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2024 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Historic Preservation Q&A
Candidates for Mayor
Jane Glasson
Mayor Todd Gloria - Did not respond
Genevieve Jones-Wright
Dan Smiechowski
Larry Turner - Did not respond
1. Preservation and New Construction Strategies
What is your plan to ensure that the unique architectural heritage of our historic neighborhoods is conserved for future generations while we continue to build new construction?
Jane Glasson: My main focus is supporting homeowners and renters. Our historic neighborhoods should be conserved.I want feedback, so I can do my best to support.
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Balancing heritage conservation with new development requires a multi-faceted approach. In order to create this balance, we must first identify and designate areas with significant architectural heritage as historic preservation districts to help protect these areas from inappropriate development. New constructions and renovations in historic districts should follow community-led guidelines created by a body of community members and relevant professionals and experts that dictate the architectural styles, materials, and construction methods permissible in historic districts. This will ensure new construction respects the historical integrity while allowing for modern innovation and sustainability. I would also encourage the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, ensuring they remain functional and relevant. Finally, community involvement and education is key along with maintenance, monitoring, and digital documentation.
Dan Smiechowski: The Historic Preservation Planning section prepares and maintains the Historic Preservation Element in long-range planning documents, including the City’s General Plan and over 50 Community Plans. It is an attempt to strike a balance between preserving San Diego’s unique architectural heritage and fostering responsible new construction for future generations.
As a former member of the Clairmont Planning Group, I understand the beauty and diversity of the buildings that give a city its soul. I support local planning groups, who are the watch dogs in the preservation of our soul.
I would rely them and organizations like Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) who, work alongside community activists and residents to protect our cultural assets.
2. Adaptive Reuse and Sustainability
What are your thoughts on promoting adaptive reuse projects within our historic neighborhoods, ensuring the preservation of their cultural identity while integrating sustainable practices?
Jane Glasson: I believe in supporting our historic neighborhoods. I believe in preserving cultural identity. I welcome input to make good decisions to provide support for projects. When I served on the board of my HOA, I gained experience and knowledge and made decisions that supported our community. I want to support our historic neighborhoods in our city.
Geneviéve Jones-Wright I am a proponent of the adaptive reuse of historic buildings to preserve the functionality and contemporary relevance of historic structures.
Dan Smiechowski: Promoting adaptive reuse projects within San Diego’s historic neighborhoods allows us to honor the past, preserve cultural identity, and embrace sustainability.
Our city evolves daily from where we were to where we are going by repurposing existing structures. This process ensures that the stories embedded in these buildings continue to resonate with future generations. By reimagining old structures, we celebrate the unique architectural heritage of San Diego. Each building carries memories, and adaptive reuse projects allow us to weave those memories into the fabric of our evolving city.
The joy of growing old in San Diego is enhanced by the pleasure of accompanying architectural changes to structures that were old when I was young.
How do you plan to encourage the repurposing of historic buildings for modern use, while maintaining their architectural integrity and cultural significance?
Jane Glasson: I still need to plan. I will listen carefully. I value maintaining architectural integrity and cultural significance.
Geneviéve Jones-Wright As mayor, I would seek to offer financial incentives like tax breaks, grants, or low-interest loans to property owners for preserving, restoring, and adapting historic buildings for contemporary use. The City would also help to facilitate adaptive reuse. We would encourage converting old industrial buildings into residential lofts and community spaces, for example, while retaining their historic features.
Dan Smiechowski: The Preservation and Progress Initiative in San Diego aims to strike a balance between preserving historical and cultural significance and encouraging adaptive reuse of historic buildings for modern purposes.
I am in my 70’s I bring the perspective of age to the process. I would provide my insights from where I am, while supporting local planning groups and organizations like Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), community activists and residents in the ongoing process of change.
3. Long-Term Vision
What is your long-term vision for the development and preservation of our historic neighborhoods, considering the evolving needs of our communities and the imperative to conserve our cultural heritage?
Jane Glasson: It is important to me to conserve cultural heritage. It is important to me to preserve historic neighborhoods. I value and want input to make good decisions. I love San Diego and want to preserve our historic neighborhoods.
