City of Sacramento - File #: 2026-01234

• File #: 2026-01234
• Version: 1
• Type: Consent Item
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 6/9/2026
• In control: City Council - 2PM
• On agenda: 7/21/2026
• Title: [Pass for Publication] Ordinance Listing 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M26-013)

Title

[Pass for Publication] Ordinance Listing 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M26-013)

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FileID

File ID: 2026-01234

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Location

Location: 5241 J Street (008-0111-001-0000), District 4

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Recommendation

Recommendation: 1) Review an Ordinance listing 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a landmark on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources; and 2) pass for publication the Ordinance title per Sacramento City Charter section 32(c) for City Council consideration on August 25, 2026.

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Contact

Contact: Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, (916) 808-2796, sdecourcy@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department                     

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Presenter

Presenter: None

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Attachments

Attachments:

1-Description/Analysis

2-Proposed Ordinance

3-Historic Resource Evaluation

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Description/Analysis

IssueDetail

Issue Detail: In 2025, Preservation Sacramento and East Sacramento Preservation retained the services of Brunzell Historical, qualified architectural historians, who prepared the historic evaluation for 5241 J Street and nominated the property to the National Register of Historic Places. Concurrently, the group requested city staff consider listing the property as a landmark on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources (Sacramento register). Following internal review, preservation staff presented a statement of nomination to the preservation director, who concluded at a public hearing on June 17, 2026, that the property appears eligible for listing on the Sacramento register pursuant to the criteria provided in City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii. and iv. Staff has prepared a draft ordinance (Attachment 2) which justifies listing the property on the Sacramento register.

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Policy Considerations

Policy Considerations: The City Council has found “that significant aspects of the City’s rich and diverse historic resources deserve recognition and preservation to foster an understanding of our heritage, and to promote the public health and safety and the economic and general welfare of the people of the city. The preservation and continued use of historic resources are effective tools to sustain and revitalize neighborhoods and business districts within the city, enhance the city’s economic, cultural and aesthetic standing, its identity, its livability, marketability and urban character.” (City Code, § 17.604.100.A.). To this end, the city code directs the preservation director, to “make preliminary determinations relative to properties’ eligibility for listing on the Sacramento register” and to “initiate proceedings to nominate resources for listing on the Sacramento register.” (City Code, §§ 17.604.100.C.2 and 17.604.220).

The nomination of 5241 J Street for listing as a historic landmark on the Sacramento register is consistent with Sacramento 2040 General Plan goal HCR-2, which provides for the identification and preservation of historical and cultural resources. General Plan policy HCR-2.3 states, “The City shall maintain and update the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources on a regular basis, including proactively identifying and listing additional unidentified landmarks and historic districts…”

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Economic Impacts

Economic Impacts: Not applicable.

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Environmental Considerations

Environmental Considerations: 

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Listing 5241 J Street as a historic landmark on the Sacramento register is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308. Section 15308 exempts from CEQA review acts that are undertaken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. Listing the property as a historic landmark would ensure that future development on the site would undergo preservation review, as part of the city’s site plan and design review process, prior to the granting of any entitlements, thereby protecting the historic resource, which would be considered part of the environment. 

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Sustainability

Sustainability: Not applicable.

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Commission/Committee Action

Commission/Committee Action: On June 17, 2026, in accordance with City Code section 17.604.220, the preservation director held a public hearing, reviewed the historic analysis prepared by Brunzell Historical (Attachment 2) and concurred with a draft statement of nomination and directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance for review and consideration by the preservation commission. On June 17, 2026, the preservation commission reviewed the draft ordinance and recommended the city council pass the ordinance to list the nominated properties as landmarks on the Sacramento register.

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Rationale for Recommendation

Rationale for Recommendation: Listing 5241 J Street (Figure 1) as a landmark on the Sacramento register is consistent with the historic preservation chapter of the City Code (City Code, chapter 17.604) and the goals of the 2040 General Plan. Listing the nominated resource on the Sacramento register will help ensure its preservation and encourage rehabilitation consistent with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The property at 5241 J Street is a distinctive example of Sacramento School District Architectural and Engineering Commission’s architecture program of the 1920s. Significant features and characteristics of this architectural style that are present on the property include its expansive property, long wings, corridors on the west with widely spaced windows, and east-or north-facing classrooms with large window openings, in addition to its use of fire-resistant materials such as brick and stucco. The property also embodies the Spanish Revival style of architecture, with a clay tile roof, textured stucco cladding, arched door openings, and main façade arcade, as well as a highly ornamented bell tower, decorative metal window grilles and balconet, and main entrance French doors. (City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii.) 

The property at 5241 J Street was designed by a master architect. The main building was designed by James Dean of Dean and Dean, a master architect who was influential in the design of Sacramento-area schools of the era as the program’s primary architect. His brother Charles F. Dean designed the attached auditorium. (City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.a.iv.) 

Figure 1: 5241 J Street, south and west elevations, view northeast

Figure 2: 5241 J Street, east and north elevations, view southwest

Figure 3: 5241 J Street, auditorium, view west

The building at 5241 J Street retains a high degree of historic integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. It remains in its original location in a neighborhood whose character remains mostly unchanged. The building has undergone limited exterior alterations since initial construction outside of the replacement of original windows. The façade retains its essential physical features.

The building at 5241 J Street has significant historic or architectural worth, and its designation as a landmark is reasonable, appropriate and necessary to promote, protect and further the goals and purposes of City Code chapter 17.604. It has been well-maintained and retains a good level of integrity with regard to its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association. 5241 J Street is a significant representation of the Sacramento School District Architectural and Engineering Commission’s 1920s architecture program and of Spanish Revival architecture, and is the work of a master architect.

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Financial Considerations

Financial Considerations: Not applicable.

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Local Business Enterprise (LBE)

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.

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