San Diego's Historic Neighborhoods

In 1995, SOHO initiated the Most Endangered List as a powerful tool to raise public awareness and catalyze action to protect San Diego’s cultural and historic treasures. Over the years, this list has proven its effectiveness: We have saved 58% of the 94 historic sites identified since its inception.

But this year, we face an unprecedented crisis. San Diego is at a dangerous crossroads. The very soul of San Diego—its historic neighborhoods—is under direct assault. The landmarks and landscapes that form the bedrock of our neighborhoods are being erased—a disastrous scenario that is leaving us with an anonymous skyline and a fractured sense of community.

Our historic neighborhoods are facing their most significant threat yet. San Diego is recognized globally as a city under immense development pressure, and this has only intensified in 2024. A wave of developer-driven legislation, heavily backed by YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) groups that include state and local politicians, is pushing for overbuilding that disregards the unique character, heritage, and quality of life in our communities. These bills aim to reshape our neighborhoods, potentially erasing the irreplaceable historic fabric that makes San Diego distinct and a desirable place to live, work, and visit.

With the mayor's push for so-called “reform” to San Diego’s preservation ordinance under the guise of streamlining new construction, our city’s unique identity is at further risk of being buried by unchecked development. Proposed, well researched historic districts, already languishing in bureaucratic limbo, are being abandoned, with city officials refusing to process district designations that could protect entire communities from the wrecking ball. Every corner of our city is now vulnerable.

In 2020, city officials relaxed regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to align with state laws, allowing for easier and more widespread construction. What began as a well-intentioned effort to address the housing crisis has instead contributed to the degradation of our historic neighborhoods, paving the way for policies that allow multiple ADUs per property, reduce parking requirements, and streamline permits. These changes have encouraged investors to target older neighborhoods, accelerating their decline. This unchecked density strains infrastructure, disrupts the historic integrity of these communities, and is not what the public intended or expected when agreeing to reasonable ADU regulations. Rather, it is represents a classic bait and switch.

San Diego’s historic neighborhoods are more than just buildings; they are the living, tangible embodiment of our city’s cultural and architectural heritage. They connect us to past people and events, foster pride and unity in the present, and provide a meaningful foundation for the future. The overdevelopment fueled by profit-driven agendas, coupled with the abuse of ADU regulations, threatens to obliterate this heritage, creating irreversible damage to the canvas of San Diego’s history.

This year’s Most Endangered List is more than a warning—it is a call to action. The fight to protect San Diego’s historic neighborhoods and architectural legacy has never been more urgent, with the stakes higher than ever. If we fail to act now, we risk losing irreplaceable pieces of our past—places that cannot be replicated or restored.

Together, we must resist the tide of overdevelopment, stand against the dismantling of preservation protections, and advocate for a future that honors the our rich history. Let us unite to safeguard our shared heritage for generations to come.

So much good could be accomplished if only the City’s decision-makers chose to work with the preservation community instead of against it. Tremendous opportunities, including proven affordable housing solutions, are being squandered in favor of short-term gain.

Join us. Save our historic neighborhoods before it’s too late. Please write a letter now and vote for the candidates who support historic preservation! Take a moment to review the results of our mayoral and city council candidate Q&A for the 2024 general election.

The 2024 Most Endangered List also includes nine other resources carried over from 2023 that still need your support and advocacy. Read more about them in the menu at right.