Sacramento Audubon was contacted by the California Capitol Historic Preservation Society (CCHPS) asking for our assistance in protecting the trees and birds of Capitol Park.
Here’s what CCHPS Volunteer Kate Riley had to say:
The California State Legislature's Capitol Annex Project would dramatically reshape the historic State Capitol. The historic Midcentury Modern Capitol Annex, designed by renowned State Architect Alfred Eichler, would be demolished and replaced with a much larger, glass-sheathed monstrosity. The West Plaza and Capitol Steps of the original restored Capitol – the site of innumerable marches, speeches, and celebrations —would be eliminated by a Visitor Center with a theme-park-style entrance. More than 60 trees, including many massive historic trees, would be removed and others threatened. All at a staggering cost of up to $1 billion, using General Fund monies sorely needed for our state’s infrastructure and economic recovery.
Over the past year, a broad cross-section of opposition to this billion-dollar boondoggle has been growing, including business organizations, environmental and historic preservation groups, and taxpayers associations. Our calls for a reasonable re-shaping of the Project – that preserves and modernizes the historic Annex Building, saves over $500 million and all the trees, and ensures the access and safety of public and employees – have been ignored by the Legislature.
“Save the Capitol, Save the Trees” has filed suit in the Superior Court of California on CEQA issues to stop the Project.
Ms. Riley also sent an excerpt of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project. This excerpt of the DEIR outlines potential direct and indirect disturbance of nesting Swainson’s Hawks, White-tailed Kites, and other native birds.
You can read more about the opposition to the Capitol Annex Project and the suit being filed in this Sacramento Bee article. The California Capitol Historic Preservation Society is seeking donations to help fund this lawsuit. Click here to make a donation.
Capitol Dome and Park, Image by Nathen Guisande