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SOHO 2016 City Council Candidates Historic Preservation Survey
Candidates for District 3
Anthony Bernal - Did not respond
Scott Sanborn - Did not respond
Chris Ward
1. What historic site or building in San Diego is the most iconic as a symbol of the city for you?
California Tower. One of the most prominent features of Balboa Park, at the heart of the city, it is a widely known landmark by many residents. It is a structure so many connect with that I embedded it within my own campaign artwork.
2. Do you have any personal connection to historic preservation in the city?
My personal connection is daily, appreciating many of the historical structures and connection to the history of our oldest neighborhoods as I traverse District 3. I have been proud to develop relationships with those in the preservation community through my work, volunteerism, and candidacy, and would engage and build on those as an office holder to respect, promote and defend preservation objectives.
Economist studies show time and again the unique and valuable role that historic buildings play in creating robust local economies and sustainable cities.
3. What is the role you feel historic architecture plays in the city's economy, tourism, and public perception as a world-class city?
The role should be strong; much of our tourism and related economic development could be enhanced with a focus on cultural tourists, or embedding cultural experiences into extended stays of tourists here for other draws. Having interesting and well maintained historic architecture can leave a significant positive impression for these visitors and their perception of a world class city.
4. If elected, what incentives, if any, do you think should be developed to encourage the rehabilitation and reuse of existing buildings and infrastructure throughout the city?
I would like to see incentives which help to promote rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings where it is fiscally feasible and consistent with community plans. I support the work for state support under AB 1999 (2014) and AB 771 (2015) to provide additional incentives in a State Historic Tax Credit to help make projects financially feasible; locally, we could make sure development incentives are carefully structured where rehabilitation and reuse is incorporated into a project.
5. Do you support the Mills Act to assist with the restoration and rehabilitation of historic homes?
Yes. It has been both a strong tool for preserving historical homes, facilitating goals of historic districts, and increasing property value and some economic benefit.
6. Do you value Historic Districts in San Diego and how much priority would you give to developing a timeline for the completion of those districts?
Yes. I would work closely with those at the neighborhood within proposed historic districts, and those in the preservation and development communities, to develop appropriate timelines to meet the goals of each individual district.
7. Balboa Park is a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD), the highest honor bestowed on a cultural site in this country. (Yes, No)
- Do you support paid parking inside the park?
- Do you support the conservation and preservation of an intact NHLD?
- Will you put funds into restoration and maintenance into the buildings and landscape of one of the most visited cultural parks in the region?
- Do you support the Irwin Jacobs plan for Balboa Park?
- Is there any plan for Balboa Park that you would support that fosters the privatization and commercialization of the park?
- Generally no. I would not want to see a reduction of parking and access for those to be able to use the park freely. However if above today's baseline stock, paid parking features can offset either total parking capacity or public transit improvements to access the park, I would study those closely.
- Yes
- Yes - to the extent these funds can be identified and, hopefully, additional permanent revenue stream for Balboa Park with just this purpose by will of the voters.
- Have mixed support and opposition for Plaza de Panama plan; I see a lot of agreeable goals and objectives; recognize there are major project features that disrespect and contradict other fundamental approaches to the caretaking of Balboa Park. Any plan moving forward in the future will have my support only through strong public engagement and proper resolution of issues.
- No
8. As a councilperson, what would you do to help prevent demolition of historically and architecturally significant buildings?
If projects that are proposed are on parcels with historically significant structures, I will help engage developers, connect with those in preservation community, and seek to mediate good outcomes wherever possible.
A substantiated connection to healthier and safer neighborhoods is a strong historic preservation element. Quality of life studies show that historic preservation is positive for health, community cohesiveness, property values, and an aesthetically pleasing environment contributes greatly to mental health.
9. The city has a large inventory of historic and cultural resources under its care. How should the city prioritize funds to maintain and restore these resources?
We do the best we can with competing priorities, including public safety, neighborhood infrastructure, and other demands year over year. As a generalization, I hope the city can make effort to prioritize funds where fiscally prudent, and grow over time the ability to provide care for these resources.
The need to preserve our existing affordable housing and create mixed income developments has become a critical issue over recent years.
10. How do you think our current historic preservation laws have affected affordable housing and are there changes that can be made to better support affordable housing?
I support incentives that connect historic preservation efforts in a project with funds or development potential for supply of affordable housing.
Questions 11-14
Zoning codes and other forms of land use regulation are powerful tools that shape the look and livability of a city. The city's current Zoning Ordinance is often in conflict with and unresponsive to historic preservation priorities. Clear and comprehensive zoning regulations that support the Historic Preservation Ordinance would help take the guess work out of these regulations for architects and developers, while simultaneously supporting growth and protecting historic resources.
11. What would you do to resolve this conflict?
I understand the need for clarity in zoning regulations and would want to mediate conversation between development and preservation communities to help propose updates to the Zoning Ordinance.
12. If elected, how will your office prioritize a strategy that reinforces and supports historic designations?
Given the makeup of District 3 and the special nature of being a steward of our region's oldest communities, I understand the need to assume leadership in questions underlying historic designation; I would actively facilitate strategies with the goal of updating our code and satisfying longstanding ambiguities and frustrations that have impacted both developers and preservationists.
13. Do you think current public notification systems related to historic preservation projects and opportunities for public input are adequate? (Yes, No)
No. Communities are not well informed and opportunities for public input are limited or not afforded. I would want to see Council Policy improved to provide better processes for public input.
14. Do you believe that our current historic preservation ordinance adequately protects the city's historic assets? If yes, please explain how, and if not, what would you do to reform or strengthen it?
It does not adequately protect assets because of the conflicts with Zoning Ordinance, public participation and development processes as referenced above; at same time, it can be a barrier to any opportunity for development to partner on improvements on a site, and result in continued deterioration of assets over time. HPO could be strengthened to be a development tool with worthy incentives, not barriers.
15. Community engagement plays a critical role in the decision-making process surrounding historic preservation matters throughout the city. How important are each of the following preservation issues to you? (Extremely Important, Important, Moderately Important, Not Important)
- Best Practice used to appoint qualified candidates to the HRB
- Enforcing existing local historic resource ordinances
- Establishing Historic Districts as a tool for neighborhood revitalization and to raise property values.
- Reducing landfill waste by prioritizing renovation over demolition
- Financial incentives for maintaining and rehabilitating historic buildings
- Comprehensive inventory of historic & potentially historic buildings & districts
- Extremely Important
- Important
- Important
- Important
- Moderately Important
- Moderately Important
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