Item 08 2025-00787 [Pass for Publication] Ordinance Listing San Francisco Boulevard as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M24-006)

City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2025-00787 4/22/2025 Item 8.
[Pass for Publication] Ordinance Listing San Francisco Boulevard as a Landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources (M24-006) File ID: 2025-00787
Location: San Francisco Boulevard, between Stockton Boulevard and 55th Street, District 6 Recommendation:1) Review an ordinance listing San Francisco Boulevard 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 May 20, 2025.

Contact: Sean de Courcy, Preservation Director, (916) 808-2796, [email protected], Community Development Department
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Background
3-Ordinance
4-Historic Resource Evaluation for San Francisco Boulevard 5-Public Comments
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Following the preservation commission’s review and comment on San Francisco Boulevard at its September 18, 2024, meeting, the commission requested that staff pursue listing it on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources (Sacramento register). Staff presented a Statement of Nomination to the preservation director who concluded at a public hearing on January 23, 2025, that San Francisco Boulevard (Nominated 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. On February 19, 2025, the preservation commission held a hearing and passed a motion recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance listing the Nominated Resource on the Sacramento register. Staff has prepared a draft ordinance (Attachment 3) that justifies listing the Nominated Resource as a landmark on the Sacramento register.

Policy Considerations: The City Council has found “that significant aspects of the City’s rich and

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File ID: 2025-00787 4/22/2025 Item 8.
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 the San Francisco Boulevard for listing as a landmark on the Sacramento register is consistent with the goals of the Sacramento 2040 General Plan, 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… proactively identifying and listing additional unidentified landmarks.” The nomination is also consistent with the Stockton Boulevard Specific Plan, which recommends pursuing the designation of eligible historic landmarks and districts, specifically including San Francisco Boulevard.

Economic Impacts: Not applicable.

Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Listing the Nominated Resource 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 Nominated Resource 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 January 23, 2025, 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 Melissa Mourkas, ASLA (Attachment 4), and concurred with a draft statement of nomination and directed staff to prepare a draft ordinance (Attachment 3) for review and consideration by the Preservation Commission. On February 19, 2025, the Preservation Commission held a hearing and passed a motion recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance listing the Nominated Resource as a landmark on the Sacramento register.

Rationale for Recommendation: The listing of the Nominated Resource (Figure 1) as a landmark

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File ID: 2025-00787 4/22/2025 Item 8.
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.

San Francisco Boulevard embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction (Sacramento City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii).

San Francisco Boulevard is a unique example of City Beautiful movement infrastructure in Sacramento from the early 20th century. It has aesthetic qualities consistent with important movements in American park and boulevard design, and the layout of the roadway itself represents distinctive characteristics in city street design. Significant features and characteristics include: a wide boulevard made up of four lanes of travel bordering the Colonial Heights neighborhood, two parallel 7 -foot-wide median strips planted with a variety of trees and shrubs from various time periods and prominently featuring California Fan Palm trees, side park strips bordering the boulevard that feature lawn interspersed with deciduous shade trees, and sidewalks. The palm tree allées in the medians of the boulevard have undergone minor changes due to age/disease-related loss of specimen, however, the landscape continues to retain a high degree of historic integrity and new trees have been of a compatible species.

Figure 1: San Francisco Boulevard

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File ID: 2025-00787 4/22/2025 Item 8.

Figure 2: San Francisco Boulevard Proposed Landmark Boundaries The nominated resource has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association, as judged with reference to the criterion in Sacramento City Code section

17.604.210.A.1.a.iii. (City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.b).

San Francisco Boulevard has integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association as a distinctive landscape constructed during the City Beautiful movement, which was an outgrowth of the Garden City movement of the late 19th century. While some trees have been replaced due to age or disease, the replacement trees are of a compatible species. In addition, the overall streetscape pattern of planters and roads have remained in their original configuration.

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File ID: 2025-00787 4/22/2025 Item 8.

The nominated resource 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. (City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.c).

San Francisco Boulevard has significant historic and architectural worth. It has been well-maintained and retains a high level of integrity with regard to its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association. It is a significant and unique representation of the City Beautiful movement in Sacramento.

Financial Considerations: Not applicable.

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.

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Background
In 2013, when a disease began to cause the decline of palm trees on the Boulevard, Preservation staff were consulted to assist with selecting an alternative compatible species. This prompted the creation of a historic resource evaluation that recommended the section of San Francisco Boulevard between Stockton Boulevard and 55th Street as eligible for listing on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources and the California Register of Historical Resources. Due to staff shortages, landmark proceedings for the nominated resource were not brought forward at that time.

In early 2024, work being undertaken by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) included the removal or significant trimming of palm trees located along the nominated resource. At the June 2024 Preservation Commission meeting, a group of residents who live adjacent to San Francisco Boulevard spoke on matters not on the agenda regarding their concerns. In response, the Chair of the Commission requested that staff place the historic evaluation of San Francisco Boulevard on the agenda for a future meeting to consider initiating the nomination process, consistent with provisions of City Code Section § 17.604.220. Concurrently, City staff were contacted by additional concerned citizens and advocacy groups. At the September 18, 2024 meeting, during a review and comment, the Preservation Commission recommended staff proceed with initiating a nomination to the Sacramento Register.

Since that time, a number of comments from residents supporting the listing of the resource in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources have been received by staff. All public comments submitted in advance are included in Attachment

5. ORDINANCE NO. ___

Adopted by the Sacramento City Council

[Date Adopted]

AN ORDINANCE LISTING SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD AS A LANDMARK ON THE

SACRAMENTO REGISTER OF HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

BACKGROUND

A. 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 and its livability, marketability and urban character.” (Sacramento City Code, §17.604.100.A.)

B. To this end, Sacramento City Code chapter 17.604 provides a mechanism for listing landmarks, historic districts, and contributing resources on the Sacramento register of historic and cultural resources (“Sacramento register”).

C. On January 23, 2025, the preservation director reviewed a statement of nomination and determined that the public streetscape located on San Francisco Boulevard between Stockon Boulevard and 55th Street is eligible for listing on the Sacramento register as a landmark. On February 19, 2025, the preservation commission concurred with the findings of the preservation director and recommended the city council list San Francisco Boulevard as a landmark on the Sacramento register.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO:

SECTION 1

A. San Francisco Boulevard meets the requirements for listing on the Sacramento register as a landmark under Sacramento City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii.

i. San Francisco Boulevard embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction. (Sacramento City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii).

