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SOHO President's Message
By David W. Goldberg
November/December 2022
 Photo by Sandé Lollis |
Has it been really been 50 years since I graduated from high school in 1972? The older I get, the more the years seem to run together. That said, some stand out as consequential and indelibly stamped in my mind. 1972 is one of them. It was the year I received my draft number, started college, and when George McGovern challenged Richard Nixon for the presidency. All highly significant events for someone of my generation. It was also the year the landmark Mills Act, one of our most important preservation tools, was enacted in California.
Considering how important this farsighted legislation has been to preservation, it’s surprising the 50th anniversary hasn’t received more attention. At the time of its passage, the preservation movement was in its infancy and not on many people’s—and even fewer legislators’—radar.
At its core, the Mills Act is “a local property tax incentive to encourage restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of privately owned historic resources.” Implementation, however, was something of a roller coaster ride. Sponsored by the late State Senator Jim Mills in response to threats against the historic Hotel del Coronado, the law was deemed unconstitutional in 1973. California voters overcame this setback in 1976 when they approved a constitutional amendment allowing local governments to implement it. Since then, it's been amended on at least two occasions.
A child of the Great Depression and lifelong progressive, Jim Mills believed in the power of good government. The San Diegan understood that good legislation isn’t a zero-sum game where a benefit for one is offset by a loss for another.
By providing tax relief for owners of historic structures who sign a 10-year contract with their participating city and commit to reinvesting tax savings in restoring or preserving the property, thousands of residential and commercial buildings have been saved. This has been transformative statewide for older neighborhoods and commercial districts in decline. For proof, simply look at the renaissance that’s occurred in older San Diego neighborhoods, especially those south of Interstate 8.
Additionally, the Mills Act has been good social, economic, and environmental policy. It’s helped first-time buyers achieve home ownership and the ability to build wealth. Despite arguments to the contrary, Mills Act contracts increase the property tax base by increasing the value of surrounding properties. As Jim Mills stated, “It doesn't take revenue from cities… If you improve one house, it increases the value of the neighborhood.” And it has reduced “architectural waste” from demolished buildings, rife with embodied carbon, from going into landfills. Quite an impressive record for legislation that’s half a century old!
I’m happy to report a decades-old dream is finally realized. On October 8, 2022, the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center celebrated its grand opening. SOHO has long been a supporter of this project dedicated to preserving the history and culture of San Diego’s rich Chicano heritage. Please see the article by Maria Curry in this issue.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!
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