Historic Architectural Assessment of Your Older Home or Property
Wondering if your older home qualifies for up to 50% property tax reduction through the Mills Act? The first step is to obtain historical designation of your property by the City of San Diego. 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.
Historical designation is an in-depth process that requires extensive research, preparation of a Historical Resource Research Report (HRRR), and submission of the HRRR to the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board for a decision.
Properties may be historically designated by the City of San Diego on the basis of one or more of the following six criteria:
Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's, a community’s, or a neighborhood's historical, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, landscaping, or architectural development.
Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history.
Embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.
Is representative of the notable work of a master builder, designer, architect, engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, artist, or craftsman.
Is listed or has been determined eligible by the National Park Service for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or is listed or has been determined eligible by the California State Office of Historic Preservation for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources.
Is a finite group of resources related to one another in a clearly distinguishable way or is a geographically definable area or neighborhood containing improvements which have a special character, historical interest or aesthetic value or which represent one or more architectural periods or styles in the history and development of the City.
Architectural historian Ginger Weatherford, MPS, explains the benefits, process, and responsibilities of historic designation.
The University Heights Historical Society can help owners of older properties decide if their home may be potentially eligible for historic designation. Architectural historians, Amie Hayes, M.A. or Ginger Weatherford, M.P.S., will review basic information and photos provided by the owner and conduct basic research to determine the property’s age, architectural style, historic features, and architectural integrity. Amie or Ginger will then provide a professional opinion about the likelihood that the property could be locally designated on the basis of Criterion C only, “embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.”
Once all the information is received from the owner, an architectural historian will review the information and prepare a written assessment, which will be emailed to the owner within 3 weeks.