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SOHO 2016 Candidates Historic Preservation Survey
Candidates for Mayor
Gita Appelbaum - Did not respond
Mayor Kevin Faulconer - Did not respond
Marty Gardner - Did not respond
Ed Harris
Gregory Morales - Did not respond
Lori Saldaña
Sina Simon Moghadam - Did not respond
Lawrence Zynda - Did not respond
1. What historic site or building in San Diego is the most iconic as a symbol of the city for you?
Ed Harris: Balboa Park
Lori Saldaña: California Tower in Balboa Park
2. Do you have any personal connection to historic preservation in the city?
Ed Harris: I worked to preserve historic buildings while on the City Council and always sided with SOHO's recommendations regarding land use decisions within my council district when I served as the Councilmember for District 2.
Lori Saldaña: As a native San Diegan, I have worked as a conservationist primarily to protect San Diego's unique natural history. As Chapter Chair of the San Diego Sierra Club, our local motto became "Protecting the Special Nature of San Diego." That said: I have noticed we have a short memory in this city when it comes to preserving our built environment-to our detriment.
3. What is the role you feel historic architecture plays in the city's economy, tourism, and public perception as a world-class city?
Ed Harris: Historical preservation has been a vital component to our tourism industry, as shown by tourism dollars generated by our more prominent destinations such as Balboa Park and Old Town.
Lori Saldaña: San Diego has the potential to attract many more visitors, promote healthier communities, and generate more tourism dollars by preserving and utilizing cultural landmarks in creative and innovative ways-basically "Heritage Tourism" of the southwestern border region. Our climate lends itself to year-round use of parks and plazas that are places of recreation and engagement-not just spaces to be moved through. One only needs to visit UNESCO cultural sites to appreciate the economic value of preserving historic and artistic architectural designs. When done well, these attract visitors, encourage local pride, conserve resources, and foster an appreciation of our shared history that has many ancillary benefits to residents and visitors alike
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?
Ed Harris: I support the property tax incentives and would definitely seek other alternatives to encourage rehabilitation and reuse.
Lori Saldaña: Historic buildings have an important place in implementation of the Climate Action Plan. That's one reason why I authored AB 1103: it recognizes that the most energy efficient and lowest resource-consuming building is one already standing, that is maintained and retrofitted with best available technology, updated and equipped to conserve water and energy, and subjected to periodic energy audits to ensure efficiency.
5. Do you support the Mills Act to assist with the restoration and rehabilitation of historic homes?
Ed Harris: Yes
Lori Saldaña: Yes. And I am also concerned relatively few neighborhoods are using the Mills Act, and would like to see some effort to establish education and support for it to be expanded, and implemented in more diverse and lower income communities. I'd like to help these communities restore older homes and businesses, and lower their energy and water costs (see #4). To that end, I would explore bolstering the Mills Act with some funding similar to the Community Restoration and Revitalization Act (promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation).
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?
Ed Harris: I absolutely support historical districts. Thorough community outreach and input must be first and foremost when planning to move forward.
Lori Saldaña: I do value these Districts, and would expedite the process by reviewing appointments of new people to the Historical Resources Board, and seeking members who have a both a personal interest, and professional background, in preservation
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?
Ed Harris
- N
- Y
- Y
- N
- N
Lori Saldaña
- I support paid parking for non-county residents
- I support full implementation of the NHLD
- I will actively work to identify ways to invest in the preservation of historic and culturally significant structures in Balboa Park
- I am on record opposing the Jacobs proposal
- Some building near Balboa Park were originally constructed to provide lodging for visitors and dignitaries to the original Expositions. I would be interested in exploring if there are opportunities for updated "hospitality spaces" that would conform with the historical use of the site, and create both a source of income and expanded opportunities for more diverse and creative uses of park space.
8. What would you do to help prevent demolition of historically and architecturally significant buildings?
Ed Harris: FIRST, I would consult SOHO and similar organizations when reviewing candidates for the city's historical resources board. Then, I would lobby the City Council and leverage the power of the mayor's office to prevent the demolition of architecturally and historically significant buildings. I would also enforce stiff penalties for any demolitions that do occur without permits.
Lori Saldaña: Given we only have one chance to protect a potentially important structure: I would implement a 72 hour waiting period between the time a permit is issued for a demolition, and the actual process could begin. The goal would be to provide time for public notification once a permit is received and allow additional challenges or appeals.
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?
Ed Harris: Like all infrastructure, the city must undergo a thorough audit of its historical assets. Then we can allocate funding based on needs, not political expediency.
Lori Saldaña: I agree with this assessment of the many values of preserving public space-both environmental and constructed. As a native San Diegan, it is distressing to see so much of our natural space bulldozed, along with many older buildings that provide a glimpse into our region's interesting and diverse history. Given the many benefits of preservation, I would look for funding strategies currently used for "business improvement districts" to create "cultural improvement districts" with similar guidelines and local involvement.
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?
Ed Harris: San Diego will always have a housing shortage. Everyone wants to live here and we have limited space. One of the keys to smart and managed growth is not allowing developer hysteria to threaten our quality of life and historical assets.
Lori Saldaña: As Chair of the Assembly's Housing and Community Development Committee, I learned that there are many obstacles to building affordable housing in cities around California-but preservation is not high among them. I don't believe there is a correlation between historic preservation and the crisis in affordable housing in San Diego. It is more likely the city has not done a very efficient job of using state and federal funding to assist with this challenge.
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?
Ed Harris: I would like to see the Historical Resources Board collaborate with the Council's Smart Growth and Land Use Committee to resolve conflicts, although that conversation will be more successful with a different committee chair.
12. If elected, how will your office prioritize a strategy that reinforces and supports historic designations?
Ed Harris: Filling vacancies on the Historical Resources Board with qualified candidates and listening to our community planning groups and historic preservation organizations.
13. Do you think current public notification systems related to historic preservation projects and opportunities for public input are adequate? (Yes, No)
Ed Harris: NO. As is the case with most development issues, there is not nearly the community engagement our communities deserve.
Lori Saldaña: (11-13) I would establish a working group to review the city's preservation goals and commitments, and task them with addressing these issues in a broad and comprehensive way. I would invite members of SOHO and other organizations to contribute their knowledge and expertise as part of this process. As mentioned in a previous response: we only have one chance to get preservation right, when it comes to possibly demolishing an important building or clearing a critical piece of habitat.
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?
Ed Harris: I believe it is adequate, but the city needs leadership when it comes to enforcing the ordinance
Lori Saldaña: I would like to see the Historical Resources Board collaborate with the Council's Smart Growth and Land Use Committee to resolve conflicts, although that conversation will be more successful with a different committee chair.
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
Ed Harris
- Extremely Important
- Extremely Important
- Extremely Important
- Extremely Important
- Extremely Important
Lori Saldaña
- Best practices: extremely important
- Enforcement: important (add: consequences that are meaningful when violations occur)
- Establish Historic Districts: important
- Reduce landfill waste w/renovation vs. demolition: extremely important to help us achieve Climate Action Plan goals (in some cases re-use of materials, e.g. as at Aztec Center at SDSU, is a good model of re-use of materials from older buildings)
- Financial incentives: important
- Inventory: extremely important
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