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Houses Imperiled by Religious Exemption Demolitions
May/June 2017
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 Photos courtesy Gregory May |
Two historically significant, early 20th-century houses in North Park have been demolished for a parking lot. In September 2016 the attractive homes at 3688 and 3694 Indiana Street came up during the City's regular 45-year historic review process. SOHO flagged them, recognizing their potential for designation based on their architecture.
After following up on these properties with the City of San Diego's Historical Resources Board staff this year, we learned that the owner, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church located on Park Boulevard, had been granted a religious exemption for demolition. A 1994 state law exempts religion-based entities from involuntary local historical designation of their non-commercial property.
By acting on their religious exemption with the intent to raze these houses for more parking for their congregation, the church has outraged the North Park and Uptown community. Citizens want to fight the demolition of much-needed, market rate affordable housing and significantly diminished quality of their neighborhood.
On April 10, SOHO received a letter from St. Spyridon stating the church is open to proposals to relocate these Craftsman houses on or before July 1, 2017. However, they then proceeded to demolish them in late April without any notice to us or the community.
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