Mural Project Launched To Help Beautify Sacramento's K Street

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - A group is hoping an art project will attract more people to K Street in downtown Sacramento.

For aspiring artists, this project could be a chance to legally use the street as a canvas.

If you've taken a stroll down the 800 block of K Street, chances are you've seen what organizers are trying to cover up with the mural.

"It's somewhat of an eyesore," said Lisa Martinez, Downtown Sacramento Partnership Director of Marketing & Outreach.

But there's an effort to transform the eyesore into something beautiful.

"I want that area to be a part of something I want to walk through," said Koreena Schultz, Director of Operations, Pizza Rock.

"I think it will be great," said Sacramento resident Western Ramirez.

Local artists will use the block as their canvas as part of the downtown mural project.

"I think this brings up the value just walking around and what you can see? Interesting things," said Ramirez.

Ramirez says he walks this area every day, and while artwork is displayed in alleys, it's not as prominent as K Street.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership says it's all part of the bigger picture of bringing all of Sacramento from Old Sacramento to midtown together.

"Our idea is if pedestrians can walk through, feel very comfortable, that really helps all the businesses and connect this whole walkable district," said Martinez.

While this is the look at the west end, just a couple of blocks away on the east end of K Street, it's hopping. Business managers say a lot has changed since Pizza Rock started rockin' "The K" three years ago.

"We've seen a lot of development around here. I've seen K Bar come through, Café Bernardo, Maya Huel, Estelle's -- a lot of these new places coming around on this end," said Schultz.

Pizza Rock is holding a fundraiser to help with the project because they think making the area more aesthetically pleasing will translate to bigger business.

"They want to see development. They want to see things happening. And if we can get those murals up, it will show we're trying to do something and make downtown better for everybody," said Schultz.

The deadline to submit a drawing is Friday. The mural should be complete by summer.