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.

Student sports were in their infancy in 1900 at San Diego Normal School but the college we know today as San Diego State University was eager to launch competitive sports. From its campus on Park Blvd. in University Heights, the one-year-old school was ready for football.

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 post focuses on the Normal School from 1910 to 1920.

This week, a plaque gifted by the University Heights Historical Society to the San Diego Unified School District, was installed on the Teachers Training Annex 1 commemorating its status as a national landmark.

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 post focuses on the Normal School from 1898 to 1910.

One hundred years ago this week, a dispute between the San Diego Electric Railroad and the city of San Diego over street paving came to a head in the so-called Battle of Adams Avenue.

If you live in Normal Heights, North Park, or University Heights, you may be wondering how so older properties in our neighborhoods are being replaced by tall, dense buildings with little or no public review.

At 134 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.

This beautiful Queen Anne Free Classic style home at 1086 Hayes Avenue in University Heights built in 1908 was historically designated by the City of San Diego Historic Resources Board on May 26, 2022.

Show your love for University Heights with our new, 7” diameter, bronze color plaque made from 14-gauge steel, sanded smooth, and coated with a durable UV powder coat to endure the elements for many years to come. Perfect for proudly mounting on the front of your house or business.

On June 21, 1900, the San Diego Normal School in University Heights (now San Diego State University) held its first commencement ceremonies. Twenty-six students graduated including 23 women and 3 men.

Three new historic markers were installed on May 18th by the University Heights Historical Society with a grant from the County of San Diego, and in partnership with the City of San Diego, the University Heights Community Development Corporation, and the University Heights Maintenance Assessment District.

A little bit of University Heights history was uncovered in early April when an old hand-painted sign for “Johnston’s Variety Department Store” was revealed under the sign for the former Small Bar at 4628 Park Blvd.

This downloadable digital guide includes a one-hour recorded webinar and 56-page slide deck presented by Senior Archaeologist/Historian Doug Mengers with PanGIS. Inc. Mr. Mengers walks through the process of researching the history of your property, preparing a report to nominate it locally for historic designation, and completing a Mills Act application to reduce property taxes on designated properties.

Save our Heritage Organisation is launching a free video tutorial series on Restoration Projects for the Historic Home Owner. Watch this first, step by step video on how to repair and restore your old wood window.

The University Heights Historical Society will host two free webinars in March about how to research and submit a nomination to historically designate your home, presented by historic preservation experts Amie Hayes with SOHO, and Doug Mengers with PanGIS.

Created originally for the fire insurance industry for risk assessment purposes, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps provide a wealth of information about the historical evolution of buildings, including their historic uses and building materials, for conservation, and restoration and rehabilitation.