Oct 27

Oct 27 City approves historic designation for building tied to two of Sacramento's most significant Black figures

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A midtown law office building designed by Sacramento’s first licensed African-American architect for the city’s first Black attorney was designated an historic landmark Tuesday by the Sacramento City Council.

Council members unanimously adopted an ordinance placing the building at 1810 S St. on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources.

The one-story structure, while modest in stature, played an outsized role in the history of Sacramento’s black community. It was built in 1967 and designed by James C. Dodd, the first licensed Black architect in Sacramento. The building is considered an excellent example of Dodd’s mid-century modern commercial work.

Dodd was commissioned to design the building by Nathaniel Colley, the first licensed Black attorney in the city. Colley spent his career focusing on the fight to end segregation in housing, education, politics and the workplace. Largely because of him, African Americans were finally able to apply for and receive public housing on an equal basis with other groups.

One of Colley’s victories was a ruling by the Sacramento Superior Court to forbid segregation by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, which had the effect of opening up more units for Black families at the New Helvetiia (now Alder Grove) housing project.

In response to requests from Councilmember Steve Hansen, City staff is working on historic designations for the housing projects along Broadway that Colley helped integrate as well as his former house in Land Park.

The City Council this summer also approved an initiative to rename the new County courthouse for Colley. City staff has started a a dialogue with the State of California to discuss this proposal. In addition, SHRA, which manages the Marina Vista and Alder Grove housing projects, has said it will work with local schools, community leaders and residents to explore other ways to honor Colley.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg said he hopes the city finds more public opportunities to highlight Colley’s career.

“I hope there are more public opportunities for more Sacramentans to learn the life story of Nathaniel Colley and what he did as a civil rights hero in our city, statewide and nationally,” Mayor Steinberg said.