San Francisco Boulevard is a unique example of City Beautiful movement infrastructure in Sacramento from the early 20th century. It has aesthetic qualities consistent with important movements in American park and boulevard design, and the layout of the roadway itself represents distinctive characteristics in city street design. Significant features and characteristics include: a wide boulevard made up of four lanes of travel, two parallel 8‘-wide median strips planted with a variety of trees and shrubs, prominently featuring California Fan Palm trees, side park strips bordering the boulevard that feature lawn interspersed with deciduous shade trees, and sidewalks. The palm tree allées in the medians of the boulevard have undergone minor changes due to age/disease-related loss of specimen, however, the landscape continues to retain a high degree of historic integrity and replacement trees have been of a compatible species.

ii. The nominated resource has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association, as judged with reference to the criterion in Sacramento City Code section 17.604.210.A.1.a.iii. (Sacramento City Code, §

17.604.210.A.1.b).

San Francisco Boulevard has integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association as a distinctive landscape of the City Beautiful Planning Movement style of the early 20th century, which was an outgrowth of the Garden City movement of the late 19th century. There have been minimal alterations after the completion of the boulevard, and they have been compatible with the style and scale of the site.

While some trees have been replaced over time, the replacement trees are of a compatible species. In addition, the overall streetscape pattern of planters and roads have remained the same while undergoing routine maintenance. iii. San Francisco 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 chapter 17.604 of the Sacramento City Code. (Sacramento City Code, § 17.604.210.A.1.c).

iv. The city council has considered the factors set forth in Sacramento City Code section

17.604.210.A.2 and determined those factors do not apply.

SECTION 2

A. The San Francisco Boulevard landmark is bounded by Stockton Boulevard to the west, 55th Street to the east, and the public right-of-way to the back of sidewalks to the north and south, as shown in Exhibit B.

Table of Contents:

Exhibit A: Significant Features and Characteristics
Exhibit B: Landmark Boundaries

EXHIBIT A

San Francisco Boulevard - Photographs

San Francisco Boulevard - Cross Section

Significant Features and Characteristics for San Francisco Boulevard include:
 A 21’ bidirectional central roadway (A).
 Two parallel 7-foot-wide median strips planted with a variety of trees and shrubs and prominently featuring California Fan Palm trees (B, C).  Two single lane 16 ½ -foot roadways that lie outside the medians (B).

 Side tree lawns (park strips) bordering the boulevard that feature grass lawns interspersed with deciduous shade trees (B, C).
 Sidewalks (C).

EXHIBIT B

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial
NRHP Status Code 7
Other Listings
Review Code Reviewer Date

Page 1 of 8 ends

P1. Other Identifier:
*P2. Location: Not for Publication ⌧ Unrestricted *a. County: Sacramento and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad: Sacramento East-unsectioned Date: 2012 T ; R ; ¼ of ¼ of Sec ; M.D. B.M.
c. Address: San Francisco Boulev ard City: Sacramento, CA Zip: 95820 d. UTM: Zone: 10 ; mE/ mN (G.P.S.)
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) Elevation:
*P3a. Descrip
tion: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) San Francisco Boulevard consists of six
blocks of a residential housing development, approximately 1700’ in length, organized around a boulevard made up of four lanes of travel with two parallel median strips. The boulevard begins at Stockton Boulevard on the west and ends at 55th Street on the east. A later segment of the roadway extends beyond 55th Street but does not continue the boulevard pattern. The central roadway is 21’ wide with one lane in each direction. The central roadway is flanked by two additional lanes of traffic, one in each direction, separated by the median strips. The medians are planted with a variety of trees and shrubs from various time periods. The side tree lawns (park strips) feature lawn interspersed with deciduous shade trees at relatively consistent spacing. Adjacent to the park strip is a sidewalk and the houses are set back from the sidewalk by anywhere from 10- 25’. The makeup of the current tree planting in the central median strips consists of Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm), Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) and possibly Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm). The original plantings on the median strips were a monoculture of Phoenix canariensis. There were six on each of the first three blocks, 12 on the fourth block and 10 on the fifth block in the 1993 aerial photograph. It is believed that the Phoenix canariensis are the remains of the original planting scheme for the boulevard. By March 2013, as few as 11% of the original palm trees were extant. *P3b. Resource Attributes: HP29-Landscape Architecture; HP-37-Highways/Trail *P4. Reso
urces Present: Building ⌧Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5b
. Description of Photo: View of plantings and medians
on San Francisco Boulevard.
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: ⌧Historic
Prehistoric Both
Ca. 1910
*P7. Owner and Address:

City of Sacramento
911 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
*P8. Recorded by: Melissa Mourkas, ASLA
Landscape Legacy
4932 12
th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95820
*P9. Date Reco
rded: May, 2013
*P10. Survey Type: Intensive
*P11. Report Citation: None
*A
ttachments: NONE ⌧Location Map Sketch Map
⌧Continuation Sheet ⌧Building, Structure, and Object
Record
Archaeological Record District Record ⌧Linear
Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):

DPR 523A
(1/95)
P5a. Photo or Drawing (Photo required for buildings, structures, and objects.)

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #
LINEAR FEATURE RECORD Trinomial

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L1. Historic and/or Common Name: San Francisco Boulevard L2a. Portion Described: ⌧ Entire Resource Segment Point Observation Designation:
b. Location of point or segment: (Provide UTM coordinates, legal description, and any other useful locational data. Show the area that has been field inspected on a Location Map)

L3. Description:

San Francisco Boulevard consists of 5 blocks of a residential housing developmen t, approximately 1700’ in length, organized around a boulevard made up of four lanes of travel with two parallel median strips. The boulevard begins at Stockton Boulevard on the west and ends at 55th Street on the east. A later segment of the roadway extends beyond 55th Street but does not continue the boulevard pattern. The central roadway is 21’ wide with one lane in each direction. The central roadway is flanked by two additional lanes of traffic, one in each direction, separated by the median strips . The medians are planted with a variety of trees and sh rubs from various time periods. The side tree lawns (park strips) f eature lawn interspersed with dec iduous shade trees at relatively consistent spacing. Adjacent to the park strip is a sidew alk and the houses are set back from the sidewalk by anywhere from 10- 25’.