Geneviéve Jones-Wright As mayor, my long-term vision for the development and preservation of our historic neighborhoods revolves around a comprehensive strategy (mostly identified above) that balances heritage conservation with the evolving needs of our communities, which necessarily includes a commitment to collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives as well as optimized processes that ensure efficiency and provide reasonable timelines for the designation of our historical districts.
Dan Smiechowski: It is my intent as Mayor to preserve what we as a city own today, by discontinuing the sale of city owned land. I will allow leases but ultimately what we have now will never be less as long as I am Mayor.
My long-term goal is to expand the land owned by the city. I will encourage citizens to donate their land to the city with the understanding their land will never be sold. It will be administered for the benefit of San Diego.
I believe that a lot of historic property is owned by private individuals. Some of these individuals are public spirited enough to leave their property as a legacy to future generations of San Diego. I want to encourage that by assuring them that with a charter change their land will serve the citizens of San Diego for as long as we have a city.
How will you ensure that your policies and initiatives reflect a sustainable and holistic approach to preserving the essence and history of our neighborhoods for generations to come?
Jane Glasson: I will request and be open to input, so I can lead in a positive manner. I want to preserve the essence and history of our neighborhoods for generations to come.
Geneviéve Jones-Wright As a collaborative leader, I strongly believe in actively involving impacted communities in decision-making processes. This community-centered approach will ensure that policies and initiatives reflect a sustainable and holistic approach to preserving the essence and history of neighborhoods for generations to come. By educating residents about the importance of heritage preservation and gathering input on specific preservation priorities and concerns, you not only foster open dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that decision makers, like the mayor, better understand the needs and desires of impacted communities and tailor policies accordingly but you also get buy-in from the community.
The key to a sustainable approach is consistency with ongoing efforts. Ongoing community outreach and education in historic districts can empower residents to actively participate in preservation efforts and feel a deep responsibility to safeguard and maintain our historical neighborhoods.
Dan Smiechowski: I have a vision for San Diego that is a sustainable and holistic approach to preserving the essence and history of our neighborhoods for generations to come.
I will accomplish that by focusing high-density high-rise development downtown. By redeveloping our city’s downtown core it will obviate the need for high density in our neighborhoods.
I will find the balance between land use, transportation and growth by working with others on a long-term redevelopment of the downtown core anchored by Horton Plaza that will provide jobs, housing and sustainability.
Together all of us will be part of a regeneration of what was at one time a beautiful vibrant down town. Together like a phoenix out of the ashes and ruble of what is down town today we will build an emerald city by the bay.
Yes, No, or Maybe Questions
Some neighborhoods like Golden Hill and Encanto have been waiting for designation as historic districts for many years, and have applications now pending at the Historical Resources Board (HRB); other neighborhoods are currently organizing to submit applications.
1. If elected, will you be an aggressive advocate for the designation of the backlog of neighborhoods that are waiting for historic district status?
Jane Glasson: Yes
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Maybe. While I am concerned about the backlog of neighborhoods awaiting historic district status, before committing to “aggressive” advocacy, I would like to thoroughly investigate the reasons behind the backlog.
Dan Smiechowski: Yes
2. Would you support a neighborhood's seeking historic district status by urging the HRB to agree to a specific reasonable timetable for making a decision?
Jane Glasson: Yes
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Yes
Dan Smiechowski: yes
3. Would you support increasing City Council funding for the HRB so that they can more actively designate new neighborhoods as well as enforce the landmarks law in already designated historic districts?
Jane Glasson: Maybe
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Maybe. The City’s deficit this upcoming fiscal year is projected to be significantly higher than previously estimated.
Dan Smiechowski: Yes
4. Were you in favor of the failed SB 10 legislation?
Jane Glasson: No
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Maybe
Dan Smiechowski: No
5. Do you support the Mills Act to assist with the restoration and rehabilitation of historic homes?
Jane Glasson: Yes
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Yes
Dan Smiechowski: Yes
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