high-energy Gobble Wobble run benefiting Chicks in Crisis, to the nostalgic charm of the Old Town Dickens Street Faire, and the dazzling Illumination Holiday Festival with its sparkling Parade of Lights.

But it’s not all twinkle and tinsel—there’s meaningful progress underway. Tune in to hear how Elk Grove is growing thoughtfully, with new affordable housing options like MOSA Apartment Homes now open and Adamstown preparing to welcome senior residents in need of support. We'll also share what's ahead on Historic Main Street as construction begins to pave the way—literally—for the next phase of the Old Town Streetscape Improvements.

Tune in for quick updates, helpful reminders, and ways to stay connected. Sign up to receive the City’s weekly email in your inbox every Monday at elkgrove.gov.

Rate, review and subscribe to the Elk Grove CityCast to get more information about the people, programs, and services shaping the City. You can find the Elk Grove CityCast anywhere you get your podcasts or listen online at elkgrove.gov/podcast.

Transcript

Kristyn Nelson: Thanks for tuning into the Elk Grove CityCast, the podcast about Elk Grove, California. I'm Kristyn Nelson, Elk Grove’s Public Affairs and Communications Manager. And with the help of artificial intelligence, we're rolling out new episodes that dive into the relevant topics, events, and happenings within our city.

We're using technology to provide you with new resources that will help you to stay informed and connect with the community at the time and with the tools that you prefer. So whether you have a passion for podcasts or print material, subscribe to social media or dig into digital. We want to be a source for local information that's valuable to you.

Now, without further ado, let me turn it over to our AI friends for a deeper dive into this week's topics. 

AI-leen: Welcome back to the deep dive. We have pulled a really fascinating bundle of sources today. 

AI-den: We really have.

AI-leen: It's a high stakes mix of holiday traditions, these massive affordable housing projects, and then infrastructure modernization 

AI-den: All in one place. 

AI-leen: Yep. All focused on Elk Grove. 

AI-den: Yeah. 

AI-leen: Our mission here is to, you know, cut through the noise and just deliver the essential strategic thinking behind all these updates.

AI-den: And it's a great snapshot of a city that's sort of operating on two different timelines. Right. 

AI-leen: What do you mean by that? 

AI-den: Well, on one hand, they're focused on the immediate, you know, high energy, seasonal stuff. But on the other, they're making these huge commitments that are gonna redefine the city's housing and its historic core for, I mean, for decades to come. We're gonna help you understand the why behind both. 

AI-leen: Absolutely. Think of this as your shortcut to understanding the pulse of Elk Grove right now. And just a quick tactical note for you. If you want these updates sent straight to your inbox every Monday, you can sign up for the city's email newsletter. It's right on their website, elk grove.gov. 

AI-den: That's a great tip for staying current, but okay. Before we get too bogged down in blueprints and budgets, let's tackle the immediate priority. Kicking off the holiday season. The sources show a community that really, really embraces local movement, markets, and some unique merchandise.

AI-leen: And that movement part starts bright and early. We're talking before the turkey is even thawed.

AI-den: Right

AI-leen: With the annual Elk Grove Gobble Wobble. 

AI-den: This is such a great community ritual. It's an annual run walk, or,as the name says, a wobble, and happens every Thanksgiving morning. It's just a fantastic way to get active before you know the big meal.

AI-leen: But it's crucial here that it's not just about earning the feast, it's about the purpose behind it all. 

AI-den: Exactly. 

AI-leen: All the proceeds from the Gobble Wobble go to support Chicks Crisis. 

AI-den: Which is a local 501c3 nonprofit.

AI-leen: And that 501c3 designation is important, right? 

AI-den: Yeah. Oh, absolutely. It means they're a federally recognized nonprofit and they're just deeply embedded in providing crucial support. We're talking pregnancy, parenting, adoption, and educational services for families who really need it. 

AI-leen: So if you're thinking of joining in, you can register online at chickscrisis.org, or you can just show up and register right there at the event. It's on Longleaf Drive, Thursday morning, 

AI-den: A perfect mix of fitness and philanthropy.

AI-leen: It really is. 

AI-den: So once the exercise is done, the focus shifts pretty squarely to holiday shopping and traditions. And the sources point to some really unique, uh, specific local gifts. 

AI-leen: I love this detail. The city actually worked with a nationally known folk artist, Eric Dowdle. 

AI-den: Oh, wow. 

AI-leen: To create a limited edition 500-piece puzzle that celebrates Elk Grove life.

AI-den: That makes perfect sense. I mean, those kinds of local collectible items, they become these powerful community symbols. And for $25, you get this 500 piece puzzle. It sounds like a fantastic keepsake, 

AI-leen: But you can't just buy it anywhere. The availability is tied directly to these big holiday events.

AI-den: Okay, so where do you find it? 

AI-leen: You have to look for the city's pop-up shop at the Old Town, Dickens Street Faire. That's this Saturday, November 29th. 

AI-den: Got it. 

AI-leen: And then again at the Illumination Holiday Festival on December 6. 

AI-den: And speaking of local stuff, the sources also suggest pairing that puzzle with the city's 25th anniversary holiday ornament.

