Torrey Apartments in University Heights Historically Designated

Torrey Apartments at 4260 Campus Avenue in University Heights

At its June meeting, the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board (HRB) historically designated the Torrey Apartments at 4260 Campus Avenue with a period of significance of 1924-1926 under HRB Criterion.

Designation was based on the following finding, “The resource is a special element of the historical, social, economic, aesthetic, and architectural development of the City of San Diego through its Hybrid Bungalow Court typology and retains integrity to its 1924-1926 period of significance. Specifically, the resource is a good example of a Hybrid Bungalow Court which features a combination of multifamily residential buildings from different time periods and architectural styles that represent this unique part of San Diego’s historic built environment and reflects San Diego’s response in addressing the housing shortage among the rapid population growth that occurred in the early 20th century.”

The subject resource is a Hybrid Bungalow Court and includes three buildings on the site: an 1892 three-story Queen Anne style apartment building and two narrow single-story buildings comprising a 1926 Spanish Colonial Revival style bungalow court. The Queen Anne-style apartment building was originally built as a single-family residence on the site in 1892. The residence was originally located in the middle of the lot, with its primary façade facing east.

The Queen Anne-style home was moved to the rear of the lot In 1924 to allow for the construction of the Spanish Colonial Revival bungalow court in 1926. The primary façade of the home was rotated 90 degrees to face south and its original L-plan was altered with a rear addition to create a U-plan. Two entry pop-outs and a raised concrete porch were added to the east façade and an entry porch was added to the south façade. After the relocation, the single-family residence was converted into a multi-unit apartment building.

The resource also reflects San Diego’s response to addressing the housing shortage in the 1920s, due to the increasing population that was largely attributed to the 1915-1916 California Exposition and military growth in the early 20th century.

Congratulations to the owner of this important historic resource!