L4. Dimensions:
(In feet for historic features and
meters for prehistoric features)
a. Top Width: 100’
b. Bottom Width:
c. Height or Depth:
d. Length of Segment: 1,700’
L5. Associated Resources:

Possible historic district TBD.

L6. Setting:
(Describe natural features, landscape
characteristics, slope, etc., as appropriate.)
The Boulevard is an early 20 th-Century residential subdivision. It is located east of Stockton Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in both the City and County of Sacramento. The terrain is flat with the exception of the raised medians at curb height.

L7. Integrity Considerations: Original date palms succumbed to disease and were replaced in 2013 with California fan palms, using the rehabilitation guidelines for Cultural Landscapes: Replacement of Deteriorated Historic Materials and Features. This does not compromise the overall integrity of the resource. 2013 work on the medians also removed non-original materials.

L8b. Description of Photo, Map,
or Drawing: Plan view, graphic
scale shown.

L9. Remarks:

Sketch maps L4e and L8a from
Jacobs et al-2000.

L10. Form Prepared by:

Melissa Mourkas, ASLA

L11. Date: May, 2013

DPR 523E (1/95)
L4e. Sketch of Cross-Section (not to scale) Facing: East L8a. Photograph, Map or Drawing

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
LOCATION MAP Trinomial

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*Map Name: USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle Sacramento East -unsectioned *Scale: 1:24000 (Original Scale) *Date of Map: 2012

San Francisco Boulevard

0 1
True North Kilometers
(each grid is one square kilometer)

DPR 523J (1/95) *Required information

DPR 523B (1/95) *Required information
State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#

BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD

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*Resource Name or # San Francisco Boulevard
B1. Historic Name: San Francisco Boulevard
B2. Common Name: San Francisco Boulevard
B3. Original Use: Residential Subdivision B4. Present Use: Residential Subdivision *B5. Architectural Style: New City Beautiful Planning Movement, Early 20th Century *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) Original Construction of roads, medians and tree plantings: ca 1910.

Alterations: 1990 to 2012:Shrubs and small concrete pads added to some medians. Diseased and dying palms replaced with multiple species of trees. 2013: Removal of remaining diseased Canary Island Palm trees and other non-original plantings and replaced with California Fan Palm trees.

*B7. Moved? ⌧No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:
*B8. Related Features:

Residential structures lining the boulevard dating from the period of significance and later.

B9a. Architect: Unknown b. Buil der: Colonial Investment Company *B10. Significance: Theme: 1. New City Beautiful Planning Movement, Early 20th Century Area: United States

2. Streetcar Suburbs, Early 20th Century Area: Sacramento Period of Significance: 1910 Property Type: Boulevard Applicable Criteria: 1,3. (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)

San Francisco Boulevard is a regional exam ple of the new city planning movement, an out growth of the Garden City movement of the late 19 th Century, coined by Ebenezer Howard in his 1898 book, Garden Cities of To-Morrow . Building upon the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. and Ebenezer Ho ward in planning entire communities, land scape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., were active in the design of cities and suburban subdivisions in the early 20 th Century. Sacram ento examples of planned residential communities include Boulevard Park (1905), portions of Land Park (College Tract-1920’-1930’s), various Wright and Kimbrough tracts in Tahoe Park and East Sacramento, Elmhurst, and t he entire subdivision known as Colonial Heights, of which San Francisco Boulevard is a se ction. Boulevard Park was a Wright and Kimbrough development featuring two broad boulevards with central medians on 21st and 22nd Streets. The center medians were planted with date palms at some point after the subdivision was laid out. College Tract was also a Wright and Kimbrough development which incl uded curvilinear streets laid out adjacent to the new city park, William Land Park. College Tract and other later subdivisions in Land Park broke from the grid that that defined Sacramento’s historic street pattern to date.

Colonial Heights, in which San Francisco Boulevard is locat ed, is also an example of one of Sacramento’s “streetcar suburbs”.

Like Oak Park, Colonial Heights was serviced by a streetcar line operated by the Central Calif ornia Traction Railroad (CCTR) th at traversed Stockton Boulevar d, originating in the dow ntown Sacramento to the north, and turning east on 21 st Avenue to Colonial
Acres and south to Stockton, CA. The CCT R operated passenger streetca rs until 1943, although at l east one source describes them as still operating on Stockt on Boulevard in 1959. The electr ic freight line continued in use of the railroad line until 19 66. The original developer for Colonial Heights was George Peltier. George Pe ltier had involvement with the building of the CCTR.

Development of the subdivision was later transferred to the J.C. Carly Company.

San Francisco Boulevard is eligible for the CRHR and for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic Resources. Under Criterion 1/A, it is associated with a broad pattern of early 20
th Century development that evolved from the New City Planning Movement and represents a type of devel opment that is characte ristic of the early 20 th Century. Under Criterion 3/C, it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, style, peri od or method of construction and is a dist inguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. The Boulevard has integrity of location, desi gn, setting, materials, work manship and association. It ha s aesthetic qualities consis tent with important movements in American park and boulevard design, and the layout of the roadway itself represents distinct ive characteristics in city street design. The r eplacement of the original diseased and dying palms w ith a replacement similar in habit, growth and in the same linear pa ttern meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation-Cultural Landscape Guidelines. It should be noted that with further survey work, there is the potential for a di strict nomination for San Francisco Boulevard and the residences that line it.

Additional historical context can be found on the continuation sheets.

B11.Additional Resource Attributes:
(List attributes and
codes) HP 29-Landscape Architecture, HP 37-
Highway/Trail.

(This space reserved for official comments.)
State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary # _________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# ______________________________________________

BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD

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DPR 523B-Test (8/94)

*B12. References:

Benassini-2012: Correspondence from Joe Benassini, Urban Forester, City of Sacramento. October, 2012.

Boghosian et al-2006: Paula Boghosian and Don Cox, Sacramento’s Boulevard Park , Arcadia Publishing, 2006.

Burg-2006: William Burg, Sacramento’s Streetcars
, Arcadia Publishing, 2006.

