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WEBVTT THE CENTRAL PARK IN DOWNTOSACRAMENTO IS SHOWING OFF IT'SNEWEST ADDITIOLA COSECHA MEXICAN RESTAURANTNOW TAKES UP THE WEST SIDE OFCESAR CHAVEZ PLAZA, OWNERERNESTO DELGADO COMES IN WITHHIGH ASPIRATIONS>> MY WHOLE VISION IS TO BRITHE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THEPLAZAS OF MEXICO.THERE'S JUST AS LOT GOING ON INTHOSE PLAZAS AND I BELIEVE THISHAS THE POTENTIAL TO JUST BRINGTHAT ENERGREPORTER: WHILE THERE AREADVANTAGES TO BEING DOWNTOWN,LIKE THE BUILD IN CUSTOMER BASEIN THE SURROUNDING SKYSCRAPERS,THERE ARE ALSO CHALLENGEFOR ONE THE PARK HAS A LARGEHOMELESS POPULATION.THE CITY IS ACTIVELY WORKING TIMPROVE SOME OF THE THINGS THATPEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABABOUT, BUT I THINK THE QUALITYOF THE FOOD, THE QUALITY OF THECONCEPT, PEOPLE WILL BE FLOCKINGTO IT.REPORTER: COUNCILMAN STEVEHANSON HELPED SECURE MORE THAN$485,000 IN TAXPAYER MONEY TORENOVATE THE CITY OWNED BUILDIAND PARK.THE DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTOPARTNERSHIP HOPES THE RESTAURANTWILL DRAW PEOPLE DOWNTOWN EVENDURING TRADITIONALLY QUIETTIMES, NAMELY NIGHTS ANDWEEKENDS.I THINK PROJECT LIKE THISWILL NOT ONLY CHANGE THEIDENTITY OF THE PARK BUT REALLYCHANGE THE CULTURE OF HOW PEOPLELOOK AT ACTIVATING THIS PARKREPORTER: BUT WILL THEY COME?PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERESAY THEY'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.>> I WORK RIGHT ACROSS THESTREET SO WE'RE ALWAYS OVER HEREDOING OUR WALKS AND EATING OVEHERE SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THENEW RESTAURANTREPORTER: DELGADO ENVISIONS THEPARK AND HIS RESTAURANT AS ACENTRAL GATHERING PLACE, TAKINGA RISK IN HOPES OF TRANSFORMINGTHE CITY'S DOWNTOWN AND SHARIIN THE BENEFITS >> IT'S BRIDGING CULTURES AND ITHINK I'M GOING TO SHOCK PEOPLE

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A new Mexican restaurant is now open and ready for business in the city’s Cesar Chavez Plaza after receiving nearly a half million dollar investment by Sacramento taxpayers. La Cosecha, which sits on the west side of the plaza, passed its final inspection Friday and opened hours later. The city of Sacramento owns and leases the building to La Cosecha. Crowds came out in mass to listen to a concert in the park and subsequently packed the restaurant. Owner Ernesto Delgado draws his inspiration from the traditional gathering places in Mexico, the plazas. “My whole vision is to bring the hustle and bustle of the plazas of Mexico,” Delgado said. “There’s just a lot going on in those plazas and I believe this has the potential to just bring that energy.” While there are advantages to being downtown, like the built-in customer base in the surrounding skyscrapers, there are also challenges. For one, the park has a large homeless population and it’s unknown how that will impact efforts to grow a customer base. Councilman Steve Hanson helped secure more than $485,000 in taxpayer money to renovate the city-owned building and park. The previous restaurant in the building, Café Soleil, closed in 2015. “The city is actively working to improve some of the things that people don’t feel comfortable about, but I think the quality of the food, the quality of the concept, people will be flocking to it,” Hansen said. The restaurant will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s Executive Director Michael Ault said the hope is that the restaurant will draw people downtown, even during traditionally quiet times, redefining how people view and visit downtown. “I think a project like this will not only change the identity of the park but really change the culture of how people look at activating this park,” Ault said. Delgado envisions the park and his restaurant as a central gathering place. By taking a risk and putting in close half a million dollars of his own money, he hopes to transform the city’s downtown and share in the benefits. “It’s bridging cultures and I think I’m going to shock people with what I’m going to present here,” he said.