Capitol Annex is Underway Despite Opposition

Elected officials and staff at the state capitol are beginning a new legislative year in new offices. They moved late last year to a swing space building a block from the Capitol, which will be their home for about five years as a new Capitol Annex is built. The plan calls for $1.4 billion to build new legislative office spaces, a visitor center and an underground garage on the Capitol Annex.

Meanwhile, Save Our Capitol! commissioned a poll of 800 respondents and 76.6 percent said they oppose the state legislature’s plan. The December 2021 poll of likely voters found opposition from a strong majority of Democrats, decline-to-state and Republican voters alike, spanning regions throughout the state.

“The results from this survey validate our major concerns with this project: the residents of California do not support the California legislature spending $1.4 billion to decimate Capitol Park and demolish the historic Capitol Annex, particularly when rehabilitation is feasible and cost-effective,” said Richard Cowan, former chair of the Historic State Capitol Commission.

The historic Capitol Annex, which is a recognized state and national landmark, is a 70-year-old addition to California’s capitol building. It has housed the legislature and governor’s office since its completion in 1952. Since then, the Annex, designed by architect Alfred Eichler, has been largely neglected by the legislature and now needs major upgrades.