Save Our Capitol Update: Contact Gov. Newsom, Pro Tem Atkins, State Sen. Ashby: Repair & Restore the Capitol Annex!

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As you may know by now, the Appellate Court issued a judgment that requires the Department of General Services (DGS) to circulate a revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) that addresses the concerns that Save the Capitol/Save the Trees and Save our Capitol (SOC) raised about the location and design of the visitors' center, the new parking garage and the size and design of a new Annex building. Since that decision, volunteers from both Save Our Capitol and Public Accountability for our Capitol have been working very hard to assure that the alternatives presented in the new RDEIR will respect the historic integrity of the State Capitol and what is left of Capitol Park. 

Unfortunately, while issuing a strong revised RDEIR is key to protecting the overall integrity of the State Capitol, it will not protect the Historic Annex Building from demolition. That fight is now political rather than legal. That is why we need all the help we can get to convince political leaders that the Annex is a historic building that should be preserved. In addition to its historical value, political leaders need to know that rehabbing the Annex would be considerably more cost effective and environmentally friendly than demolishing it and constructing a new building.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has now joined us in the fight to preserve the Annex. It just sent a very powerful letter (posted below) to Governor Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Atkins and Assembly Speaker Rendon spelling out why the Annex should be preserved. Now each of them, including Senator Ashby, the Senator who represents many of our members and supporters, needs to hear from all of us about the importance of saving the Annex. 

Please email and/or call as soon as possible (contact information posted below) and, if you called or emailed before, please do it again. DGS has threatened to begin demolition before the end of March so time is of the essence. Thank-you in advance for your help. 

Contact Information:

National Trust Letter:

March 7, 2023

The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor of California

1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Toni Atkins Senate President pro Tempore

1021 O Street, Suite 8518 Sacramento, CA 95814

The Honorable Anthony Rendon Speaker of the Assembly

State Capitol, Room 219 Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: State Capitol Annex Project

Dear Governor Newsom, Senate Leader Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Rendon:

On behalf of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and our California members and supporters, I am writing regarding the potential negative impacts of the proposed Capital Annex Project on the historic California State Capitol Complex. The 1874 Capitol and attached 1952 East Wing (Annex), along with the surrounding historic landscape, are included on the National Register of Historic Places. As proposed, the Capitol Annex Project would result in demolition of the 1952 Annex, an important example of mid-century contextual design, and alteration of the West Steps and historic landscape around the 1874 Capitol building.

Given the significant impacts of the proposed project on historic resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we urge you to conduct a thorough, transparent, and public process to fully evaluate feasible options for meeting the programmatic and functional goals of the Capitol Annex Project, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The California State Capitol Complex is one of the state’s most prominent historic places, containing notable examples of architecture and landscape design and the shared memories of many historic events. The West Steps of the 1874 State Capitol building, with their view down the Capitol Mall to the Tower Bridge, are a particularly important site of civic protest, engagement, and celebration. The 1952 Annex is an early example of contextual design, compatible in form and detailing to the 1874 State Capitol, while also clearly reflecting its mid-century era of construction. Changes to these resources should be considered with the greatest care, inspired by the state’s legacy of restoration and stewardship of the 1874 State Capitol Building.

Planning for this project should include a thorough analysis of the feasibility of rehabilitating the 1952 Annex, rather than demolishing and replacing it. Rehabilitation – especially when using California’s exemplary Historical Building Code – is often less expensive, less disruptive, and less time-consuming than new construction. In addition, reuse avoids the significant carbon emissions that occur when materials for a new structure are mined, manufactured, transported, and assembled. National Trust research shows that it can take between 10 and 80 years to overcome the carbon debt that is incurred when an existing structure is replaced, even if the new building is highly energy efficient. At six stories and 325,000 square feet, the Capitol Annex should be seen as both an architectural legacy and a climate asset.

We recognize that important programmatic and safety issues at the Capitol Complex need to be addressed. The challenges of hazardous materials, lack of accessibility, inefficient systems, and inadequate space are real, but also not uncommon among public buildings in California and across the country. The planning and decision-making for how to improve one of the state’s most prominent public building complexes should be a model for other government agencies to follow.

Thank you for considering the views of the National Trust regarding this matter. Sincerely,

Katherine Malone-France, Chief Preservation Officer National Trust for Historic Preservation

Katherine Malone-France | Chief Preservation Officer

2600 Virginia Ave, NW Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20037

E kmalone-france@savingplaces.org P 202.588.6242 F 202.588.6232 www.SavingPlaces.org

Cc: Wayne Donaldson, Save Our Capitol

Cindy Heitzman, California Preservation Foundation