Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition

Historic preservation is proven to support local economies, reduce environmental impact, and build community stability. It’s smart policy!

Historic preservation is proven to support local economies, reduce environmental impact, and build community stability. It’s not nostalgia folks, it’s smart policy!

On Wednesday, January 14, the San Diego City Council’s Land Use & Housing Committee will consider the City’s Preservation and Progress Package A.

This fast-tracked proposal would weaken San Diego’s historic preservation program by allowing the City Council to override expert historic designations, thereby stripping protections from historic districts such as Ocean Beach’s Cottage Emerging District and the Asian Thematic District, while prioritizing new construction over true preservation.

Your voice matters now. Please attend the meeting if you can and send a letter or email urging the committee to reject these harmful changes.

Land Use & Housing Committee
City Council, City of San Diego

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 • 2pm

City Administration Building
Council Chambers – 12th Floor
202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Agenda Item: 3

Preservation and Progress Package A

Agenda: https://sandiego.hylandcloud.com/211agendaonlinecomm/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=6815&doctype=1&site=comm

Send your letters and emails to Council Administration
Email [email protected]

Subject Preservation and Progress Package A / Land Use & Housing Committee

What’s at stake in Package A

The City’s proposals directly threaten San Diego’s preservation program and the places you love that make San Diego thrive. Use these points as your own, or personalize.

De Novo

A de novo process would allow the City Council to rehear historic designation cases from scratch—overriding the determinations of the Historical Resources Board (HRB), a body of trained experts in history, architecture, and archaeology. This politicizes what should remain a fact-based, impartial process.

It gives developers but not advocates a second bite at the apple
It creates unnecessary costs, delays, and uncertainty
It weakens public trust in the preservation program
Erosion of Historic District Protections

Neighborhoods—especially Ocean Beach’s Cottage Emerging District and The Asian Thematic district will be stripped of its current protections opening it up for the City’s destructive Complete Community program, along with pending districts, all are left vulnerable in this misguided initiative.

Misplaced Focus on New Construction

The plan prioritizes streamlining new construction under the banner of “preservation.” This is fundamentally incompatible with preservation policy nationwide. Adaptive reuse, infill, and design guidelines are what is appropriate. Bulldozing protections to clear the way for demolition is not only shortsighted, but it also goes directly against the city’s climate action goals.

From The San Diego Community Coalition
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578246150953
Community Coalition Bulletin: This Week at City Hall
Wednesday, January 14: Land Use and Housing Committee, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda Link:
https://sandiego.hylandcloud.com/211agendaonlinecomm/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=6815&doctype=1&site=comm

Items include: Preservation and Progress Package A

Why it matters: “Predation and Privateering” would be a more accurate name for this plan to scuttle San Diego’s historic preservation program so developers can bulldoze treasured structures to build large ugly boxes. For background, read Rag commentaries from SOHO on January 9 https://obrag.org/2026/01/key-council-committee-to-consider-citys-preservation-proposals-including-knocking-out-obs-historic-district-to-pave-way-for-over-development-wed-jan-14/
and Michael Stepner and Mary Lydon https://obrag.org/2025/12/historic-preservation-has-become-part-of-the-counterproductive-yimby-vs-nimby-debate/on December 12.

A huge turnout of community leaders is critical here.

In-person: Council, 202 C St.

To participate via Zoom and submit written comments, click on the meeting agenda and look for the links.

Key Council Committee to Consider City’s Preservation Proposals — Including Knocking Out OB’s Historic District to Pave Way for Over-Development : Wed., Jan.14 From SOHO On Wednesday, January 14, the San Diego City Council’s Land Use & Housing Committee will consider the City’s Preservation and Progress Package A. This fast-tracked proposal would weaken San Diego’s historic preservation program by allowing the City Council to override expert historic...

San Diego Planning Commission Nov. 6th Meeting: Progress and Preservation Package A By South OB Girl

Planning Commission Votes for ‘Reforms’ Which Undermine Ocean Beach’s Historic District San Diego Planning Commission Nov. 6th Meeting: Progress and Preservation Package A By South OB Girl San Diegans from throughout San Diego gathered in the meeting room for the Thursday November 6th meeting of the San Diego Planning Commission. The meeting began at 9 am and after approximately 2 and....

