Business Journal: Battle Over Cockroaches, Old Sac's Union Hotel Sells, Sixth And Capitol Project Appealed

Legal Battle Unfolds Over Cockroaches

A multi-year legal battle between two cockroach breeders in the Sacramento area culminated in the recent seizure and auction of about three million roaches for tens of thousands of dollars. The Sacramento Business Journal's Scott Rodd says these companies were not breeding your average household cockroach.

"These roaches are a certain species known as dubia roaches, which are used as feed for pets like lizards, frogs and snakes," says Rodd. "It’s an extremely niche market, as you can imagine, but that’s also what makes it lucrative."

The dispute came down to intellectual property protections over the breeding and colonization of the roaches. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department seized property form a company called RoachKing in mid-December after the company failed to follow through on a court order to pay damages to a competing company called Dubi Deli. RoachKing's inventory went to auction and sold for $23,000.

Old Sac's Union Hotel Sells For $3 Million

One of Old Sacramento’s most prominent buildings, the Union Hotel on 2nd Street, has been sold. Sacramento real estate investor Akash Lal bought the building for $3 million. Rodd says Lal plans a mixture of uses for the historic three-story building "...which includes using the top floor for a lodging or hospitality concept and the second floor will be available to office tenants."

"He said the bottom floor will have a unique retail tenant, and reports have emerged that he’s planning a Gold Rush-themed mini-golf course in that space," Rodd says.

It would be the second mini-golf course that's been proposed in the downtown area in recent months. A pub called Flatsticks also wants to put in a mini-golf course at its site near Golden 1 Center on K Street.

Proposed Building At Sixth And Capitol Too Short?

A man who lives in downtown Sacramento is appealing the city's approval of a new building near Sixth Street and Capitol Mall. Rodd says the resident, James Diel, isn't opposed to construction of the building; he just wants it to be taller.

"The current proposal calls for an eight-story building at the site, which Diel said is too small for a prominent downtown location like the 600 block of Capitol Mall," says Rodd. "The building would be dwarfed by some nearby high-rises, but supporters of the proposed building say it would be a better use than the parking lot that’s currently there."

Diel argues that the city should demand something grand for the site between the Tower Bridge and the Capitol building. An appeal like this may slow the process down, but as of right now it doesn’t look likely that it will stop the project altogether.