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Save a Sacramento Landmark: Why Your Voice Matters for El Dorado Elementary
There is a special beauty to buildings created with care, craftsmanship, and purpose. When thoughtful design and community values come together, a building becomes more than a structure—it becomes part of a neighborhood’s identity.
Few places embody that spirit more than historic El Dorado Elementary School in East Sacramento.
For generations, El Dorado has been a neighborhood landmark, gathering place, and cherished part of the lives of thousands of Sacramento families.
Designed by the renowned Sacramento architectural firm Dean & Dean, El Dorado is part of an architectural legacy that helped shape Sacramento. The firm designed some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, the Sutter Club, Westminster Presbyterian Church, and numerous schools. Preserving El Dorado means preserving a tangible piece of Sacramento’s architectural heritage.
Today, its future stands at a critical crossroads.
As Sacramento faces growing development pressures, properties like El Dorado become increasingly attractive for redevelopment. While development has an important role in our city, El Dorado represents something that cannot be replaced once it is lost.
Community members are currently working to secure historic designation for the campus through the Sacramento City Unified School District’s 7-11 Committee process. At a recent meeting, Preservation Sacramento’s William Burg encouraged supporters to ask the district to submit letters of support to both the City of Sacramento Historic Preservation Office and the California State Historic Preservation Office.
The next 7-11 Committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at El Dorado Elementary/McClaskey. If recommendations move forward, they may be presented to the School Board on June 18 at the Serna Center.
This is a pivotal moment. Whether you are a neighbor, former student, parent, educator, or preservation advocate, your voice matters.
Take Action Now
• Ask Sacramento City Unified School District to support historic designation for El Dorado Elementary.
• Send a letter to the City of Sacramento Historic Preservation Office.
• Send a letter to the California State Historic Preservation Office.
Historic places connect us to our past and help tell the story of who we are. By speaking up now, we can help ensure that El Dorado’s legacy endures for future generations.
Three Ways You Can Help
1. Attend the June 10, 7-11 Committee Meeting and Speak in Support of Preservation
Community participation matters. Attend the next 7-11 Committee meeting and share why preserving El Dorado Elementary School is important to you and to Sacramento’s history.
7-11 Committee Meeting
June 10, 2026
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
McClaskey Adult Education Center – Room 3
5241 J Street
Sacramento, CA
2. Ask SCUSD Leaders to Support Historic Designation
Please email School District representatives and encourage them to submit formal letters of support for the historic designation of El Dorado Elementary School/A. Warren McClaskey Adult Education Center.
SCUSD Representatives
Jasjit Singh
jasjit-singh@scusd.edu
Nathaniel Browning
Nathaniel-Browning@scusd.edu
Chris Ralston
chris-ralston@scusd.edu
Suggested Message:
As a community member, neighbor, former student, parent, or preservation supporter, I urge SCUSD to formally support the historic preservation nomination of El Dorado Elementary School/A. Warren McClaskey Adult Education Center. This landmark has served Sacramento families for more than a century and remains an important part of East Sacramento’s architectural and educational heritage. A letter of support from the District would help ensure that this treasured community asset can continue serving future generations.
3. Send Letters of Support to City and State Preservation Officials
City of Sacramento Historic Preservation Office
Sean de Courcy, Historic Preservation Officer
sdecourcy@cityofsacramento.org
Subject Line:
El Dorado Elementary School / A. Warren McClaskey Adult Education Center’s Nomination to Register as a Historical Place
California State Historical Resources Commission
Email: calshpo.shrc@parks.ca.gov
Mail:
State Historical Resources Commission
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Please include in the subject line:
El Dorado Elementary School / A. Warren McClaskey Adult Education Center Nomination — August 28, 2026 SHRC Hearing
CC:
Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum — ppluckebaum@cityofsacramento.org
District 4 Office — district4@cityofsacramento.org
Suggested Message:
I support the nomination of El Dorado Elementary School/A. Warren McClaskey Adult Education Center for historic designation. For many years, the campus has served as an educational and community landmark in East Sacramento. Its architectural significance, educational history, and role in neighborhood life make it worthy of preservation and recognition. I respectfully urge approval of this nomination and support efforts to protect this important piece of Sacramento’s heritage.
Important Dates
• June 24 — Sacramento Preservation Commission Hearing
• August 28 — State Historical Resources Commission Hearing
• Final Sacramento City Council consideration is anticipated in August.
