Collective Action Brings Justice for Historic Resource
Before and After Photos of Home in Melhorn and Son Historic District, University Heights
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 home was sold in July 2024 and in late October, the owner removed the original wood siding and windows without a permit. Neighbors quickly filed a code enforcement complaint with the City of San Diego Development Services Department Building and Land Use Enforcement Division (BLUE) and informed the City of San Planning Department. In response, BLUE conducted a site visit to the property.
According to Suzanne Segur with the City of San Diego Planning Department, “The exterior of the resource will need to be restored, consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, to its former appearance using as much salvaged material as possible.” BLUE issued an initial Administrative Citation for the maximum amount of $1,000. Additional enforcement measures may be taken if approved restoration efforts do not begin in a timely manner.
The Craftsman Bungalow was built in 1924 by two Master Builders, Martin Melhorn and William Melhorn, and was historically designated in 2018 as part of the Melhorn and Son Historic District (https://www.uhhs-uhcdc.org/historic-districts).
The City of San Diego requires a building permit for any major alterations to the exterior of any home such as building an addition or second story, stuccoing over wood siding, removing original porches, or removing wood windows and replacing them with aluminum or vinyl ones. Historically designated properties are subject to additional project review by the City during the building permit process to ensure that the plans meet the U. S. Secretary of the Interior Standards.
According to Bruce Coons, Executive Director of Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), there are several steps you should take if you think a historically designated home in your neighborhood is being modified without a permit. Red flags to watch for are the removal of exterior siding, doors, or windows.
Immediately request a Private Property Investigation by calling San Diego Code Enforcement at 619-236-5500, or by filing a request online at https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/building-land-use-enforcement
Email the Investigation Number to the Planning Department at historicalresources@sandiego.gov and copy SOHO at sohosandiego@aol.com, and the University Heights Historical Society at uhhs@att.net.
If you are unsure if the property is historically designated or if the work is being done without a permit, contact the University Heights Historical Society at uhhs@att.net and we will look into it for you.
University Heights is fortunate to have four historic districts comprising 159 homes, which represent less than 2% of the total number of housing units in the City.