Mission Hills Heritage (MHH) is pleased to announce the upcoming nomination of another National Register historic district in Mission Hills: the Marine View Historic District. The focus of this effort is on portions of South Mission Hills, unlike prior national register districts MHH nominated that centered on North Mission Hills (Inspiration Heights (2021) and Arnold & Choate’s Addition – North Florence Heights (2024)). Like these other districts, the creation of this district will offer the prestige of a National Register historic district designation and help protect the character of the area.
The City of San Diego first identified the proposed Marine View Historic District as a potential district in its Uptown Historical Survey, which the City formally adopted in 2016. To date, the City has not followed up with a nomination of this district or any other historic district in Mission Hills or Uptown. MHH has chosen to pursue the path of nomination to the National Register to ensure that that this vital historic resource does not go unrecognized.
The boundaries of the proposed historic district will include most of the subdivision of Marine View (recorded in 1908), and several other subdivisions, including portions of C.C Seaman’s subdivision (recorded in 1888), South Florence Heights and Bellevue (both recorded in 1913) and Alberta Addition (recorded in 1927). This area is roughly bounded by University Avenue, Eagle Street, Brookes Avenue, and Winder and Wellborn Streets. The exact boundaries will be determined as the process moves forward.
Characterized by small-scale single-family residences built for those of modest means, with pattern book and/or prefabricated construction mostly in the Craftsman and Spanish Eclectic styles, the Marine View district is a laboratory of planning and development practices from the early part of the twentieth century. Between 1905 and 1955, the original Victorian subdivision grid from the ‘Boom of the Eighties’ was revised 15 times, showing small scale, incremental interventions that resulted in lot reorientation, division and consolidation; alleys converted to main streets and cul-de-sacs; and broad new streets with curving alignments that complemented the rolling topography and irregular canyon edges. The area’s major development activity during the teens and twenties was obviously shaped by widespread use of the motor car. The end-product is a mosaic of miniature neighborhoods divided by disrupted street patterns and rolling topography, yet unified by architectural style, scale, materials and workmanship.
Acceptance to the National Register of Historic Places will represent a significant honor for this neighborhood and all of Mission Hills. Designation at the national level may also ease the path for future designation at the local San Diego level. Once designated locally, owners of contributing properties will be able to apply for Mills Act contracts to receive property tax benefits. The benefits of this and other historic districts include:
- Preserves architectural charm and character.
- Protects existing homes while still allowing additional “gentle density” with the addition of accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
- Environmentally friendly—the greenest buildings are the ones already built.
- Supports walkability and human-scale design.
- Attracts local investment, tradespeople, and heritage tourism.
- Enhances pride of ownership and encourages re-investment in existing homes.
MHH has hired the consulting firm Environmental Science Associates to prepare the nomination and guide the project through the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), which processes nominations to the National Register. MHH plans to have the nomination submitted to OHP by late 2025 and to obtain a hearing and decision by 2026.
Owners and residents within the proposed district can join the MHH distribution list, ask questions, or provide comments using the following link: https://forms.gle/Fw78zMqWUBSu8WKj9
This project involves significant expense. Please help MHH pay for the cost of the consultant or other expenses by donating to MHH. Donations can be made at our website, www.MissionHillsHeritage.org. With your help, MHH looks forward to making this new historic district a reality!
