University Heights Historical Society 2023 Mid-Year Update

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.

Following is an overview of our efforts so far in 2023. Click on the images for more information.

Historic Architectural Assessments

Starting in March, the University Heights Historical Society began offering historic architectural assessments to help owners of older properties decide if their home might be potentially eligible for historic designation. Architectural historians, Amie Hayes, M.A. and Ginger Weatherford, M.P.S., reviewed basic information on 16 homes in University Heights including published historic surveys, Sanborn fire insurance maps, and historic photos and aerials. They then provided a professional opinion about the likelihood that the property could be locally designated on the basis of architecture only.

Blog Series on University Heights Architectural Styles

Architectural historian Ginger Weatherford, M.P.S. wrote a series of blog articles on two of the most prevalent architectural styles in San Diego—Craftsman and Spanish Colonial. University Heights has many older homes that represent a wide variety of architectural styles from Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival, Minimal Traditional, Contemporary, Victorian, and Queen Anne Free Classic to Mission Revival. We anticipate more articles on other architectural styles in the future.

University Heights House Plaque

The University Heights Historical Society began offering its popular ostrich house plaque in July 2022. Since then, almost 100 plaques have been sold and volunteer Renee Gregorio installed dozens of them throughout the neighborhood.

Save Our Heritage Organisation Award

On July 27, the University Heights Historical Society was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Award by Save Our Heritage Organisation for the three 7-foot-tall historical markers at the former site of Mission Cliffs Gardens and the Bentley Ostrich Farm. Kristin Harms with the University Heights Historical Society conceived and managed this project with the assistance of Ernestine Bonn, Treasurer with the University Heights Community Development Corporation, and Dr. Sandra Bonura, author of several published books including “Empire Builder: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego.”

Left to right: Ernestine Bonn, Kristin Harms, Dr. Sandra Bonura

University Heights Subdivision Map

The University Heights Historical Society introduced a new online map on July 29 of 20 subdivisions in University Heights, the earliest of which was filed with the City of San Diego on August 26, 1872 (Higgins Addition) and the latest on May 15, 1958 (University Heights Resubdivision No. 1). The new map, painstakingly created by volunteer Bill Ellig, includes any parcel identified as part of a subdivision with “University Heights” in the name, or as any part of a subdivision identified as "University Heights" in Appendix H, Uptown Subdivisions, of the 2007 Uptown Historic Architectural and Cultural Landscape Reconnaissance Survey.

Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings on Normal Street Site

The University Heights Historical Society continued to advocate with the San Diego Unified School District for the preservation of two large heritage trees, and the adaptive reuse of Annexes 1-4 in conjunction with the proposed redevelopment of the Normal Street site in University Heights. The School District anticipates holding public workshops again this year regarding the site plan for the Normal Street property.

Canary Island Palms Preventively Treated

Thanks to the collective efforts of the University Heights Historical Society, University Heights Community Development Corporation, and concerned UH community members, the City has continued to preventively treat eight Canary Island Palms in University Heights every six months since December 2020 for the South American Palm Weevil. This includes three palms in the 4600 block of Park Blvd. and five historically-designated palms in the 4700 block of Park Blvd. Unfortunately, one of the six original historically-designated palms has been lost since treatment began.