|
September and October Designations
By A. Hayes
November/December 2018
San Diego
In September, the City of San Diego's Historical Resources Board designated four new historical resources and gave their first review of the Melhorn and Sons Historic District in North Park. This proposed new district, which envelopes the small Shirley Ann Place Historic District, would be separate because the period of significance is slightly earlier, beginning in 1924. SOHO advocated for 4515 and 4541 Louisiana Street to be included as contributors to this district and the HRB agreed!
Board member Diana Reynolds-Cordileone brought a state grant opportunity to the City and Board's attention. She suggested that the grant application propose support for a historic context statement about the significance and prevalence of female architects and builders in San Diego.
 3544 Texas Street in North Park is an Arts and Crafts era bungalow with Asian influences, constructed in 1913. Designated under Criterion C, this is as an excellent example of the style. Features include the low pitch roof with Asian flared vergeboards (boards placed along the gable end of the roof), exposed rafter tails, exterior drop siding, wood sash and fixed windows, and a divided-light wood entry door.
|
 1808 Altamira Place in Mission Hills is a Prairie style house with Spanish Renaissance influences. Built in 1914, this house is designated under Criterion C, for embodying distinctive characteristics of the style. Design features include horizontal lines across this single-story home, a low pitch hip roof with deep eaves and clay tile, leaded glass casement windows, curved bay window, detailed soffit, and geometric paneling surrounding the front entry. Also designated under Criterion D, as the work of Master Architects Leonard Temple Bristow and John Beattie Lyman Jr., this house illustrates their high quality of design and craftsmanship.
|
 4130 Lark Street in Mission Hills is designed in the Prairie style by Master Architect Joel Brown and constructed in 1916 by Master Builder Martin V. Melhorn. Designated under Criteria C and D, for the style and associated Masters, character-defining features include the low pitch roof with deep eaves, two-story massing, paired decorative roof members, wood casement and transom windows, and single-story entry porch. This house illustrates Brown's high-quality craftsmanship and served as a model for nearby properties. It also represents the notable work of Melhorn before he transitioned to building Arts and Crafts homes.
|
 The residential high-rise at 4150 Lymer Drive in Kensingon, built in 1929, was designated under Criterion C as a good example of the Spanish Eclectic style. The design includes hip, shed, and gable style roofs covered in Mission clay tile, a stucco exterior, a tall wooden arch-shaped window, casement windows, and a recessed entry porch.
|
In October, the Historical Resources Board designated one archaeological site, three individual buildings, and the Melhorn and Son Historic District in University Heights! They also discussed the Parks Master Plan and Historical District Amendments,
SOHO highlighted the need for the Parks Master Plan to recognize and prioritize the various Historic National Landmarks that are part of San Diego's Park and Recreation System, especially Presidio, Balboa, and Chicano parks. SOHO and several other advocates also strongly opposed inappropriate changes to the Historical District Ordinance, which the Board also did not readily support. Next steps are for a public workshop to be scheduled and for revised amendments to return to the HRB in February 2019.
SOHO is very grateful to those supporters who were able to attend this lengthy HRB meeting in order to cede time or testify to the Board on this important item.
The Mut kula xuy/Mut lah hoy ya Site #9 in La Jolla is designated under Criterion A as a special element of the City's archaeological and cultural development. However, only the site itself is designated, not the residence, and the address is not listed due to the sensitive nature of the site. Encompassing a large habitation area known to the Kumeyaay tribe, this archaeological site is known as the "place of many caves," and the diversity of tribal and cultural resources here illustrate various layers of cultural phases found within the region.
 3941 Albatross Street, located in the Hillcrest neighborhood, is an Arts and Crafts era bungalow constructed in 1914 by the Pacific Building Company. Designated under Criteria C and D, for architecture and as the notable work of a Master Builder, features include the low pitch gable with exposed rafter tails, cobble stone porch piers and chimney, wood shingle exterior, and wood sash windows.
|
 3312 Elliot Street in the Loma Portal neighborhood is a c. 1926 Tudor Revival style house designed by Master Designer Ralph Hurlburt (who was never listed historically as an architect) and constructed by Master Builder Charles Tifal. Character defining features include the steep cross gables, half-timbering, tall and narrow wood casement windows with divided light glass panes, and recessed arch entry with quoin detailing. Designated under both Criteria C and D, this house is an excellent example of the Tudor Revival style and the notable work of two masters.
|
 4309 Arista Street in Mission Hills, circa 1939, illustrates the Spanish Revival style. Designated under Criterion C, for embodiment of the style, design elements include the sand stucco exterior finish, clay tile covered roof with exposed rafter tails, wood casement and sash windows, and decorative wrought iron and tile work detail.
|
San Diego's newest historic district is the Melhorn and Son Historic District in University Heights and it surrounds the Shirley Ann Place Historic District, but is wholly separate, with 23 contributing houses and seven non-contributing buildings. Designated under Criterion A, as a special element of San Diego's development, with a period of significance from 1924 through 1948, the Melhorn and Son's Alberta Security Company purchased its first lot in 1924 and the district was built out by 1948 with Arts and Crafts era and Minimal Traditional style bungalows. Significant as suburban development due to the streetcar during the Post-Exposition and Post-WWI era, this neighborhood also reflects an effort to develop housing for workers. Additionally designated under Criterion D, as the notable work of two Master Builders, Martin V. Melhorn and William Melhorn, this district also represents their emphasis on building worker housing and their last endeavor before Martin Melhorn's death in 1925.
See SOHO's newly released Most Endangered List.
|
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
|
