San Diego’s older neighborhoods are filled with unique and historic homes. But a local community planning group says too many of these houses are being demolished without any public notice.
San Diego’s Uptown Planners group is working to preserve historic homes in neighborhoods like Bankers Hill, Hillcrest and North Park. The group says homeowners often take advantage of loopholes in city rules and demolish houses before the community knows what’s going on. Group Chair Leo Wilson says it’s happening all over San Diego.
“We have wonderful houses that were built in a manner we can’t afford to build today, the craftsmanship, the art to it. And rather than tear these down and build new places we think it would be good to preserve those,” he says.
Wilson says his organization is recommending the city allow community planning groups to review demolition permits before owners can act on them. A city council committee will consider the Uptown group’s request later this month.
