Historic Little Italy

Silverado Intersection Project at Third Street. What’s happening now?

Since September 2025, Napa County Landmarks has worked closely with Caltrans, the City of Napa, and other consulting parties as part of the federal Section 106 review process for the proposed Silverado Trail/Coombsville Road 5-Way Intersection Project. While the project will have unavoidable impacts on the East Napa Historic District, Landmarks advocated for meaningful preservation measures that would document, interpret, and commemorate the neighborhood’s history. The following commitments, requested by Napa County Landmarks and incorporated into the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), will help preserve the legacy of this important Italian-American neighborhood for future generations.

There will be a Napa City Council meeting on August 4th to discuss the matter. See the city calendar for more details.

Preservation Commitments for the East Napa Historic District

As part of the project, several measures have been incorporated to recognize and preserve the history of the East Napa Historic District and Little Italy.

Historic District Re-evaluation

• After construction is complete, the East Napa Historic District will be re-evaluated to determine whether it continues to qualify for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Architectural Salvage of 801 Silverado Trail

• Before demolition, Napa County Landmarks will help notify the preservation community about opportunities to salvage architectural features from the Charlie Rossi House at 801 Silverado Trail.
• Salvaged materials may be preserved and reused rather than lost.

Historic District Identification

• New wayfinding signage will identify the East Napa Historic District, helping residents and visitors recognize the neighborhood’s historic significance.

Oral History Project

• The City of Napa, working with Napa County Landmarks, will develop a professional oral history documenting the neighborhood through interviews with current and former residents and local historians.
• The completed oral histories will become part of the permanent historical record and will be shared with local archives and organizations.

Public Interpretation

• New interpretive displays will tell the story of the East Napa Historic District, highlighting the people, events, and places that shaped the neighborhood.
• These displays will be installed in publicly accessible locations to help preserve and share the community’s history with future generations.

How We Got Here

Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Caltrans was required to evaluate the project’s effects on historic resources and consult with preservation organizations, local agencies, Native American tribes, and the State Historic Preservation Officer. Napa County Landmarks has participated in this consultation process since September 2025 as a Concurring Party. Although the agencies determined that the project’s impacts on the East Napa Historic District could not be avoided, the consultation resulted in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that establishes a series of preservation measures to document, interpret, and commemorate the neighborhood’s history. The following commitments, requested by Napa County Landmarks and incorporated into the MOA, will help preserve the legacy of this important Italian-American neighborhood for future generations.

Key Outcomes

• Historic District Recognized – Caltrans determined that the East Napa Historic District is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places because of its significance as an Italian-American neighborhood and its collection of modest working-class homes.
• Historic Impacts Acknowledged – The project was found to have an adverse effect on the historic district, requiring mitigation under federal preservation law.
• Alternatives Considered – Caltrans evaluated alternatives before concluding that the project’s impacts on the historic district could not be avoided.
• Long-Term Preservation Commitments – The MOA requires documentation, interpretation, annual reporting, and continued consultation throughout the project. It also calls for a post-construction evaluation to determine whether the East Napa Historic District remains eligible for the National Register.