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2024 Mayoral and City Council Candidate Historic Preservation Q&A
Candidates for District 9
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera - Did not respond
Terry Hoskins
 1. Currently, the city is undertaking an initiative called Preservation and Progress, that aims to "modernize historic property regulations" to "preserve important places," and "streamline new home construction."
What are your preliminary thoughts on the initiative?
Terry Hoskins: At face value, Preservation and Progress intends to accomplish two goals: protecting places of historic, architectural, and cultural importance while streamlining the process of building new homes. However, I am not convinced the current City elected officials would choose preservation over progress, especially when it comes to single-family neighborhoods. This particular concerns me as I value historic preservation, as in Liberty Station. Again, historic preservation is extremely important to me. As retired United States Marines, we value our history and historic architectural importance.
If elected, will you work directly with the preservation community to oversee this initiative?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
Please elaborate
All elected officials need to seek advice from people with years of experience. What we would not want to accomplish is to be so reactive to a presumed shortage of affordable housing that we create unnecessary burdens on projects on properties already under review. I have heard several times from people with years of experience in preservation that continue to espouse that potentially the best way to work toward a solution of affordable housing would be to expansion of a realistic adaptive reuse policy.
2. The Preservation and Progress initiative lacks rigorous, research-based studies on the real impacts of historic preservation. San Diego has never conducted a comprehensive professional analysis of how historic preservation affects its affordable housing, equity, and climate goals. City officials are attempting to address these issues without a clear economic or broader perspective to guide them.
The city currently maintains a historic preservation fund of approximately $90,000. SOHO, alongside the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition—which comprises over a dozen groups and organizations—has proposed that these funds be allocated to this study.
2a. Would you commission a citywide economic study and analysis of historic preservation, as other major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Antonio have done?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
Why or why not?
Terry Hoskins: It is essential not to make mistakes in future policies when a realistic historic preservation analysis could have been conducted. Additionally, performing a study and analysis of historic preservation in other locations could prove to be cost-effective in implementing the results of that analysis.
2b. Would you do this study before making any changes to the current ordinance?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
Please explain
Terry Hoskins: As previously explained, elected officials should constantly strive to avoid creating any ordinance due to a reactionary response. Elected officials are expected to be fiduciary responsible and use sobering decisionmaking techniques.
3. The reuse of older buildings benefits the City’s climate action and housing priorities while supporting historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization, and a circular economy.
What are your views on promoting adaptive reuse projects of our historic buildings to preserve cultural identity while integrating sustainable practices?
Terry Hoskins: As a retired Marine, I have worked approximately eight years aboard MCRD, San Diego, where this process is always considered and conducted. I firmly believe that Liberty Station is an example of how successful reuse projects can be if properly pursued.
How would you encourage the repurposing of historic buildings for modern uses without compromising their architectural integrity and cultural significance?
Terry Hoskins: Truthfully, repurposing any historic building is not my wheelhouse and is not my forte. It would be invaluable to seek advice from personnel who have this type of experience. As a Save Our Heritage Organisation member, I cannot think of a better organization to request their assistance in fully integrating equity into the City's Heritage Preservation Project.
4. Massive new development in older neighborhoods often tears down the existing Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) in the form of vintage homes, bungalow courts, and small apartments. The city does not currently address historic buildings in its NOAH plan.
What would you do to make sure that the city’s NOAH plans include and prioritize historic housing?
Terry Hoskins: I have witnessed and heard numerous examples of developers purchasing property in older neighborhoods, demolishing existing buildings (Units), and replacing these naturally occurring affordable housing with new development. This process has destroyed every affordable unit (As example, six units) in small apartments to build larger apartments with 14 units, where only two are considered affordable housing. Therefore, we lost four units that were truly affordable housing and gained 12 unaffordable units.
5. Despite extensive rhetoric about making housing more affordable, the Mills Act remains San Diego’s only effective incentive for achieving this goal. However, the City of San Diego's designation process poses a significant barrier for those with limited income to apply for designation, as in most cases, homes must be restored first before they can qualify. This prerequisite makes the process financially prohibitive for many. Additionally, the high degree of physical integrity required of the structure to apply for the Mills Act has made the process onerous. This requirement is counter to the reason the Mills Act was enacted and tends to penale those with lesser means who seek to preserve their historic homes.
How would you propose ensuring that everyone has equal access to the benefits of historic designation and the potential property tax relief program?
Terry Hoskins: As an elected official, I would strive to change the designation process, not to make it harder but to follow the guidelines established by the Mills Act. This prerequisite is purposefully established to restrict communities or individual locations from achieving the goal of being historic.
With a PhD in Public Administration, I understand the importance of efficiency and proficiency in government, especially the equitable distribution of services expected from government.
Do you support the Mills Act as a means to assist with the cost of restoration and rehabilitation of historic homes?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
6. Many historic district designations have been languishing in city offices for decades, with the city offering a myriad of excuses for refusing to advance them.
6a. Will you actively advocate for the designation of neighborhoods with pending historic district status applications at the Historical Resources Board (HRB)?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
6b. Will you support neighborhoods seeking historic district status by urging the HRB to adhere to a specific, and reasonable timetable for making decisions?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
6c. Would you endorse a program to fast track these in an effort to create certainty for both the residents and the development community?
Terry Hoskins: Yes
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