AI-leen: Oh, that's a good idea. 

AI-den: Yeah. It creates this really thoughtful, locally inspired gift package 

AI-leen: That brings us right to the Dickens Street Fair, which, I mean, this is the traditional start of the yuletide season there. 

AI-den: It's a massive undertaking. It's produced by the Old Town Elk Grove Foundation. 

AI-leen: And the scale is just, it's pretty wild.

AI-den: It is. We're talking about over 125 vendors and community groups. They just flood Elk Grove Boulevard basically from Second Avenue all the way to School Street. 

AI-leen: It completely transforms that historic strip.

AI-den: Into a genuine holiday market. Yeah.

AI-leen: And the thing that really makes this event a local tradition, I mean you have to see it to believe it…

AI-den: is it the Santa Rescue?

AI-leen: It's the famous Santa Rescue. 

AI-den: Yeah. 

AI-leen: Performed by the fire department. It's just pure, delightful holiday theater. 

AI-den: It's that kind of high drama that, you know, it creates those lasting memories for kids. 

AI-leen: For sure. And you need to know the timing here. The vendors close at 5:00 PM but the party doesn't stop. It just pivots to the evening events, Christmas carols, live entertainment, and then the grand finale, the Christmas tree lighting at 6:00 PM 

AI-den: And Santa himself flips the switch 

AI-leen: right at Walnut Street and it's all free admission. 

AI-den: Wow. That is a packed Saturday. 

AI-leen: It is, but the momentum just carries right into the following weekend with the Illumination Holiday Festival in the parade of lights.

AI-den: Right. The Illumination Festival is the next Saturday, December 6th. From 3 to 8:00 PM over at District 56, 

AI-leen: And this is where the holiday atmosphere really just explodes. 

AI-den: You've got the vendor village for shopping, holiday food and ice rink, 

AI-leen: and of course you gotta get those holiday photos in front of the city's huge ribbon tree, 

AI-den: of course. And the parade is the made event of that evening, right? 

AI-leen: Centerpiece. The holiday parade of lights kicks off at 6:00 PM It's hosted by the Elk Grove Lions Club and presented by Sutter Health, 

AI-den: and if you're feeling ambitious enough to enter a float, the sources say entries are accepted through Wednesday, December 3rd.

AI-leen: So you've got a little time. 

AI-den: A little bit of time. Yeah. That really covers the festive celebratory side of these updates. I mean, it paints a picture of a really vibrant, engaged community. 

AI-leen: Exactly. We've set the seasonal scene. So now we have to shift to the other side of this strategic coin. 

AI-den: The long-term stuff.

AI-leen: The long-term complex work. We're moving from, you know, temporary holiday magic to permanent community stability. And we have to look at the city's strategy to stay welcoming to people of all income levels. Here's where it gets really interesting. 

AI-den: That transition is just so important because the holidays are fun, but this commitment to housing, that's what defines a city's character long term.

And the scale of these affordable housing initiatives is, it's genuinely remarkable, 

AI-leen: Especially in California, 

AI-den: Especially given the statewide pressures. Yeah, 

AI-leen: So the centerpiece, which the source is really highlight is the MOSA apartment homes. Let's, uh, let's break that project down. 

AI-den: This is a landmark development. MOSA isn't just large by local standards, it's recognized as the largest affordable housing development in Elk Grove. 

AI-leen: Wow. 

AI-den: And among the largest in the entire state. That tells you the level of commitment that went into this. 

AI-leen: That magnitude is hard to even picture. What are the actual details? Like size and location?

AI-den: Okay, so it's at a 10219 Bruceville Road. It's made up of 387 units, 

AI-leen: 387

AI-den: But the number of units only tells part of the story once it's fully occupied. This project is expected to provide homes for about 1200 residents. 

AI-leen: 1200 people. 

AI-den: Yeah. Think about the impact of providing stable housing for over a thousand people. You're creating stability for working professionals, for families, for seniors, people who really struggle to find safe, affordable housing. 

AI-leen: And it's not just a block of apartments either. The sources detail the design and the amenities, and it sounds like a fully functional, supportive community. 

AI-den: Precisely. They call it a vibrant campus. It's designed with that stability in. 

AI-leen: So what does that include? 

AI-den: It has things like learning centers for kids, a fitness studio, playgrounds, courtyards, shared community spaces. The goal isn't just to house people. It's to provide an environment where they can actually thrive.

AI-leen: And MOSA is just the biggest piece of a much larger strategy, right? I see. Mentions of a whole pipeline of new affordable homes. 

AI-den: That's right. There are two other big communities adding to the inventory. You've got The Lyla, which is farther north on Bruceville Road. 

AI-leen: Okay. 

AI-den: And the Pardes, which is over at Tarrack Drive and Big Horn Boulevard.

AI-leen: So if you combine all three. The Lyla and the Pardes, what's the total impact on housing there? 

AI-den: Well, together the Lyla and the Pardes will add nearly 530 additional affordable homes 

AI-leen: On top of MOSA?

AI-den: On top of MOSA. So when you add in the 387 units there, you're seeing a coordinated effort that's bringing almost a thousand affordable units online in a really short time. It's a very deliberate push. 

