Alder Grove could be razed under city plan

By Robert J. Hansen

The future of a historic public housing development is unclear after a Sacramento Superior Court ruling this past summer paved the way to demolish and rebuild it.

Community advocates in October 2020 filed a lawsuit against the city regarding approval of its West Broadway Specific Plan. The New Helvetia Historic District, a site with significant civil rights history, includes a portion of the plan area called Alder Grove. The suit alleged the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act in approving a plan that anticipates and facilitates demolition of the historic residential community, which has 360 apartments ranging from one to five bedrooms.

The ruling is being appealed.

Alder Grove, formerly known as New Helvetia, sits on Broadway between Fifth Street and Muir Way and is known for its iconic red brick buildings. It holds significant historical importance in Sacramento because of its association with Nathaniel Colley, the city’s first African American attorney. In 1952, Colley challenged the discriminatory practices of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, which manages the development, which confined Black residents to only 16 of the 310 units in the New Helvetia public housing project.

His legal efforts led to a landmark decision that mandated the desegregation of these housing units, thereby promoting racial integration and equality in Sacramento’s public housing. 

This case not only marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement within Sacramento but also set a precedent for challenging housing discrimination statewide.

The October 2020 suit points to the fact that the plan’s new street grid bisects existing historic residences, clearly anticipating their demolition, which would be a significant environmental impact. It argues that California Environmental Quality Act requires that the plan should anticipate and provide for rehabilitation of New Helvetia’s landmark resources, not their demolition. 

“Only if rehabilitation of New Helvetia is determined infeasible should demolition be allowed via plan amendments of the existing street grid, not vice versa,” said Susan Brandt-Hawley, the attorney representing the community.

The city maintained that whether the public housing units are rehabilitated or redeveloped, the affordable housing units will be preserved. SHRA has said it’s looking to remodel the existing units and keep them affordable to current and future low-income residents. 

Renovations for Marina Vista, an adjacent public housing development, were tentatively scheduled for 2023 to 2025, according to the city.

SHRA did not clarify whether this was underway.

Alder Grove is scheduled to be rehabilitated from 2030 to 2031. Construction crews will renovate the units in less than two months, and no one living there would be displaced long term. SHRA has said that residents would move into different units or stay in a hotel during construction.

The city adopted the West Broadway Specific Plan to guide the redevelopment of approximately 292 acres along the western portion of Broadway. This area encompasses Upper Land Park, Miller Regional Park, and the Sacramento Marina. The original plan included the demolition of Alder Grove. One of its objectives was to facilitate construction of up to 3,787 new residential units, including affordable housing options for low-income households.

The New Helvetia Historic District, encompassing the Alder Grove housing project, has been designated as a historic district by state and federal agencies, recognizing its significant social, cultural, and architectural history. Its preservation honors the legacy of early activists such as Colley and serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality.

Al Brown Jr., Nathanial Colley’s grandson, said his grandfather would likely feel a profound sense of betrayal and sadness regarding the plans to demolish Alder Grove.

“As an attorney who dedicated his life to fighting against housing discrimination and advocating for desegregation, he would see the demolition as a significant setback to the progress he and others fought so hard to achieve,” Brown Jr. said. “The destruction of Alder Grove not only erases the physical structure, but also threatens to erase the historical significance and the stories of resilience that it represents.”

Brown added that if Alder Grove were demolished, it would symbolize a disregard for the struggle against systemic injustice, undermining the legacy of his grandfather’s efforts and the sacrifices made by countless others in the pursuit of equality in housing.

“It stands as a symbol of the civil rights movement and the ongoing fight for housing equity, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in their quest for fair housing,” Brown said.

Brown emphasized that the community embodies Colley’s dedication to desegregation and justice, representing a tangible achievement in the face of systemic discrimination. Furthermore, Alder Grove serves as a reminder of the broader historical context in which Colley operated, illustrating the impact of deed-restrictive covenants and discriminatory practices that he actively opposed.

Preserving Alder Grove is essential not only for honoring Colley’s legacy, but also for ensuring that future generations understand the importance of equity in housing and the ongoing fight against discrimination.

Brown said that an explanation for the city’s pursuit of the plan might not be sufficiently acknowledged in planning discussions.

“This oversight could reflect a broader societal tendency to overlook the importance of preserving narratives related to civil rights and housing justice, ultimately leading to decisions that favor immediate economic gain at the expense of important historical sites,” Brown Jr. said.

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. Solving Sacramento is supported by funding from the James Irvine Foundation and the James B. McClatchy Foundation. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.