Title
Ordinance Listing 1400 Grand Avenue (Grant Union High School) as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M26-018) [Published 09/04/2026, 10/09/2026]
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01658
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Location
Location: 1400 Grand Avenue (251-0112-002-0000), District 2
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion, pass a Motion: 1) closing the public hearing; 2) recommending the City Council: a) Pass a Motion determining the listing of 1400 Grand Avenue 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 b) Adopt an Ordinance listing 1400 Grand Avenue 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: Henry Feuss, Preservation Planner, (916) 808-2796, hfeuss@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: The Grant Union High School Alumni Association retained the services of Aztec TYPSA, qualified architectural historians, who prepared the historic evaluation for 1400 Grand Avenue. Staff presented a statement of nomination to the preservation director, who concluded at a public hearing on September 10, 2026, that the property appears eligible for listing on the Sacramento register pursuant to the criteria provided in Sacramento City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.i, 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.” (Sacramento 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 1400 Grand Avenue 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 1400 Grand Avenue 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 September 10, 2026, the preservation director held a public hearing in accordance with City Code section 17.604.220, reviewed the historic analysis prepared by Aztec TYPSA (Attachment 2), 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: On August 7, 2026, the State Historical Resources Commission voted unanimously to recommend the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places list Grant Union High School on the National Register. Consistent with best practices and the City’s obligations as a Certified Local Government, staff is recommending the listing of 1400 Grand Avenue (Figure 1) as a landmark on the Sacramento register. The duty to maintain an accurate local register, and achieve consistency with federal preservation practices are polices established in both the historic preservation chapter of the City Code (City Code, chapter 17.604) and the goals of the 2040 General Plan.
The property at 1400 Grand Avenue appears to be eligible for listing on the Sacramento register for its association with the Public Works Administration (PWA) and other Depression Era work relief programs. The construction of permanent school buildings at Grant Union High School was financed through a series of PWA grants that were issued to the school district between 1934 and 1939. In total, Grant Union High School received more than $300,000 from the PWA to defray the costs of the high school’s construction. Recreational facilities, including the pool and football stadium, were also financed through New Deal agencies, including the Civil Works Administration (CWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Therefore, the building meets criteria for listing on the Sacramento register under City Code, section 17.604.210.A.1.a.i.
The property at 1400 Grand Avenue appears to be eligible for listing as a building that embodies the characteristics of a method of construction. The school was constructed shortly after the passage of the Field Act, a state law that mandated earthquake-resistant construction for all public-school buildings in California. Consequently, the high school’s exterior walls were constructed using reinforced concrete to meet the new seismic standards established by the state. Following its initial construction in 1935, Grant Union High School was reportedly the first school in Northern California to meet the strict safety standards established by the Field Act. Therefore, the building meets criteria for listing on the Sacramento register under City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii.
The property at 1400 Grand Avenue appears to be eligible for listing as a building designed by a master architect. Grant Union High School was designed by two of Sacramento’s most prestigious architects, Harry J. Devine Sr. and Charles F. Dean. Devine was responsible for the design of the main school building, gymnasium, auditorium, and first classroom addition, while Dean oversaw the development of the remainder of the school plant, including the second classroom addition, cafeteria, student store, and shop buildings. Both Devine and Dean were master architects with illustrious careers in Sacramento in the early to mid-twentieth century. Therefore, the building meets criteria for listing on the Sacramento register under City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iv.
The building at 1400 Grand Avenue has a high degree of integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association. It remains in its original location, performs its original function, and retains the majority of its historic materials and workmanship, continuing to convey evidence of Depression-Era construction methods. As such, the building’s location, association, materials, workmanship, and feeling remain unaltered despite the large-scale construction in the vicinity that has eroded the school’s original rural setting.
The property at 1400 Grand Avenue has significant historic and 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. It has been well-maintained and retains a high level of integrity regarding its location, design, materials, workmanship, and association. 1400 Grand Avenue is a significant representation of federal public works architecture using innovative earthquake-resistant construction technology and is the work of two master architects.
Figure 1: 1400 Grand Avenue, view southwest
Figure 2: 1400 Grand Avenue, view southeast
Figure 3: 1400 Grand Avenue, northern courtyard, view west
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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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