City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to approve the historic North Sacramento School located at 670 Dixieanne Ave. as a landmark on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.
The building had already been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the California Register of Historical Resources in March 2021.
“The designation is a key tool in the City’s economic, environmental and planning strategy,” said Preservation Director Sean de Courcy. “As a landmark, the building will be eligible for financial incentives, including both federal and state rehabilitation tax credits, which are in place to promote the ownership, maintenance, and restoration of historic properties.”
The 100-year-old North Sacramento School is significant for its association with the foundation, growth, and development of the city of North Sacramento, which was annexed into the City of Sacramento in 1964.
With construction beginning on the building in 1915, the North Sacramento School District was created to encourage families with children to purchase property in the city of North Sacramento, serving as a major driver of population growth in the area.
Originally, the school was designed by prominent architect Clarence C. Cuff, known for the Merrium Apartments and Guild Theater, and is a rare example of Cuff’s utilization of Spanish-inspired design.
Shortly after initial construction, significant additions to the building were designed by architects E.C. Hemmings, and Dean and Dean. All creative architects who designed some of the most important landmarks in Sacramento, such as the Memorial Auditorium and the Elks’ Tower.
“This project will serve as part of the revitalization of North Sacramento to maintain its historic character,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg during the council meeting. “At the same time, to be another potential economic development project in North Sacramento.”
The Twin Rivers Unified School District is the school’s current property owner and is actively seeking a buyer interested in repurposing the building and developing the surrounding site.