Burg-2013: William Burg. Personal correspondence re: Central California Traction Railroad, April 25, 2013.

Center for Sacramento History

Daffin et al-2013: Summary of research completed by Shirley Daffin, Chantou Lam, Andy Shepard, Rose Cabral and other members of the Colonial Heights Neighborhood Beautification Committee, e-mail to Melissa Mourkas and others, January 14, 2013.

Isidro-2005: Jocelyn Munroe Isidro, Sacramento’s Land Park , Arcadia Publishing, 2005.

Jacobs-1993: Allan Jacobs, Great Streets
, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993.

Jacobs et al-2000: Allan Jacobs, Cortus Koehler, San Francisco Boulevard, Journal of Urban Design, Vol. 5, No. 11, 3-18, 2000

Lynch-2006: George Gilbert Lynch, Rambling Rosedale, Quarterly Bulletin Kern County Historical Society, Fall 2006.

Mead and Hunt/PGA Design-2012: Cultural Landscape Survey and Evaluation of William Land Park , January, 2012.

Moffett-2012: Personal correspondence to Preservation Director from Preservation Commissioner Chad Moffett, October 16, 2012.

Mourkas-2012: Personal correspondence to Preservation Director from Preservation Commission Chair Melissa Mourkas, October 14, 2012.

Roper et al-2008: C. Kristina Roper, Jon L. Brady and Phillip Valejo. Chowchilla Historical Resources Reconnaissance Survey- Final Report, October, 2008.

Sacramento Archives-2008 (Center for Sacramento History): Sacramento’s Elmhurst, Tahoe Park and Colonial Heights , 2008.

Sacramento Union-1959: Vol. 216, No. 153: The Palmy Days Remain, September 13, 1959

B13. Remarks:

*B14. Evaluator: Melissa Mourkas, ASLA

*Date of Evaluation: May, 2013
(Sketch Map with north arrow required.)

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial

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*Recorded by: Melissa Mourkas, ASLA *Date: May, 2013 ⌧ Continuation Update Additional Historical Context

A single type of palm used as a median planting can be found in many early 20th century neighborhood streetscapes, mostly in southern California. Preliminary research on this particular subdivision and the development of the neighborhood indicates that the Boulevard’s double median strips, made from a relatively narrow central street flanked by two narrow side streets, and both medians originally planted with evenly-spaced Phoenix canariensis –Canary Island Date Palms – was part of the original subdivision plan, established in ca.1910.

San Francisco Boulevard, ca.1960. Courtesy of Center for Sacramento History.

Similar uses of palm tree allées for the purpose of enticing development was seen in the Cross of Palms, Rosedale Colony, an agricultural development established in Kern County, California, in 1889. The Kern Valley Land Company originally planted four hundred palm trees on both sides of Seventh Standard Road and Rudd Road, forming a cross shape when viewed in plan view.

Recent Google Earth Imagery indicates many of these palms are still extant. In 2006, an author counted 351 palms still in existence (Lynch-2006).

The Chowchilla Historic Resources Survey, (Roper, et al, 2008) describes a similarly unique roadway in Chowchilla, California:
“The most identifiable landmark in Chowchilla is the palm-tree lined Robertson Boulevard. The road is 12 miles long and the palm trees were planted at the direction of Orlando Robertson. While the Boulevard is not as majestic as other palm-lined throughways in the State, the trees provide Chowchilla residents with a valuable link to the past. Robertson Boulevard is signed as State Route 223 and is listed as a California Historic Landmark”.

Another example is East and West Las Palmas Avenue, in Patterson, CA, which originates in the town center and are lined with palm trees for several miles in each direction.

Boulevard design is quite varied throughout history but also a major design feature of many urban centers. The Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona has a double median/allée design, with the main lanes of traffic in the center flanked by side traffic lanes. Jacobs (Jacobs-1993) describes boulevards as going beyond their primary purpose of funneling automobiles and pedestrians. They may well serve as boundaries of districts or connections between areas of a city but they are often intimately experienced as small segments, as part of daily urban life or as special destinations. Avenue Montaigne in Paris exhibits a single allée of trees separating center traffic lanes from side parking lanes.

Locally, Boulevard Park (21
st-22nd Streets), T Street in Elmhurst and 21st Avenue feature distinctive wide center medians.

Broadway Street, in Oak Park, features a narrow center median planted with Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palms).

Use of palms in allées or linear plantings is also characteristic of the Central Valley’s agricultural heritage and farm development patterns. Many farmsteads were marked, or the property boundary delineated, by rows of palms. Often the driveway leading to the main residence and cluster of farm buildings are lined with palms.

DPR 523L (1/95)

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial

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Colonial Heights was originally a subdivision outside of Sacramento city limits that was developed to support the Central California Traction Railroad (CCTR), a street car and electric freight railroad company. Colonial Acres, east of Colonial Heights, was the terminus of the passenger service. The land was originally part of Sutter Township, and belonged to Frances Benton; it then became the property of Peter Roemer, who sold it to the Colonial Investment Company. Lots started selling on May 12, 1910.

George Peltier was the president of the Colonial Investment Company and this is verified through the county records (see Map 10, p. 37 at the Sacramento County Clerks’ office). Mr. Peltier is described as a Sacramento banker and developer of the Alhambra Theatre, and president of the Central California Traction Company. In 1913, the real estate firm of J. C. Carly Company took over the development. Mr. Roemer was a farmer and, until it was subdivided, the land he owned was described as a vast and beautiful vineyard. His home was on the land now known as the Greenbrier Motel, and a home still exists at the corner of Stockton Boulevard and Roemer Lane, part of the boundary of Colonial Heights. The home was known as Roemer’s Castle. A 1994 Sacramento Bee article described San Francisco Boulevard as “once the entry way to an old farming estate”, however there is no mention about the palms being present or whether the double median design was in use at the time of Roemer’s ownership.

Further research into Roemer’s history may shed light on this.

Colonial Heights was a suburb of Sacramento located in the unincorporated County and was annexed into the City in 1948. Its original 1910 boundaries were 15th Ave, Stockton Blvd, 58th Street, and extended to Fruitridge Ave. The original street names have all been changed except for San Francisco Boulevard; all of the streets were named after California counties or cities, except 21st Ave was called Colonial Ave.

