Title:
Title
Ordinance Listing 730 I Street (Bank of America Branch Building) as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M19-001) [Passed for Publication 05/14/2019; Published 05/17/2019; Notice 05/17/2019]
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-00630
Location
Location: 730 I Street (006-0034-019-0000); District 4
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion: 1) pass a Motion determining the listing of 730 I Street as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historical and Cultural Resources exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308, which includes 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 730 I Street as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historical and Cultural Resources.
Contact: Carson Anderson, Preservation Director, (916) 808-8259, Community Development Department
Body
Presenter: Sean de Courcy, Associate Preservation Planner, (916) 808-2796, Community Development Department
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance
3-Historic Resource Evaluation
4-Public Comments
Description/Analysis
Issue/Detail: The property owner for 730 I Street (Figure 1) retained the services of Historic Environment Consultants to conduct property-specific background research and prepare a historic resource evaluation form (Attachment 3) for 730 I Street, also known as the “Bank of America Building at 730 I Street.” After review of the background research and historic resource evaluation, the Preservation Director concluded 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.a.iii and 17.604.210.A.1.a.iv.
Figure 1: Bank of America Building at 730 I Street
Policy Considerations: The City has an interest in maintaining the relevance and integrity of the Sacramento register and ensuring that properties listed on the Sacramento register meet the criteria for listing specified in City Code sections 17.604.210 and 17.604.220. 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 730 I Street for listing as a landmark on the Sacramento Register is consistent with the Sacramento 2035 General Plan goal HCR 2.1, which provides for the identification and preservation of historical and cultural resources. General Plan policy HCR 2.1.1 states that “the City shall identify historic and cultural resources, including individual properties, districts, and sites, to ensure adequate protection.”
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: The listing of 730 I 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 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.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: On April 4, 2019, the City’s Preservation Director, in conformance with Section 17.604.220 of the City Code, held a public hearing, reviewed the historic analysis prepared by staff and Historic Environment Consultants (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. On April 17, 2019, the Preservation Commission held a public hearing and made a recommendation to City Council to pass an ordinance listing 730 I Street on the Sacramento Register.
Rationale for Recommendation: Listing of 730 I Street (Figure 1) as a landmark on the Sacramento Register is consistent with the Historic Preservation Chapter (17.604) of the City Code and the goals of the 2035 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 building embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction (17.604.210.A.1.a.iii) as a distinctive local example of the International Style. Additionally, the building represents the work of an important creative individual or master (17.604.210.A.1.a.iv) for its association with prominent Mid-Century architecture firm Wurster, Bernardi, and Emmons; the work of Byzantine Mosaics; and master mason Alfonso Pardiñas, who designed and installed the colorful mosaic tile work on the exterior spandrel panels and interior pillars.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise: Not applicable.