The City of San Diego Historic Resources Board designated two more homes in University Heights in September and October.

Thanks to the quick action of neighbors and the City of San Diego, the owner of a historically designated home on Louisiana Street will be held accountable for modifying the exterior of the home without a permit.

The University Heights Historical Society needs your help reaching our goal of $3,000 by September 13 for a fourth historic marker in Trolley Barn Park, 1943 Adams Avenue in University Heights.

Officially subdivided on August 6, 1888, University Heights is one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods and home to the former Mission Cliff Gardens, Bentley’s Ostrich Farm, San Diego Silk Mill, Adams Avenue Carbarn, the first reservoir for the city’s municipal water system, and the San Diego Normal School, forerunner to San Diego State University.

The University Heights Historical Society is delighted to offer a new booklet, Mission Cliff Gardens, A Memoir, by Carole Bryant, great-granddaughter of John Davidson who was the superintendent of Mission Cliff Gardens in University Heights.

Celebrate National Preservation Month by learning more about our historic community, founded in 1888. Take a guided or self-guided walking tour, have your home's historic architecture evaluated, buy an ostrich house plaque, learn more about John Spreckels, or just read about the early history of University Heights!

It’s a name you have probably seen before but can’t quite remember where. Civil Engineer George (G.A.) d’Hemecourt is immortalized on the grant deeds and parcel maps of approximately 6,200 properties in University Heights, typically as “UNIVERSITY HTS. D’HEMECOURT MAP AMENDED (MAP 558).”

Thanks to our supporters, the University Heights Historical Society has continued to fulfill its mission in 2023 to preserve the architectural, cultural, and historic resources in University Heights through research, education, and advocacy.

A 97-year-old Spanish Colonial gem sits at the west end of Madison Avenue in University Heights and was once owned by Samuel Mason. Mason was president of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Directors of the 1935 Panama California International Exhibition in Balboa Park, and vice president and general manager at both the San Diego Electric Railway and the San Diego & Coronado Ferry companies.

Owners of older homes in University Heights may wonder if their property qualifies for a property tax reduction through the Mills Act. In order to qualify for the Mills Act, your property must be a designated historical resource listed on the City of San Diego Register.

Thanks to our supporters, the University Heights Historical Society has continued to fulfill its mission in 2023 to preserve the architectural, cultural, and historic resources in University Heights through research, education, and advocacy.

At 135 years old, University Heights is one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods and home to the former Mission Cliff Gardens, Bentley’s Ostrich Farm, San Diego Silk Mill, Adams Avenue Carbarn, the first reservoir for the city’s municipal water system, and the San Diego Normal School, forerunner to San Diego State University.

One of the hottest ongoing debates in University Heights is our geographic boundaries. The boundaries of University Heights vary, depending on which map you consult. Check out our new map of University Heights subdivisions.

At its June meeting, the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board historically designated the Torrey Apartments at 4260 Campus Avenue.

University Heights has many older homes, including over 170 that are historically designated, representing a wide variety of architectural styles from Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Minimal Traditional, Contemporary, Victorian, and Queen Anne Free Classic to Mission Revival. This article explores the architectural features that define the Spanish Colonial architectural style, one of the more common styles in University Heights.

University Heights has many older homes, including over 170 that are historically designated, representing a wide variety of architectural styles from Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Minimal Traditional, Contemporary, Victorian, and Queen Anne Free Classic to Mission Revival. This article explores the architectural features that define the Craftsman architectural style, one of the most common styles in University Heights.

Wondering if your older home qualifies for up to 50% property tax reduction through the Mills Act? Properties must be historically designated properties in order to qualify for the Mills Act. The University Heights Historical Society can help owners of older properties decide if their home may be potentially eligible for historic designation.

With the passage of Measure U (the San Diego Student Safety, Health, and School Repair Measure), our City has a golden opportunity to adaptively reuse the Teachers Training Annex 1, a National Historic Landmark and forerunner to San Diego State University, as the University Heights Branch Library.

Thanks to our supporters, the University Heights Historical Society has continued to fulfill its mission in 2022 to preserve the architectural, cultural, and historic resources in University Heights through research, education, and advocacy.

Founded in 1897, San Diego State University (SDSU) is celebrating 125 years of history this year, which includes its first campus in University Heights in 1898. This final post focuses on the Normal School from 1921 to 1931.