San Diego’s Historic Resource Board to Consider ‘Reforms’ — Thursday, Oct.23 Thanks to and Mission Hills Heritage

San Diego’s Historic Resource Board to Consider ‘Reforms’ — Thursday, Oct.23 From Mission Hills Heritage

One of our great coalition members. Congratulations Eric DuVall!

Eric DuVall — Head of OB Historical Society — Presented with ‘Culture Keeper Award’ by SOHO From SOHO (Save Our Heritage Org.) SOME PEOPLE KEEP HISTORY ALIVE by retelling it, some by writing it, some by advocating for and protecting the places that hold it, and a rare few do all three. Eric DuVall is one of those rare few. As president of the Ocean Beach Historical Society and a board memb...

URGENT! Urgent NEW Action Needed Now - Only 10% of Historic Sites Saved?

IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE YOU CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO 50 UNDECIDED ASSEMBLYMEMBERS.
Take Action Now Here: https://secure.everyaction.com/9mMwr4Dey0-DJyD3ZqFxVA2

URGENT! Urgent NEW Action Needed Now - Only 10% of Historic Sites Saved?

IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE YOU CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO 50 UNDECIDED ASSEMBLYMEMBERS.
Take Action Now Here: https://secure.everyaction.com/9mMwr4Dey0-DJyD3ZqFxVA2

Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) is heading to the Assembly floor and Senator Scott Wiener has rejected every preservation safeguard SOHO and our partners proposed.

Instead, new language has been added that makes the bill even worse!

The latest amendment introduces a cap of just 10% protection for historic resources within any transit-oriented development zone. This would force cities like San Diego to decide which historic places survive and which 90% are sacrificed.

AND, it freezes any locally designated historic sites after January 1, 2025, only "safe" if protected before that date!

These and other last minute changes to the bill were posted on Friday, meaning a floor vote in the Assembly that it could come up for a vote as soon as tonight or Tuesday.

There is still a real chance to defeat SB 79 if enough of us act immediately!

Read about it more here- But most importantly take quick action with the one click to 50 assemblypersons!! https://conta.cc/4m9bZbH

Preserve Greater Golden Hill to Host “March & Roll” in South Park SUNDAY, SEP. 7, 2025, 11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

Once again, the development industry and their political allies want you to believe their nonsense... Liar, liars, pants on fire.

GREAT op ed by Pamela Heatherington - executive director of the Environmental Center of San Diego, which promotes healthy natural systems to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of our community.

Opinion: Don’t blame CEQA for California’s housing problems There’s a false narrative emerging that we have to choose between environmental protection and progress. In reality, we can have both.

Supporting our members' educational programs!
July 17th, O.B.H.S. presents: “From Lomaland to the Mediterranean Riviera”
All OBHS programs are FREE!

July 17th, O.B.H.S. presents: “From Lomaland to the Mediterranean Riviera”
All OBHS programs are FREE!

Thursday, July 17, 7:00 PM, the Ocean Beach Historical Society presents: From Lomaland to the Mediterranean Riviera, The Story of Sunset Cliffs and Neighboring Subdivisions, Featuring Ron May, at Waters Edge Community Center at 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.

The presentation is based on the 2004, City of San Diego, Historical Nomination of the Joseph E. and Esten Shreve House, 4510 Alhambra Street in Point Loma.

We hope to see you at the program. All OBHS programs are FREE!

https://obhistory.org/

Pick up bundles of postcards for yourself, your family, or to distribute in your neighborhood to friends, neighbors, or at community events!

Postcard Campaign Gains Momentum, Let’s Keep It Going! Our citywide postcard campaign is off to a strong start. In recent weeks, dozens of SOHO members, volunteers, and community preservationists have taken stacks of postcards to distribute and mail to San Diego City Councilmembers. Each one helps amplify our collective voice and sends a clear message:....