A prompt response is important. Letters submitted now will help demonstrate broad community support as the nomination moves through the review process.
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February 12: A Critical Hearing for East Sacramento
February 12: A Critical Hearing for East Sacramento
The Alhambra Redevelopment Project (P24-007), known as the former Mary Ann’s Bakery, will be heard at the February 12, 2026 meeting of the Planning and Design Commission. This hearing is a key opportunity for residents to provide direct, on-the-record input before the project moves further through the approval process.
Hearing details:
- Date: February 12, 2026
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Location: Council Chambers, New City Hall, 1st Floor
915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Residents who are concerned about this project are strongly encouraged to attend.
Why Attendance Matters
This redevelopment targets the East Sacramento Casa Loma Terrace neighborhood, a small residential area vulnerable to excessive infill development. Projects like this do not stop at one location—they set precedents.
If this can happen here, where is the next target? On your block?
Early hearings are where decision-makers gauge public concern. Numbers matter. A strong turnout demonstrates that East Sacramento residents are engaged and expect development that respects neighborhood scale and character.
Learn More and Stay Involved
For additional background, updates, and ways to stay engaged, residents are encouraged to visit:
SAVE EAST SAC
https://www.saveeastsac.org/
About the Materials Below
The graphics below provide:
- A visual representation of the proposed project
- The neighborhood’s position opposing the project
- A letter from East Sacramento Preservation detailing its support for opposing the project
ESP, Inc., PO Box 191763, Sacramento, CA 95819
February 4, 2026
City of Sacramento
Planning and Design Commission
915 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Project Number P24-007 (Alhambra Redevelopment Project)
Dear City of Sacramento, Planning and Design Commissioners:
East Sacramento Preservation, Inc. (ESP) is a Sacramento Neighborhood Association that is writing in opposition of the proposed development of Project number P24-007 (Alhambra Redevelopment Project), at Alhambra and C and D Streets.
The ESP board has reviewed a brief update of the project. It shows that now more units have been added and fewer parking spaces on site. This means more cars will be flowing into already narrow and congested neighborhood streets for their parking needs. I am assuming that each unit will have a minimum of 2 cars. This translates to about 500-600 cars without designated or available onsite parking spaces will overflow into the contiguous neighborhoods.
While on traffic, these same cars will add to the already congested and backed up traffic waiting to get onto the East bound Business-80 freeway at the on-ramp at 30th and E Streets. Presently we are seeing traffic stacked from 30th street backed onto McKinley Blvd to Alhambra Blvd. and wrapping around the intersection onto the north side of Alhambra from McKinley Blvd. What are the traffic engineers saying about this impaction?
The other major concern about this project is the lack of height restriction to 3 stories high in keeping with the Alhambra Corridor Special Regulations and Restrictions Code (cited below). Remember these “infill” projects are to be “in keeping with the existing residential neighborhoods. How is a residential development of 6-stories complementary to single family one-storied small residential homes?
17.420.020 Alhambra Corridor special regulations and restrictions.
B. Residential preservation transition buffer zone.
1. General rule. Except as provided below, development located within 300 feet of a residential zone (measured from the street centerline) shall not exceed 35 feet in height. This restriction is intended to establish a buffer zone to protect residential neighborhoods from visual intrusion by new development that is out of scale with the adjacent residential neighborhood.
2. Exception. The planning and design commission may approve a conditional use permit allowing additional height, provided that the height may not exceed the limits established by the applicable base zoning chapter. To approve the conditional use permit, the planning and design commission must find that the development will not be out of scale with the adjacent residential neighborhood. An example where the intent of the buffer zone is maintained while allowing additional height is a development incorporating design features or step-backs that reduce the walled effect on adjacent smaller-scaled residential development.
ESP wants to be included in all correspondence and information regarding the Mary Ann’s Bakery Project (P24-007). Also, ESP would like to be informed of any community outreach meeting that may be planned by the developer or City of Sacramento for this project. Please email to martinpalomar@yahoo.com and wrldwdwil9@gmail.com
How is this P24-007 in Keeping with the Code?
ESP would like a response from you regarding our stated concerns.
Respectfully,
Martin Palomar Will Green
East Sacramento Preservation, Inc.
Martin Palomar, Pres. / martinpalomar@yahoo.com
Will Green, M.D. Treas. / wrldwdwil9@gmail.com
Posted in Developments, Uncategorized
Tagged Casa Loma Terrace, East Sacramento Preservation, Mary Ann Bakery
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