The Sacramento LGBT Community Center hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to launch the renovation of its historic Lavender Heights headquarters.
A gathering of civic leaders, major donors and community partners came together to celebrate a decade-long effort to secure and transform the home for Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ community.
From a tiny yellow house across from the Mercantile Saloon to its current, two-story 11,250 square foot building on the corner of J street and 20th, the LGBT Center’s CEO David Heitstuman said this renovation is another step to making the center a modern, permanent home for the community.
“At a time when LGBTQ communities across the country are facing renewed attacks on our rights, our health, our visibility and our dignity,” “this building stands as something very, very powerful,” Heitstuman said.
According to Heitstuman, the 100+ year old building has only been majorly renovated once. After the remodeling, it will create more space for community gathering and will expand confidential service spaces for their mental health services, sexual health services and case management.
“When this building is finally completed with the renovation, it will match the scale and dignity of the work that’s been happening in it every single day,” Heitstuman said. “Today, we’re not just breaking ground, but we’re taking the next step forward.”
When the center first opened at its current location, Heitstuman said they didn’t have the capital to get the center off the ground. With the help of former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and current city councilmember Eric Guerra, they were able to secure a mortgage for the initial purchase of the building when they didn’t have enough for a down payment.
Guerra said that in the current political climate, increased support for the LGBTQ+ community is necessary.
“We need to stand tall, we need to be speaking up,” Guerra said. “We need to be creating a place of connection and acceptance. And not only that, but encouragement.”
During the ceremony, Guerra joined Heitstuman, fellow councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, and other community leaders in swinging hammers painted with the colors of the pride flag into a wall that will be torn down during the renovation.
Sacramento LGBT Center CEO David Heitstuman, Sacramento LGBT Center’s Board President Eddie Moreno and Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra hold ceremonial hammers aloft in the new renovation groundbreaking ceremony on April 2, 2026.Ruth Finch/CapRadio
According to Shannon Cosgrove, director of annual and corporate giving at the LGBT Center, they also plan to build a commercial kitchen and to hold nutrition classes in the new center.
“One of the things that I’m excited about is we have the beautiful farmer’s market out front,” Cosgrove said. “So the idea is that we can have people shop with their EBT or give them a budget… bring them in the kitchen and they can make a healthy meal and teaching elders and young people how to do that.”
CEO of the Sacramento Native American Health Center Britta Guerrero said her support for the LGBT Center was about just being a good neighbor.
“Intersectionality is what brings us all together. We stand right in the middle of Midtown, the Native American Health Center and the LGBT Center, in proximity, visibility and glory,” Guerrero said. “I can’t pretend to know everything about every community, but I do know when we stand together, we’re so much more powerful.”
Through the renovation period, which is expected to last through the fall, the center has temporarily relocated all of its services around the corner to 2031 K street until construction is complete.
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