San Diego to Update Historic Preservation Program

According to an article in the Times of San Diego, the city of San Diego will undergo a comprehensive review of its Heritage Preservation program. City officials say the ‘Preservation and Progress’ initiative is aimed at protecting historic resources while also encouraging new housing construction and adaptive reuse.

“Under the new initiative, staff will update existing policy and regulatory documents guiding the city’s preservation program to fix ‘inefficiencies and remove regulations unnecessarily impacting properties lacking historical or cultural importance.’” The city says they will also evaluate inequities in the program and identify other sites and neighborhoods with historic and cultural importance. “The City’s commitment in recent years to new housing, equity, sustainability, and resilience goals and policies, as well as new State housing legislation and evolving best practices in heritage preservation nationwide require a fresh look at how the City’s Heritage Preservation Program is structured and implemented.”

According to the city’s website, “By giving historic places new uses, making compatible additions and integrating new development, we get a vibrant mix of places and a distinctive, livable community.”