ACTIONALERT
ACTION TO TAKE:
1: Telephone Mayor Jerry Sanders' office and demand an appointment with either him or his chief of staff (also to do the same with their Councilperson).
2:
Telephone Phil Roth, Land Use Advisor to Mayor Sanders. Phil Roth is at
(619) 236-6980. Remind him this is an election year.
NUMBERS THE CITY DID NOT SHOW IN THE CASE REGARDING THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF PRESERVATION
SOME BACKGROUND INFO ON CITY POLICY:
Cathy Winterrowd's proposed policy to limit future Mills Act contracts
to run-down, economically disadvantaged, blighted or so-called "revitalizatoin
areas" is coming from the Mayor's office. Generate enough opposition
calling and demand appointments to challenge the proposed change.
We have since learned that HRB staff stopped processing Mills Act contracts in August 2007. Cathy Winterrowd expressed satisfaction that she completed 85 contracts and that was enough for the year, yet all the individual houses landmarked in August and September were not processed. This includes the entire Fort Stockton Line District of 75-houses. If she carries through with her proposal, none of those houses will get Mills Act contracts in 2008 and possibly never.
The "Catch 22" for historical landmarking is the exceedingly
high standard for architectural integrity the City of San Diego requires
for individual house historical designation. The Cleveland Street House
did not meet that high standard. Yet, the proposed rules for Mills Act
would limit Mills Act to houses that are run-down, in bad shape, owned
by economically disadvantaged people who can make the case. No house in
those conditions would be landmarked (Cleveland Street House is a case
in point). Thus, the new rules create a Catch 22 in which no house would
qualify for both landmarking and the Mills Act. By the way, Cleveland
Street is not a blighted or economically disadvantaged area of the City,
so it would not meet that criterion either.
"There have been too many demolitions, most of which were not permitted. We have just learned that Kelly Broughton, Director, Development Services Department, has allowed the Technical Advisory Committee (all developers and applicants for condo/commercial buildings downtown) to control his work program, budget and set his priorities (he said so at Land Use & Housing Committee on Wednesday)." Ron May, Historian
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MISSION ABOUT US ACTION ALERTS HALL OF SHAME DOCUMENTARY PEOPLE TO CONTACT
UPDATE
Please share this e-mail with other preservation supporters
4374 Cleveland Avenue House
On October 26, 2006,
the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board voted against designation
of the house at 4374 Cleveland Avenue under City of San Diego Historical
Resources Board criteria. The owner appears intent on demolishing the
property and replacing it with condominium units.
While 5 of the 7 HRB members present voted in favor of designating the
home on Criteria A, 6 votes were needed according to HRB Bylaws. Criteria
A requires that a property “Exemplify or reflect 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.”
Designation under Criteria A was actually suggested by an HRB Board
member because of the outpouring of community support for historical
designation of the property. So, many thanks to all of you who made
phone calls, wrote letters and e-mails, and attended the meeting –
it does make a difference.
Please write a letter
as soon as possible to the owners at the following address and share
this e-mail and the attached flyer and sample letter with other preservation
supporters:
Dr. Mitchell B. Poiset and Mrs. Jennifer Poiset
Poiset Family Trust
6011 Waverly Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
Please also e-mail copies of your letter to the following:
Mayor Jerry Sanders:
jerrysanders@sandiego.gov
Council President Scott Peters: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Kevin Faulconer: CouncilDistrict2@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Tony Young: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Brian Maienschein: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Council Representative April Chesebro (Toni Atkins): achesebro@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Donna Frye: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Councilmember Jim Madaffer: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Cathy Winterrowd, Senior Planner, Historical Resources Board: cwinterrowd@sandiego.gov
Delores Johnson, Board Secretary, Historical Resources Board: dajohnson@sandiego.gov
Tim Golba, Golba Architecture: tgolba@golba.com
Points to Make
You may want to make the following points in your letter:
How long you (and your family) have lived in University Heights
Why University Heights heritage is important to you
Why it is important to you that at least the front of the 4374 Cleveland
House be preserved
Cite successful examples of preservation and new development such as
4228 Maryland Avenue in University Heights, and 3821 First Avenue in
Hillcrest
Thank the owners for considering your request and encourage them to
work with the community to create a win-win situation
The Players
4374 Cleveland Avenue, Arts and Craft Bungelow, University Heights
Owners are applying to demo house and build condos
Ministerial Permit no Project Manager is assigned.
Project No. 97423
Site: 4374-76 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
APN: 445-271-26
Owner: Poiset Family Trust, 6011 Waverly Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037
Also Known as Waverly Avenue Properties LLC
AKA Dr. Mitchell B. Poiset and Jennifer Poiset (858)
492-9977
Sales Date 11/16/2005 for $759,000. Use: Multi-family dwelling.
Lots 42 and 43, Block 96, University Heights, Block 96, TR LP008PG
0.16 acres, 6,995.736 square feet, lot width 50 feet.
Kathy Winterod 619-235-5217
An outside consultant has already written a Historical Site Assessment
report for the owners of the property. The lawyer who prepared the report
is Scott Moojain. Moojihan has done many reports for developers and
generally come back negative for historic significance.
Initial historical review is in progress in DSD and Historical Resources Board. The review of the consultant’s report will be done in next two weeks.
After historic staff is reviewing the outside consultant’s report, they will prepare their findings based on the report by the outside consultant.
A rebuttal report needs to be submitted to the Historical Resources
Board at the end of this month. The report has to get in before end
of the month for staff to review and comment, and board to review. The
rebuttal report will be distributed to the Historical Resources Board
two weeks before the hearing. The hearing will probably be at the August
24, 2006 historical board meeting.
Ernestine Bonn of University Heights has a copy of the outside consultant’s
Historical Report. Leo Wilson, Chair, chair@uptownplanners.org or (619)
835-9501.
Senior Planner Maxx Stalheim: (619) 236-6153 mstalheim@sandiego.gov
Senior Planner with the Historical Resources Board Cathy Winterrowd: (619) 235-5217
Development Services Director Gary Halbert:
April 18, 2006
Dear Concerned Citizen:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding 4374 Cleveland Avenue.
I have received numerous inquiries about this property from many concerned
University Heights residents. I have spoken with Senior Planner Maxx Stalheim,
Senior Planner with the Historical Resources Board Cathy Winterrowd and
Development Services Director Gary Halbert regarding the City process
for the review of this site.
I agree that this house reflects the character of the original charming neighborhood of University Heights. Unfortunately, this property was subject of a private business transaction which cannot be interfered with by the City. The opportunity for public input into the City process for this site is available through the historical designation processes.
City regulations require a screening for potential historical value for any structure over 45 years in age that is proposed for demolition or substantial alteration. In this case, I understand that the Development Services Department, in conjunction with the Historical Resources Board (HRB) staff, has determined to require a historical study of this property. If the staff finds evidence of potential historical significance, the site will be scheduled for a hearing at the HRB. Owner consent is not required for designation of a historical resource by the City. HRB Staff is careful to explain that the age of a structure is not the sole factor in determining historicity: architectural integrity and historical value must also be considered.
If the site is designated historical by the HRB, any proposal to significantly modify or demolish it will be subject to a discretionary permit, including public hearings and environmental review.
I hope this information
is helpful. Thank you for caring so much about your community. I appreciate
your taking the time to get in touch with me.
Sincerely,
TONI ATKINS
Councilmember, Third District
City of San Diego