City of Sacramento - File #: 2026-01218

• File #: 2026-01218
• Version: 1
• Type: Public Hearing
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 6/4/2026
• In control: Preservation Commission
• On agenda: 6/17/2026
• Title: Ordinance Listing 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M26-013)

Title

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: 2026-01218

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Location

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

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Recommendation

Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion: pass a Motion recommending the City Council: 1) pass a motion determining the listing of 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) as a landmark on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308, which exempts actions taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment and where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment; and 2) adopt an ordinance listing 5241 J Street as a landmark on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources.

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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: Hazel Bess, Preservation Intern, (916) 808-2796, hbess@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department                     

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Attachments

Attachments:

1-Description/Analysis

2-Proposed Ordinance

3-Historic Resource Evaluation

4-Presentation

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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 (El Dorado School) and nominated the property to the National Register of Historic Places. Concurrently, the group requested City Staff consider listing the property on the Sacramento Register. Following internal review, Preservation Staff presented a Statement of Nomination to the Preservation Director, who concluded at a public hearing on June 4, 2026, that the property appears eligible for listing in the Sacramento register pursuant to the criteria provided in Sacramento City Code section 17.604.210.A.1. 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” (Sacramento City Code section 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” (Pursuant to City Code sections 17.604.100.C.2 and 17.604.220).

The nomination of 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) for listing as a historic landmark on the Sacramento register is consistent with Sacramento 2040 General Plan goal HCR-2.3, 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): The listing of 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) 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 4, 2026, the City of Sacramento’s Preservation Director, in conformance with Section 17.604.220 of the City Code, 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 (Attachment 1) for review and consideration by the Preservation Commission.

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Rationale for Recommendation

Rationale for Recommendation: Listing of 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) (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 (El Dorado School) appears to be eligible under Criterion iv as a building 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 (El Dorado School), south and west elevations, view northeast

Figure 2: 5241 J Street (El Dorado School), east and north elevations, view southwest

Figure 3: 5241 J Street (El Dorado School), auditorium, view west

The building at 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association.

The building retains a high degree of historic integrity of all six aspects. 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 window materials. The façade retains its essential physical features.

The building at 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) 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 this chapter.

The building at 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) has significant historic and architectural worth. It has been well-maintained and retains a high level of integrity with regards to its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association. 5241 J Street (El Dorado School) is a significant representation of 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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