The mature size and photographic documentation ca. 1960 verify that palms have been present in on San Francisco Boulevard in Colonial Heights for many years; however it has not been verified as to who designed the subdivision or the boulevard, other than the developer, Colonial Investment Company.

1915 Sanborn Map

1993 Aerial Image (Google Earth Historical imagery). Tree loss began after this photograph was taken.

DPR 523L (1/95)

State of California ⎯ The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial

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Railroad Map showing CCTR Rail Lines 1928.

May 2013 after re-planting with Washingtonia filifera.

DPR 523L (1/95) *Required information

HISTORIC AMERICAN LANDSCAPES SURVEY

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
Sacramento, California
HALS NO. XX-##

Location: San Francisco Boulevard is a six-block segment of road, beginning at Stockton Boulevard at the west end and extending to 55th Street at the east end. The center point of the boulevard is located at Latitude 38.537160°, Longitude - 121.445333° (Google Earth). The boulevard is located in the City of Sacramento, within the County of Sacramento, California.

Significance: Themes: 1). New City Beautiful Planning Movement, Early 20th Century; 2). Streetcar Suburbs, Early 20th Century. Period of Significance: 1910.

Building upon the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. and Ebenezer Howard in planning entire communities, landscape architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., were active in the design of cities and suburban subdivisions in the early 20th Century. Sacramento examples of planned residential communities include Boulevard Park (1905), portions of Land Park (College Tract-1920’- 1930’s), various Wright and Kimbrough tracts in Tahoe Park and East Sacramento, Elmhurst, and the entire subdivision known as Colonial Heights, in which San Francisco Boulevard is located. Boulevard Park was a Wright and Kimbrough development featuring two broad boulevards with central medians on 21st and 22nd Streets. The center medians were planted with date palms at some point after the subdivision was laid out. College Tract was also a Wright and Kimbrough development which included curvilinear streets laid out adjacent to the new city park, William Land Park. College Tract and other later subdivisions in Land Park broke from the grid that that defined Sacramento’s historic street pattern to date.

Colonial Heights, in which San Francisco Boulevard is located, is also an example of one of Sacramento’s “streetcar suburbs”. Like Oak Park, Colonial Heights was serviced by a streetcar line operated by the Central California Traction Railroad (CCTR) that traversed Stockton Boulevard, originating in the downtown Sacramento to the north, and turning east on 21st Avenue to Colonial Acres and south to Stockton, CA. The CCTR operated passenger streetcars until 1943, although at least one source describes them as still operating on Stockton Boulevard in 1959. The electric freight line continued in use of the railroad line until 1966. The original developer for Colonial Heights was George Peltier.

George Peltier had involvement with the building of the CCTR. Development of the subdivision was later transferred to the J.C. Carly Company.

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Description: San Francisco Boulevard consists of six blocks of a residential housing development, approximately 1700’ in length, organized around a boulevard made up of four lanes of travel with two parallel median strips. The boulevard begins at Stockton Boulevard on the west and ends at 55th Street on the east. A later segment of the roadway extends beyond 55th Street but does not continue the boulevard pattern. The central roadway is 21’ wide with one lane in each direction. The central roadway is flanked by two 16’6” wide additional lanes of traffic, one in each direction, separated by 7’ wide median strips. The medians are planted with a variety of trees and shrubs from various time periods. The side tree lawns (park strips) feature lawn interspersed with deciduous shade trees at relatively consistent spacing. Adjacent to the park strip is a sidewalk and the houses are set back from the sidewalk by anywhere from 10-25’. The makeup of the current tree planting in the central median strips consists of Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm), Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) and possibly Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm). The original plantings on the median strips were a monoculture of Phoenix canariensis. There were six on each of the first three blocks, 12 on the fourth block and 10 on the fifth block according to a 1993 aerial photograph. It is believed that the Phoenix canariensis are the remains of the original planting scheme for the boulevard. By March 2013, as few as 11% of the original palm trees were extant. A decision was made in 2013 by city staff (Preservation Director Roberta Deering and Urban Forest Manager Joe Benassini) in consultation with Preservation Commission members Chad Moffett and Melissa Mourkas that the diseased and dying date palms may be replaced under the guidance of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards with a similar species, the California fan palm. Management of the date palms had become difficult for the city’s urban forestry staff and the California fan palms are an easier species to manage at that scale. As of 2019, all of the remaining date palms have been replaced with California fan palms. Over time, as newly planted palms reach their mature size, it is expected that all of the fan palms along the boulevard will be of the same size and height.

San Francisco Boulevard is eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) and for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic Resources. Under CRHR Criterion 1, it is associated with a broad pattern of early 20th Century development that evolved from the New City Planning Movement and represents a type of development that is characteristic of the early 20th Century. Under Criterion 3, it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, style, period or method of construction and is a distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. The Boulevard has integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. It has aesthetic qualities consistent with important movements in American park and boulevard design, and the layout of the roadway itself represents distinctive characteristics in city street design. The primary character-defining features are the four distinct travel lanes and a central double median planted with an alleé of

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
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palms. The 2013 and ongoing replacement of the original diseased and dying date palms with a replacement similar in habit, growth and in the same linear pattern meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation-Cultural Landscape Guidelines. It should be noted that with further survey work, there is the potential for a historic district nomination for San Francisco Boulevard and the residences that line it.

History: San Francisco Boulevard was constructed by the Colonial Investment Company, ca. 1910. Colonial Heights was originally a subdivision outside of Sacramento city limits that was developed to support the Central California Traction Railroad (CCTR), a street car and electric freight railroad company. Colonial Acres, east of Colonial Heights, was the terminus of the passenger service. The land was originally part of Sutter Township, and belonged to Frances Benton; it then became the property of Peter Roemer, who sold it to the Colonial Investment Company. Lots started selling on May 12, 1910. George Peltier was the president of the Colonial Investment Company and this is verified through county records (see Map 10, p. 37 at the Sacramento County Clerks’ office). Mr.

