Save Our Heritage Organisation
Magazine
By Barry Hager
100 years after the filing of the original subdivision map ofMission Hills on January 20, 1908, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to deny the appeal of the Mission Hills Historic District. The decision made by the Historic Resources Board (HRB) on July 16, 2007 to approve the district stands.
Dr. Leon Casper & Dr. Louise Davis Long House (1919), part of the new Mission Hills Historic District.
Over 60 Mission Hills neighbors and historic preservation advocates attended the City Council meeting to support the historic district. Letters of support also came from local preservation organizations such as SOHO, Mission Hills Heritage, Hillcrest History Guild and the University Heights Historic Society, as well as the western office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the State Office of Historic Preservation in Sacramento.
After four years of community protest UC San Diego has withdrawn their plan to demolish the 56-year-old chancellor's house, known as the University House. University officials announced that demolition is no longer part of the plan and instead that they will be pursuing a renovation and rehabilitation plan.
Built in 1952 by master architect William Lumpkins for William Black, (Black's Beach, etc.), it is a rare example of the Pueblo Revival style. The historic home was acquired in 1967, along with 130 surrounding acres, by UCSD for $2.7 million and has housed almost every UCSD chancellor since 1967. UCSD had the home condemned in 2004 citing seismic deficiencies, plumbing, electrical and structural problems."There may have been a time when preservation was about saving an old building here and there, but those days are gone. Preservation is in the business of saving communities and the values they embody." - Richard Moe, President National Trust for Historic PreservationFortunately, the Native American community took the lead and fought the plan from the start, noting the sacred Indian burial site underneath. They not only funded their own legal action but also provided funds for the designation report. The La Jolla Historical Society also took a vocal stand and commissioned the successful report that got the site placed on the National Register of Historic Places. SOHO provided both legal and consulting assistance, funded our own legal action, and added our expert testimony to the hearings.
All three of these groups worked in concert to save this important site. This example should encourage others not to be deterred by what may seem a daunting task. Gather together those citizens and organizations who care deeply for your community. Remember each community has the right to decide what's best for their community.
Contributed by SOHO Preservation Action Committee.
By Maggie McCann & Celia Conover
On Thursday, April 24th, the Kensington Sign earned a new name, Historical Resources Board Site #865. The board unanimously voted in favor, with one member commenting that they were surprised it hadn't already received one. Other board members acknowledged how wonderful the sign is in its simplicity, its authenticity and how it appears to float over Adams Avenue.
The sign has done so since it was installed in 1954 by a group of businessmen wanting to promote the Adams Avenue commercial district east of what is now SR-15. The sign epitomizes the Modern aesthetic, with its clean design,rounded corners, straightforward white letter forms and green background, complemented by the glow of rose neon by night. Even the support poles and suspension cables are understated.
The Kensington sign, Historical Resources Board Site #865.
Built of galvanealled steel with a baked enamel finish and hand-crafted neon tubing, the sign was purchased by the Kensington Park Business Association from the San Diego NEON Sign Company for a cost of $1,166.
The Kensington sign, along with the Normal Heights sign, are the only two original neon community signs left in San Diego. Others, such as the Hillcrest sign, have been fully rebuilt or replicated.
The nomination came at a critical point in the sign's history because it was slated for demolition and replacement by the group that has owned and maintained the sign since 1964, the Kensington-Talmadge Community Association.
They had been led to believe the sign must be replaced and had raised a significant amount of money through donations and a grant to create a new sign in its place. The historic designation will most certainly change these plans, and give the community the assurance that this very special icon will continue to identify the neighborhood of Kensington.
The Kensington sign not only marks the business district east of SR-15 as it was originally intended to do, the familiar icon has come to represent the entire neighborhood of Kensington.
On February 7, 2008 California Coastal Commission denied the 241 Toll Road Extension that would cut across San Onofre State Beach. The Commission rejected the proposed Foothill-South freeway project, a 16-mile toll road extension of state Route 241.
Advocates from the Native American community, the Save Trestles organization, numerous environmental groups and SOHO turned out in record-breaking numbers to oppose the proposed toll road.
After more than twelve hours of testimony and deliberation, the Commission voted 8-2 to reject the shortsighted and devastatingly destructive highway plan.
Historic Trestles - Renowned surf spot at San Onofre State Beach.
The park contains seven archaeological sites, including a Juaneño Indian village; three historic sites include the first Christian baptisms in California, the Adobe Ranch House of San Mateo, the 1880's town of Forster; and of course, the world-famous Trestles surfing area, itself a cultural and historic site. Seven threatened or endangered species live within the park, and it protects significant portions of San Mateo Creek, one of the last relatively unspoiled watersheds in Southern California.
This victory was gained by thousands of concerned citizens who inundated county and state officials with phone calls and messages, and who turned out time and again in huge numbers to defend San Onofre over these past years. The State Coastal Commission staff is also to be commended for their comprehensive report, as well as the Commission itself who voted on behalf of the resource and did not bow to the enormous political pressure to do otherwise.
We thank all of the SOHO members who wrote letters, made calls and attended the hearings. The Irvine-based Transportation Corridor Agencies, which are proposing the toll road, have appealed the commission's ruling to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and have vowed to do everything they can to go against the will of the people of California. We will have to remain vigilant and persistent in our demand to protect this irreplaceable part of our heritage.
Contributed by SOHO Preservation Action Committee.
Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition
By Janet O'DeaThe Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition, (NHCP), initially came together by organizing Uptown groups (such as the Hillcrest History Guild and the University Heights Historical Society) because of community-wide concerns over a proposed historic survey that threatened over half of the properties in Uptown. During review of the General Plan the Coalition focus shifted to become much broader. The concerns became the treatment of the historic resources in all of our established communities. Since significant policy decisions in the General Plan emphasized in-fill in many of our historic communities the direction of the Coalition rapidly shifted to encompass all of the historic communities.
How is SOHO involved? Since SOHO has always been involved in the treatment of our historic assets, they have naturally been involved as we have grappled with these issues. SOHO has provided expertise and guidance to us as we organized and attended meetings to galvanize community support for issues that so greatly impact the character and charm of our established communities.
How can you get involved? Our aim is to reach out to all of the neighborhood groups with concern for San Diego's historic resources. NHPC is now an organization of community groups. Its members are the representatives of organizations that also advocate for protection of some of the most significant resources in the city of San Diego. Member organizations include: SOHO, The Black Historical Society, Burlingame Homeowner's Association, Golden Hill Community Development Corp, Albatross Neighborhood Association, Bankers Hill/Park West Community Association, Heart of Kensington, Hillcrest History Guild, La Playa Heritage, Mission Hills Heritage, Normalites for Normal Heights, University Heights Historical Society and others are joining as of this publication deadline.
If your organization would like to align with us and become involved with the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition please contact Janet O'Dea at info@HazArts.com.
More from this issue
- From the Editor
By Alana Coons- The Balboa Theatre - Anatomy of a Restoration
By David Marshall, AIA- The Balboa Theatre - An 18-year Redevelopment Battle
By Welton Jones- Survivors of San Diego's Theatrical Past
By Welton Jones- Professional Theater Comes to San Diego
By Dean Glass- Googie: An Architectural Link to San Diego's Midcentury Culture
By Kristin Reichardt Kirwan- North Park's Neon
By George Franck- A General Plan of Destruction
By Bruce Coons- Preservation Community
- Unearthing Long-Buried Whaley House Cistern
By Dean Glass- Reflections
- Strength in Numbers - Membership
- Donations
- GoodSearch.com
- Lost San Diego
Copyright ©2008, Save Our Heritage Organisation. Copyright Warning
