Title
Ordinance Listing the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel Sign as a Historic Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M26-019) [Published 09/04/2026, 10/09/2026]
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01736
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Location
Location: 2691 Riverside Boulevard (APN 009-0321-060-0000), District 7
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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 the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign 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 the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign as a historic 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-Ordinance
3-Historic Resource Evaluation
4-Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: In 2026, the owner of the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign retained the services of Ella Cross, a qualified architectural historian, who prepared a cursory historic evaluation for the sign. Staff presented a statement of nomination to the preservation director, who concluded at a public hearing on September 10, 2026, that the resource appears eligible for listing on the Sacramento register pursuant to the criteria provided in Sacramento City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii. Staff has prepared a draft Ordinance (Attachment 2) which justifies listing the historic sign on the Sacramento register.
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PolicyConsiderations
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 the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign for listing as a historic resource 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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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The listing of the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign 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/CommitteeAction
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 City staff (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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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: Listing of the W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign (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 W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign is eligible for its association with the early development of neon technology and the evolution of signage in the early 19th century. Its significant features and characteristics include its irregular shape, distinct serif font, and neon piping. (City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii.)
The W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign at 2691 Riverside Boulevard retains a high degree of historic integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. While the sign is currently in the process of being relocated from its original location on Capitol Avenue, the sign will remain in use and be associated with the business for which it has been historically associated. The sign will be reinstalled in a similar configuration at its new site. The sign has had little to no alterations since initial construction outside of maintenance work and the installation of a removable protective clear Plexi-glass barrier. All other elements on the sign appear to be in near original condition.
The W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel sign at 2691 Riverside Boulevard 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 high level of integrity with regard to its design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The sign is a is a significant and unique representation of the early neon signage in Sacramento.
Figure 1: The W. F. Gormley & Sons Funeral Chapel Sign during its removal from its original location at the Northeast corner of Capitol Avenue & 20th Street
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise(LBE)
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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