The Broderick photo survey collection documents early efforts by the Yolo County Redevelopment Agency to catalogue the "blighted" community of Broderick in what is now West Sacramento. The surveys note the condition of the exteriors of approximately 240 commercial buildings and private residences, and broadly rank them on a three point scale, from "I. Standard" to "III. Sub-Standard - Beyond Rehabilitation." Within each survey there are also assessments of each building's sanitary, structural and electrical systems, as well as detailed descriptions of the foundation, roof, chimneys, walls, floors, stairs, windows, yards and other aspects of each structure.
The Yolo County Redevelopment Agency was created on 17 October 1955 and activated on 1 May 1957, at the request P. Wayne Smythe, a member of the Broderick Sanitation District. The agency was created in tandem with the growing national urban renewal movement of the time, which was spurred along by Title I of the Federal Housing Act of 1949. This act provided federal funding for two-thirds the cost of urban renewal or redevelopment projects, provided that localities could submit a workable plan for the project, develop a feasible method for relocating those displaced by the project, and raise local grants-in-aid equal to at least one-third the projected cost of the redevelopment work.
On 16 December 1958, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 242, authorizing the Urban Renewal Agency of Yolo County to prepare surveys and plans for the "blighted" area of Broderick at an estimated cost of $91,714.00. The surveys were prepared by G. C. Mahoney, J.B. Davidson, and S. T. Drever between 2 February 1959 and 9 March 1959 and covered buildings on nine blocks between A and D Streets, and west of the levee to 5th Street [see map: Box 1, Folder 1]. The surveys were carried out in accordance with the 1958 Uniform Housing Code. On 15 April 1959, the Agency submitted plans to the Board of Supervisors for the redevelopment of Broderick. On 28 October of that year, four of the five members of the Agency- Dr. Fillmore Wilt, O. Frank Towse, Harry D. Everett, and C.F. Dixon- came before the Board of Supervisors and resigned their posts, as no action had been taken on the plans they had submitted six months earlier. Residents of Broderick both in favor of and opposed to the redevelopment project then spoke before the Board. Those in favor of the project requested that new members be appointed to the Agency, that the Board Approve the Preliminary Broderick Redevelopment Plans, and that the Board appoint as well a Citizens' Advisory Committee. Those opposed to the redevelopment project said that the plans submitted to the Planning Committee were very confusing and required long consideration for clarification. Supervisor Drew stated that there was no constitutional need for a redevelopment agency if the majority of the residents of the area in question not only did not wish redevelopment, but additionally volunteered to improve their properties at their own cost, which 80 percent of those surveyed had done. He moved to suspend the Agency on 28 October 1959 and it was officially dissolved on 2 November 1959.