AI-leen: I also noticed a distinct focus on the most vulnerable populations, especially with another project, Adamstown. 

AI-den: Yes, Adamstown is a crucial piece of this. It's set to open next month in December.

AI-leen: And what’s its focus?

AI-den: This is new, low income, permanent housing, and it's specifically for unhoused or at risk seniors.

AI-leen: Why is that senior focus so critical right now? 

AI-den: Well, seniors on fixed incomes are just so vulnerable to economic shocks and rising housing costs. By offering permanent low-income housing, the city is creating a pathway to stability for a demographic that often just lacks the resources to navigate the market.

AI-leen: It's social infrastructure really.

AI-den: That's a great way to put it. It's making sure residents who help build the community aren't forced out. 

AI-leen: So this comprehensive approach from big family housing like MOSA to specialize senior housing like Adamstown, it's clearly a top priority. 

AI-den: The strategic intent is undeniable. And the sources make it explicit. There's a direct quote from council member Rod Brewer. 

AI-leen: What did he say? 

AI-den: He said, elk Grove will always be committed to affordable housing. We are answering the call to meet the needs of people who need it the most. 

AI-leen: That's a pretty powerful statement. It shows these aren't just one-off projects.

AI-den: No, it's a deliberate moral and economic strategy. 

AI-leen: Okay. That's a massive level of investment. Now, let's shift gears one last time and look at another complex long-term project. Infrastructure improvements right in the heart of Old Town. 

AI-den: This brings us right back to the area where the Dickens Street Faire happens. That historic core needs modernization 

AI-leen: And work is starting soon. 

AI-den: Yep. Along Elk Grove Boulevard between School Street and Waterman Road. It's scheduled to begin in early December. 

AI-leen: What's the very first step? The thing that residents and businesses will notice first. 

AI-den: The initial phase is all logistical prep work. 

AI-leen: Ah 

AI-den: And that requires crews to remove select trees in the area. It's a necessary step to prepare the ground for undergrounding, the utilities, and for all the future phases of the Streetscape Project. 

AI-leen: And we know removing trees, especially in a historic district, is never an easy call. So what's the long-term payoff here? What makes that difficult step necessary?

AI-den: The city is targeting some really crucial safety and functional upgrades. The project promises wider sidewalks, 

AI-leen: Which is great for accessibility, 

AI-den: Huge for accessibility. It also includes buffered bike lanes, a major safety upgrade, not just a painted line, 

AI-leen: Right. 

AI-den: Plus safer crosswalks and very critically, much better drainage to protect the area from flooding.

AI-leen: So it's that classic balancing act. Preserving the historic charm versus the absolute need for modern safety and utility upgrades. 

AI-den: Exactly. And the city does address the tree removal directly. 

AI-leen: How so? 

AI-den: They offer explicit reassurance. The sources say that while some trees have to be removed, the finished streetsscape will include new plantings and thoughtful landscaping. The goal is to maintain old town's charm and character through all of this. 

AI-leen: So if you are a resident there, you should probably be ready for some temporary delays. 

AI-den: Absolutely. The tree work is expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting during daytime hours. So brief traffic delays are pretty likely 

AI-leen: And the city is being transparent about it.

AI-den: Very. They've even provided a direct contact for questions. Mohammad Sadiq, the city senior civil engineer. They give his phone number. Which suggests they're ready for questions, especially about the trees. 

AI-leen: That covers a huge range of information. I mean from the fun immediate energy of the holidays to these multimillion-dollar long-term strategic investments.

AI-den: If we connect this all back to the bigger picture, the sources show a city doing some really dynamic, multi-layered work. Elk Grove is simultaneously investing in community events like the Dickens Faire, executing these complex strategies for stability with affordable housing, and then tackling the difficult job of modernizing its historic core. It's a commitment to comprehensive growth. 

AI-leen: It really signals a city that's committed to welcoming everyone through housing stability and investing heavily in its infrastructure, all while trying to hold onto that beloved historic character. 

AI-den: That delicate balance between preservation and progress. That's what defines every successful growing city. 

AI-leen: And that leads directly to our final, provocative thought for you to consider. We saw how the Old Town Streetscape Project requires the difficult step of removing trees to make way for modern utilities and safety upgrades. This raises a fundamental question for any growing community with a historic core. How do cities preserve that intangible charm and character that makes an old neighborhood so beloved, while at the same time implementing the non-negotiable safety and utility upgrades needed for a modern high density future? 

AI-den: It's a constant tension, isn't it? Between memory and necessity. A fascinating dilemma to mull over.

AI-leen: We hope this deep dive helps you navigate the coming weeks with a little more clarity. Until next time.

Kristyn Nelson: Thank you for listening to the Elk Grove CityCast. Tune in again soon for another deep dive into the news events and happenings around the City of Elk Grove. Like what we're doing? Please rate, review, and subscribe to the show to help spread the word to other audiophiles. Want more news before the next episode? Follow the City of Elk Grove on social media. You can find us on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor. Or get our news delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the city's weekly email update at elkgrove.gov. Thanks again for listening For the City of Elk Grove, I'm Kristyn Nelson.