What: The Greenest Building Documentary Film, followed by a panel discussion on the connections between historic preservation, green building and economic sustainability. When: Monday, July 25 at 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Movie 7:00 PM, discussion panel 8:00 PM) Where: The Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento How Much: Free! Over the next 20 years, Americans will demolish one third of our existing building stock (over 82 billion square feet) in order to replace seemingly inefficient buildings with energy efficient “green” structures. Is demolition in the name of sustainability really the best use of natural, social, and economic resources? Or, like the urban renewal programs of the 1960’s, i

The Sacramento Preservation Commission took an important step toward protecting the River District's history Wednesday by recommending creation of a new historic district and designation of other properties as landmarks. The commission's six present members voted unanimously to recommend the Sacramento City Council create the North 16th Street Historic District and add nine properties found elsewhere in the River District to the Sacramento Register of Historic & Cultural Resources. At the same time, the commission postponed a decision on whether to start the historic landmark nomination process for the state printing plant at Seventh Street and Richards Boulevard. The building was design

The Sacramento City Council is expected on Tuesday to consider providing city landmark status to a fire bell that was rung to mark historic events such as Lincoln's assassination and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. At the meeting, the council is expected to also consider that designation for the Hall, Luhrs & Co. building constructed in 1885 at 914 Second St. The wholesale grocer was one of the first to ship fresh fruit cross-country and did so using refrigerated rail cars and ice quarried from the Sierra Nevada mountains, according to a city staff report. The city's Preservation Commission nominated both for the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources. La

A community activist who was at the center of a campaign to maintain Sacramento’s historic Memorial Auditorium has died. Richard LaVoie of Sacramento died April 2 from heart failure. He was 48. LaVoie was the organizer of a campaign in the early 1990s to renovate Memorial Auditorium while staying true to its original design, said Bob Rakela, a member of the nonprofit group Friends of Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Today, the interior of the building looks impressive, Rakela said. And that’s largely because of LaVoie’s efforts and his fight to “keep it in its original configuration,” he added. LaVoie pushed for passage of Measure H, the 1992 ballot initiative that successfully prevente

On Wednesday, April 7 at 5:30 PM, Sacramento's Preservation Commission will meet at City Hall, 915 I Street, in the main council chambers. In addition to other agenda items, they will hear staff reports and provide direction regarding the four projects proposed for the 700 and 800 blocks of K Street. Due to changes in the way the Preservation Commission reviews projects, and due to the relatively low number of hearings in recent months, the Preservation Commission does not meet every month. The April 7 meeting will be the first held in 2010; the others were canceled because there were no scheduled hearings. The general public first viewed the projects proposed for the 700/800 blocks of K

Sacramento's Preservation Roundtable is a quarterly gathering of local history and historic preservation organizations, intended to share current information on local preservation topics, public policy, events, and plans in progress. Everyone is welcome to attend. Preservation Roundtable - Saturday June 13th 9:00am to Noon at the Young Ladies Institute – 27th & N Sts. (1400 27th Street) Continental Breakfast * $5 donation 6/13/09 AGENDA: 9:00 Welcome & Introductions 9:10 Preservation Issues & Updates: - CA State RR Museum Foundation - Kathy Daigle - Capitol Dist. State Museum & Historic Parks-Pati Brown - DOC (Devel. Oversight Committee) update - City Preservation Office - Roberta Deeri

The City of Sacramento Development Services Department announces: Under a City ordinance passed last fall, Sacramento property owners looking to improve a historic structure may be eligible for financial assistance. The Historic Places Grant Program will award up to $62,500 in quarterly grant funding, with a total of $250,000 to be awarded over the course of the coming year. The grant program, a collaborative program of the City’s Development Services Department and Sacramento Heritage Inc., aims to help preserve, rehabilitate, restore or reconstruct historic properties throughout Sacramento. To be eligible for funding, the property must be a City designated landmark or “contributing res