Full article by Graham Womack at Sacramento News & Review
When Jesus Lopez returned to Sacramento after attending San Francisco State University, going to work at his family’s carniceria, he noticed something about the historic corridor it sits on, Franklin Boulevard.
“When I came back, I feel like there’s definitely an effort to get more exposure,” Lopez said.
Franklin Boulevard is one of the main streets celebrating Sacramento’s Latino heritage, with staple businesses like El Novillero Restaurant and Caballo Blanco Restaurante and the one run by Lopez’s family, Carniceria Lopez. The boulevard can sometimes get forgotten, though, among some of Sacramento’s other streets. And when it does get attention, it’s not always great, with Franklin Boulevard once named the city’s ugliest street by a newspaper.
Work is underway to improve Franklin Boulevard, with a multifaceted approach — including the use of transportation funding and nonprofit community development corporations — being pursued to fuel broader revitalization efforts. The work could also help to bring more affordable housing online, which is an ever greater need throughout the city.