Peltier is described as a Sacramento banker and developer of the Alhambra Theatre, and president of the Central California Traction Company. In 1913, the real estate firm of J. C. Carly Company took over the development. Mr. Roemer was a farmer and, until it was subdivided, the land he owned was described as a vast and beautiful vineyard. His home was on the land now home to The Greens Hotel, and a home still exists at the corner of Stockton Boulevard and Roemer Lane, part of the boundary of Colonial Heights. The home was known as Roemer’s Castle. A 1994 Sacramento Bee article described San Francisco Boulevard as “once the entry way to an old farming estate”, however there is no mention about the palms being present or whether the double median design was in use at the time of Roemer’s ownership. Further research into Roemer’s history may shed light on this.

Colonial Heights was a suburb of Sacramento located in the unincorporated County and was annexed into the City in 1948. Its original 1910 boundaries were 15th Avenue, Stockton Boulevard, 58th Street, and extended to Fruitridge Avenue. The original street names have all been changed except for San Francisco Boulevard; all of the streets were named after California counties or cities, except 21st Avenue was called Colonial Avenue.

The mature size of the remaining date palms on San Francisco Boulevard and photographic documentation ca. 1960 verify that palms have been present in on San Francisco Boulevard in Colonial Heights for many years; however it has not been verified as to who designed the subdivision or the boulevard, other than the developer, Colonial Investment Company.

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Additional Historical Context: Similar uses of palm tree allées for the purpose of enticing development was seen in the Cross of Palms, Rosedale Colony, an agricultural development established in Kern County, California, in 1889. The Kern Valley Land Company originally planted four hundred palm trees on both sides of Seventh Standard Road and Rudd Road, forming a cross shape when viewed in plan view. Recent Google Earth Imagery indicates many of these palms are still extant. In 2006, an author counted 351 palms still in existence (Lynch-2006).

The Chowchilla Historic Resources Survey, (Roper, et al, 2008) describes a similarly unique roadway in Chowchilla, California: “The most identifiable landmark in Chowchilla is the palm-tree lined Robertson Boulevard. The road is 12 miles long and the palm trees were planted at the direction of Orlando Robertson. While the Boulevard is not as majestic as other palm-lined throughways in the State, the trees provide Chowchilla residents with a valuable link to the past. Robertson Boulevard is signed as State Route 223 and is listed as a California Historic Landmark”.

Another example is East and West Las Palmas Avenue, in Patterson, CA, which originates in the town center and is lined with palm trees for several miles in each direction.

Locally in Sacramento, Boulevard Park (21st-22nd Streets), T Street in Elmhurst and 21st Avenue feature distinctive wide center medians. Broadway Street, in Oak Park, features a narrow center median planted with Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palms).

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
HALS NO. XX-##
PAGE 5

Sources: Benassini-2012: Correspondence from Joe Benassini, Urban Forest Manager, City of Sacramento. October, 2012.

Boghosian et al-2006: Paula Boghosian and Don Cox, Sacramento’s Boulevard Park, Arcadia Publishing, 2006.

Burg-2006: William Burg, Sacramento’s Streetcars, Arcadia Publishing, 2006.

Burg-2013: William Burg. Personal correspondence re: Central California Traction Railroad, April 25, 2013.

Center for Sacramento History

Isidro-2005: Jocelyn Munroe Isidro, Sacramento’s Land Park, Arcadia Publishing, 2005.

Jacobs-1993: Allan Jacobs, Great Streets, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993.

Jacobs et al-2000: Allan Jacobs, Cortus Koehler, San Francisco Boulevard, Journal of Urban Design, Vol. 5, No. 11, 3-18, 2000

Lynch-2006: George Gilbert Lynch, Rambling Rosedale, Quarterly Bulletin Kern County Historical Society, Fall 2006.

Mead and Hunt/PGA Design-2012: Cultural Landscape Survey and Evaluation of William Land Park, January, 2012.

Moffett-2012: Personal correspondence to Preservation Director from Preservation Commissioner Chad Moffett, October 16, 2012.

Mourkas-2012: Personal correspondence to Preservation Director from Preservation Commission Chair Melissa Mourkas, October 14, 2012.

Mourkas-2013: California Department of Recreation Primary Record Form, San Francisco Boulevard. On file at California Historic Information System, North Central Information Center, Sacramento, CA. May, 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
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Roper et al-2008: C. Kristina Roper, Jon L. Brady and Phillip Valejo.

Chowchilla Historical Resources Reconnaissance Survey- Final Report, October, 2008.

Sacramento Archives-2008 (Center for Sacramento History): Sacramento’s Elmhurst, Tahoe Park and Colonial Heights, 2008.

Sacramento Union-1959: Vol. 216, No. 153: The Palmy Days Remain, September 13, 1959

Historian: Melissa Mourkas
CA LA #5139

July 22, 2019

Some of the original Phoenix canariensis (date palms) extant in 2013 (Mourkas, 5/2013).

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
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View of remaining Phoenix canariensis, fan palm replacements prior to 2013 and median plantings (Mourkas 5/2013).

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
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May 2013 after re-planting portions of the boulevard with Washingtonia filifera (California fan palms) (Mourkas, 5/2013).

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
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PAGE 9

View of the center two-way travel lane with flanking side lanes. By 2019, all of the date palms have been replaced with fan palms. The varying heights of the fan palms are expected to equalize over time. (Mourkas 7/2019).

RELEASE AND ASSIGNMENT

I, Melissa Mourkas, am the owner, or am authorized to act on behalf of the owner, of the materials described below including but not limited to copyright therein, that the National Park Service has requested to use, reproduce, and make available as public domain materials at the Library of Congress as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record collections. (If not the sole copyright owner, please specify in the space below any additional permissions needed to grant these rights.) I hereby transfer and assign to the National Park Service any and all rights including but not limited to copyrights in the materials specified below.

Survey Number: HALS No. _________

SAN FRANCISCO BOULEVARD
HALS NO. XX-##
PAGE 10

Types of Materials (please check all that apply):

Photographs _X_ Illustrations ____ Textual materials _X_ Oral History/Interviews ____ Audiotape ____ Videotape ____ Other (describe) _____________________________

Detailed Description of Materials (attach additional pages if necessary):

HALS Short Format Historical Report for San Francisco Boulevard:_All photographs taken by the author, Melissa Mourkas.

