Anchored by the multi-family flats and apartment buildings that line both sides of Park Boulevard north of Upas Street, the core of the district is contemporarily referred to as “Park Boulevard Apartment Row.”  However, consistent with its early zoning designation, the district features a mix of single-family dwellings, duplexes, bungalow and cottage courts, garden court apartments, and six-pack / dingbat buildings. 

• Significance Summary: The Park Boulevard Residential Historic District is significant under HRB Criterion A as a special element of San Diego’s historical, economic, and architectural development from 1900, when the area was initially platted as part of the University Heights expansion; through 1967, when the district was built-out and the character of new in-fill development began to reflect increased density allowances. The district is significant as a reflection of the area’s evolution from low density single-family uses to higher density multiple-family housing over several phases of development; and serves as a microcosm of the evolution of housing types and corresponding architectural styles in a first ring suburban neighborhood developed along a streetcar line.

• Boundary: The boundary generally includes all parcels fronting the east and west sides of Park Boulevard, generally between Upas Street (at the southern end) and Robinson Avenue (at the northern end), and generally extends west to the alley west of Park Boulevard and east to include the west side of Indiana Street.The district is comprised of 87 land parcels containing 119 resources, 86 of which are contributing and 33 of which are non-contributing.

The Culverwell and Taggart’s Historic District consists of approximately 245 parcels, including 19 individually designated historic resources. Developed largely between 1869 and circa 1945, this district is potentially eligible under HRB Criteria A and C.

• Significance Summary: The significance statement for the Culverwell & Taggart's Historic District is currently in development.

• Boundary: The preliminary boundary for the Culverwell & Taggart's Historic District has been identified as Russ Boulevard to the north, 24th Street to the East, F Street to the south and 19th Street to the west. This area is currently under evaluation.

The Altadena Historic District consists of approximately 400 parcels. Developed largely between circa 1907 and circa 1945, this district is potentially eligible under HRB Criteria A and C.

• Significance Summary: The significance statement for the Altadena Historic District is currently in development.

• Boundary: The preliminary boundary for the Altadena Historic District has been identified roughly as Upas Street to the north, McKinley Street Street to the east, Palm Street to the south and the alley between 32nd Street Herman Avenue to the west. This area is currently under evaluation.

The Kalmia Place Historic District consists of 22 potential resources on 23 parcels. Developed largely between circa 1923 and circa 1959, this district is potentially eligible under HRB Criteria A and C.

• Significance Summary: The significance statement for the Kalmia Place Historic District is currently in development.

• Boundary: The preliminary boundary for the Kalmia Place Historic District has been identified roughly as the properties fronting onto Kalmia Place, west of 29th Street. This area is currently under evaluation.

A historic district is defined by the City’s Municipal Code as “a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects that are united historically, geographically, or aesthetically by plan or physical development and that have a special character, historical interest, cultural or aesthetic value, or that represents one or more architectural periods or styles in the history and development of the City.”

In other words, a historic district is a geographically defined concentration of resources – typically buildings – that come together to collectively convey a shared significance under one or more of the City’s designation criteria. Individual buildings within the boundary of the historic district may or may not be significant in their own right, but much like pieces of a puzzle these properties come together to paint a picture and tell an important story about our City’s past.

Historic Districts are designated through a public process that includes posting of detailed information on the City's website; workshops and webinars for property owners; and a series of noticed hearings with the Historical Resources Board and their Policy Subcommittee. Detailed information regarding the historic district designation process can be found using the buttons below.

The indirect benefits for all properties include increased property values resulting from the desirable nature of historic districts, as well as preservation of the quality and characteristics that draw people to live in and visit the district.

Direct benefits available to contributing resources include allowances to deviate from zoning regulations such as setbacks by-right in order to allow new development while preserving the resource; Conditional Use Permits to allow adaptive reuse of historic building; use of the State Historic Building Code, which provides some flexibility from building code requirements to allow preservation of significant historic features; and the Mills Act, which provides a property tax reduction.

The primary responsibility associated with a historic district are to maintain the property in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and to obtain approval for maintenance, restoration, or alteration efforts prior to purchasing materials or undertaking work.

While some property owners may be concerned about additional City review of improvements, it is important to note that most improvements and alterations require City permits, even without historic district designation. Although historic district designation will require review of improvements that would not otherwise require a permit, the historic review occurs concurrently with all other approvals and is not a separate step in the process. Additionally, Historical Resources staff at the City's Development Services Department is available by appointment to advise on improvements under consideration, which can avoid possible delays during permit processing.

More information regarding City permit requirements and the historic review and approval process can be found in the following documents: