The future of the old house at 310 San Fernando in the Point Loma neighborhood of La Playa is on the chopping block. The San Diego Historical Resources Board meets on Thursday, April 24 to decide its future.
Should it be saved … or demolished to make way for at least 3 new homes?
According to local residents who want to save it, a recent historical survey by a consultant has submitted to the City that it’s the second oldest house in the La Playa community, and the oldest example of the Prairie style of architecture. La Playa is the oldest community in Point Loma, and Point Loma is one of the oldest communities in San Diego.
On March 31, TV reporter Dan Plante of KUSI ran a story (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BkdP0_izDkouHWEb_Jq3JfkdiqjDleUc/view?usp=drive_web)
Recently the Rag published a report by Ann Jarmusch of SOHO ( March-April newsletter ). Here it is again.
During their January 2025 meeting, the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board considered a 1912 Point Loma house on Fernando Street. It is currently boarded up and the owner has a 90-day permit for demolition. ….
Regarding designations, an interesting case of history and change over time occupied the board with three lengthy reports and public comment on the nomination of a 1912 Prairie style house at 310 San Fernando Street. An early and rare example of the style in San Diego, historic photos depict the two-story, square home as an outpost seven miles from the city and rising from Point Loma’s nearly vacant La Playa area. Neighbors noted that it is one of La Playa’s oldest remaining house and an important touchstone for the community.
This house has an unusual history with the HRB, beginning in 2018 and including reports comprising hundreds of pages, incomplete reports the Heritage Preservation staff could not officially accept, and the staff’s current recommendation not to designate the house due to extensive alterations. The three detailed architectural evaluations presented at the meeting came down either for or against designation, based on modifications, materials, and setting. Other germane facts slipped out during the hearing: The house is now boarded up and its owner has a demolition permit good for 90 days.
Bruce Coons, SOHO executive director, told the board he had visited the property several years ago at the owner’s invitation to help determine its historicity. He favors designation because it is an important house for Point Loma. In his view, the alterations—such as the replacement of the original flat tile roof with asphalt and the addition of a bay window—do not detract from the 1912 design integrity and are not sufficient enough to disqualify it from designation. “It is instantly recognizable,” he said, as a Prairie-style home both in early photos and today.
San Diego’s Historical Resources Board is expected to receive new information and to rehear the case for designating this 1912 Prairie style house with Mission Revival influences in the La Playa neighborhood at its April 24, 2025 meeting.
The Project Review Committee of the Peninsula Community Planning Board reviewed a site demo plan. It was rejected as no plan for replacement was presented. The committee also felt Historic Review was needed.
Here is info on the San Diego Historical Resources Board meeting:
April 24, 2025, at 1:00 P.M.
Public Utilities Department
Metropolitan Operations Complex II (MOC2) Auditorium
9192 Topaz Way
San Diego, CA 92123
Frank, thanks for the information and if you can’t make the meeting in person, you can join the meeting virtually, here is the information:
The link to join the webinar by computer, tablet or smartphone is:
https://sandiego.zoomgov.com/j/1602297511
To Join by Telephone
Dial 1-669-254 5252 or (Toll-Free) 1-833-568-8864
When prompted, input Webinar ID: 160 229 7511
For a written response, use this link: https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/historical-resources-board/agenda-comment-form
This now has a demolition permit opened through the city…
Interesting fact that demolition is now permitted all over the city with no known replacement. This is not the only case; many others are not related to historical designations. This used to be known as “piecemealing” and was not permitted by the City of San Diego. Now you see it all the time. What happened? Why did this used to be unacceptable?