Disposition of Materials After Use (please check one): ____ Return to owner _X_ May be retained

_____________________________ ________________________ ___________ Name (please print) Signature Date
Melissa Mourkas July 22, 2019
Address Telephone Number
_____________________________
Organization You Represent If Applicable

1 Sean deCourcy
From: Deenie H. <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 1:34 PM
To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: KC Schuft
Subject: San Francisco Blvd
July 23, 2024
Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3 rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register
Dear Director de Courcy,
San Francisco Boulevard is an important local landmark for the City of Sacramento, and the Colonial Heights community, where it became the grand entrance to the neighborhood in 1910, leading home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to lots for sale.

San Francisco Boulevard is eligible for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources and received a Determination of Eligibility from the City of Sacramento’s Preservation Director, Roberta Deering, in 2013, after the City received an evaluation of the property by historian Melissa Mourkas. But because the nomination was not moved forward for review by the Preservation Commission and City Council, this institutional knowledge was lost after Director Deering retired. In the summer of 2024, Urban Forestry staff removed six trees from the boulevard, because they were under the impression that the property was not historic. Please move forward with a determination of eligibility and recommend that the Preservation Commission review the property for their recommendation to the City Council.

It is a beautiful Boulevard which generations of Sacramentans have enjoyed, whether or not one lives in the Colonial Heights neighborhood. There is so much history in Sacramento that should be preserved and cherished. Why are we so quick to destroy such things? Don’t take this from us. I implore you to offer your support for this cause.

Sincerely,
Denise Humenik
5504 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
From: Hans Van Horn
To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: Emma Siverson; Jon “THE CHIN” Kline; KC Schuft
Subject: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:38:21 AM
Hans Van Horn
5011 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
[email protected]
(812) 345-6981
July 24, 2024
Sean de Courcy
Preservation Director
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
RE: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register Dear Director de Courcy,
I am writing to underscore the significance of San Francisco Boulevard as an invaluable landmark within the City of Sacramento and the Colonial Heights community. Established in 1910, this historic boulevard served as a grand entrance to the neighborhood, guiding prospective home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to the lots for sale, thereby playing a crucial role in the area's development and historical narrative.

San Francisco Boulevard’s eligibility for inclusion in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources was confirmed in 2013 by Preservation Director Roberta Deering, following a thorough evaluation conducted by historian Melissa Mourkas. Regrettably, the nomination process was not advanced for review by the Preservation Commission and City Council. Consequently, the crucial institutional knowledge regarding the boulevard’s historic status was lost upon Director Deering’s retirement. This oversight has recently led to the unfortunate removal of six trees by Urban Forestry staff under the mistaken belief that the property lacked historic significance.

In light of these developments, I earnestly request that you revisit the determination of eligibility for San Francisco Boulevard. I strongly urge you to recommend that the Preservation Commission review this property and advocate for its listing in the Sacramento Register. Recognizing and preserving San Francisco Boulevard will not only honor our city's rich historical heritage but also prevent further inadvertent damage to this important landmark.

Your support in safeguarding this piece of Sacramento's history is invaluable. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to ensure San Francisco Boulevard receives the recognition and protection it rightfully deserves.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
Hans Van Horn, JD
Colonial Heights Neighborhood Resident
1 Sean deCourcy
From: Hans Van Horn <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:38 AM
To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: Emma Siverson; Jon “THE CHIN” Kline; KC Schuft
Subject: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register Hans Van Horn
5011 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
[email protected]
(812) 345‐6981
July 24, 2024

Sean de Courcy
Preservation Director
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]

RE: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register

Dear Director de Courcy,

I
am writing to underscore the significance of San Francisco Boulevard as an invaluable landmark within the City of Sacramento and the Colonial Heights community. Established in 1910, this historic boulevard served as a grand entrance to the neighborhood, guiding prospective home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to the lots for sale, thereby playing a crucial role in the area's development and historical narrative.

In light of these developments, I earnestly request that you revisit the determination of eligibility for San Francisco Boulevard. I strongly urge you to recommend that the Preservation Commission review this property and advocate for its listing in the Sacramento Register. Recognizing and preserving San Francisco Boulevard will not only honor our city's
rich historical heritage but also prevent further inadvertent damage to this important landmark.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Hans Van Horn, JD
2 Colonial Heights Neighborhood Resident

From: Deenie H.

To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: KC Schuft
Subject: San Francisco Blvd
Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 1:34:24 PM
July 23, 2024
Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3 rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register

Dear Director de Courcy,

San Francisco Boulevard is an important local landmark for the City of Sacramento, and the Colonial Heights community, where it became the grand entrance to the neighborhood in 1910, leading home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to lots for sale.

Sincerely,
Denise Humenik
5504 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
From: Celia Glacken
To: Sean deCourcy
Subject: Preservation of San Francisco Blvd as Historical Landmark site Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 2:57:15 PM
Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]

RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register

Dear Director de Courcy,

Sincerely,
Celia Glacken
Colonial Heights Resident
From: Hans Van Horn
To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: Emma Siverson; Jon “THE CHIN” Kline; KC Schuft
Subject: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:38:21 AM
Hans Van Horn
5011 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820
[email protected]
(812) 345-6981
July 24, 2024
Sean de Courcy
Preservation Director
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]
RE: Request for Recognition and Preservation of San Francisco Boulevard in the Sacramento Register Dear Director de Courcy,
I am writing to underscore the significance of San Francisco Boulevard as an invaluable landmark within the City of Sacramento and the Colonial Heights community. Established in 1910, this historic boulevard served as a grand entrance to the neighborhood, guiding prospective home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to the lots for sale, thereby playing a crucial role in the area's development and historical narrative.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
Hans Van Horn, JD
Colonial Heights Neighborhood Resident

July 30, 2024

Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]

RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register

Dear Director de Courcy,

I moved to Sacramento as a child in 1968, away in 1970 and returned in 1979 and have been here ever since. I have always noticed and admired San Francisco Boulevard as an exceptional street in Sacramento. It has a unique character all its own and always has since it was built around 1910. Only the midtown street I call Boulevard Park has a similar feel, but none compares to San Francisco Boulevard. The split streets, center divides with abundant palm trees is far more appealing and attractive than any other historic street in Sacramento. San Francisco Boulevard is an important local landmark for the City of Sacramento, and the Colonial Heights community, where it became the grand entrance to the neighborhood in 1910, leading home buyers from the streetcar line on Stockton Boulevard to lots for sale.

It is my understanding that San Francisco Boulevard is eligible for listing in the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources and received a Determination of Eligibility from the City of Sacramento’s Preservation Director, Roberta Deering, in 2013, after the City received an evaluation of the property by historian Melissa Mourkas.

But because the nomination was not moved forward for review by the Preservation Commission and City Council, this institutional knowledge was lost after Director Deering retired.

In the summer of 2024, Urban Forestry staff removed six trees from the boulevard, because they were under the impression that the property was not historic. Please move forward with a determination of eligibility and recommend that the Preservation Commission review the property for their recommendation to City Council.

It is imperative that San Francisco Boulevard be preserved for Sacramento history.

Sincerely,

Rick C. Yadon
5208 15th Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95820
From: Robby Naim
To: Sean deCourcy
Subject: RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024 8:02:25 PM
July 27, 2024

Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]

Dear Director de Courcy,

Sincerely,

Robby Naim
Creative Designer
T: 415.994.9613 | robbynaim.com | Instagram |
From: KC Schuft
To: Burg, William@Parks
Cc: Sean deCourcy; SHIRLEY DAFFIN; Melissa Mourkas; Bruce Monighan; Greg Sandlund; Philip Norton; Henry Feuss; CH Coalition; John Boyer Subject: Re: San Francisco Blvd Landmark Nomination
Date: Saturday, July 27, 2024 9:23:23 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Hi Sean!
I spoke at the July meeting. Thank you so much for your interest and supportive info in your email. We will have many more letters coming through supporting this effort to make SF Blvd a historical landmark, including my own.

I hope you can attend the round table on August 10! I think you’ll be a wealth of information to assist us in making this happen. SF Blvd is very important to this community, and we’d also love your feedback on Stockton Blvd, which has been unbelievably neglected south of Broadway for many years.

Thanks again,
KC Schuft
Senior Executive Associate, REALTOR
Cal DRE: 01938861
Masters Club Life Member
Lyon Real Estate - Sierra Oaks
916-502-0243
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 26, 2024, at 10:40 AM, William BURG <[email protected]> wrote:

Preservation Sacramento is holding our next Preservation Roundtable on Saturday, August 10, 9 AM-11 AM at Community Shop Class, 3818 Stockton Boulevard, and San Francisco Boulevard (as well as historic properties in the area) will be the focus of this Roundtable; pending your availability, we'd greatly appreciate having City staff present to discuss this issue. Coffee by Cà Phê Ru and bagels/empanadas by Forgotten Bakery will be provided.

On 07/26/2024 9:24 AM PDT Sean deCourcy <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Shirley,

Thank you for all the comments about San Francisco Boulevard and its potential eligibility as a historic landscape district. I’ve attached the comments I’ve received.

Following the public testimony at the last Preservation Commission meeting, I am considering placing the item on the Preservation Commission agenda for their next meeting on September 18th. This would be a review and comment opportunity for the Commission so that staff can gain feedback on the potential eligibility of the streetscape to be listed on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.

Please let me know if you have any questions,

Sean de Courcy
Preservation Director
Community Development Department
City of Sacramento
300 Richards Boulevard, Third Floor
Sacramento, California 95811
E-mail: [email protected]
916.808.2796 (direct)
916.662.2626 (mobile)

Interested in LGBTQ+ History in Sacramento? Visit our project webpage to learn more!

From: SHIRLEY DAFFIN <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2024 10:50 AM
To: Sean deCourcy <[email protected]>
Cc: Burg, William@Parks <[email protected]>; Melissa Mourkas <[email protected]>; KC Schuft <[email protected]> Subject: San Francisco Blvd Landmark Nomination

Hello Mr de Courcy,

No doubt you have received a few emails by now from Colonial Heights residents regarding the nomination of SF Blvd (my shorthand) to the Sacramento Register. I hope they will show you our passion and commitment to this endeavor, as it is a wonderful cause and a reflection of the affection and high regard we have for our small neighborhood and its singularly designed entryway.

I have attached an article from the Sacramento Bee, dated September 4, 1994. When I bought my house on SF Blvd in 2004, this xeroxed copy was given to me by the seller, a lovely woman who really didn't want to sell but was convinced by her family to move to the suburbs (a mistake; I heard she soon moved back—to Colonial Heights). She cherished San Francisco Blvd, just as much as I do now, 20 years later. I can't imagine the boulevard without its unique double row of palms, yet I and my neighbors have to remain ever vigilant for that possibility and actuality without the protection of landmark status that nomination and acceptance to the Sacramento Register confers.

I have also attached a letter which I think will explain how the former Preservation Director Roberta Deering and Melissa Mourkas became involved with the Colonial Heights Neighborhood Association Beautification Committee in 2012-2013. As you will see from that letter, residents on SF Blvd have a strong affinity for the special and unique appeal of our hidden gem. The boulevard provides a strong sense of community and pride of location to us and is a source of pleasant astonishment to the many people who visit here.

Lastly, I will quote from the newspaper article:

"There is magic to great streets, Jacobs wrote. We are attracted to the best of them not because we have to be there but because we want to be there.

The best are as joyful as they are utilitarian."

I have heard that there may not be a Preservation Commission meeting in August if there are not enough agenda items for that meeting. We had planned to attend that meeting with a presentation regarding the nomination; I hope that this meeting occurs, even if we are the only ones on the docket. It will be a pleasant evening, I promise and give the commission plenty of time to ask questions and consider our request.

Sincerely,

Shirley Daffin
5330 San Francisco Blvd
7076312069

From: Tisha
To: Sean deCourcy
Cc: KC Schuft
Subject: SF Blvd - Colonial Heights
Date: Sunday, July 28, 2024 11:11:38 AM
July 28, 2024

Sean,

Please move forward with a determination of eligibility and recommend that the Preservation Commission review the
property for their recommendation to City Council. Thank you for your interest in helping Colonial Heights.

Thank you!

Tisha Milanovich
-Homeowner in Colonial Heights since 2000
July 30, 2024

Preservation Director Sean de Courcy
300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
[email protected]

RE: Please Find San Francisco Boulevard Eligible for Listing in the Sacramento Register

Dear Director de Courcy,

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn and Christopher Jones
5101 San Francisco Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95820

Sacramento City CouncilApril 22, 2025

Sacramento City Council
April 22, 2025