The RAMCO gas station in Julian was remodeled with no regard to the town's historic character or to the signage requirements of the Julian Architectural Review Board. The station's plastic orange signs and cluttered lot contrasts with Julian's Gold Rush atmosphere. The station's architectural offenses are made to look all the worse because it sits next to the "Julian Coffee House," a quaint and period correct building that enhances the historic quality of Main Street. (See photos of RAMCO and Coffee House.)

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Vacant for many years, the Wonder Bread building has undergone a major renovation and historic preservation through the vision and design direction of Graham Downes, Founder and Principal of Graham Downes Architecture Inc and BLOKHAUS INC, the design-build developer. Appropriately renamed the WonderHaus building, this icon of East Village, San Diego, consists of three contiguous historic warehouse structures and is the foremost landmark of the district. The extensive project took over three years to complete due to unique challenges faced constructing the required improvements to the buildings, including complete seismic, life-safety and universal design upgrades, and assembly occupancy capacity enhancements, all while retaining the sites historic designation. Mr. Downes integrated numerous sustainable design elements including: retention of existing structure with raw, uncoated finishes; extensive utilization of natural light and ventilation throughout; siting in an urban environment in close proximity to basic services and public transportation; special glazing systems; modernizing mechanical and electrical utility components. The renovation team went to great lengths to preserve the historical integrity of the building while recapturing its industrial aesthetic for new uses. The interior spaces are characterized by voluminous ceilings up to 45 feet high, generous use of natural light and skylights, original wood bowstring trusses, red brick, wood beams, raw steel and concrete. In one place the floor is inset with discarded antique manhole covers, a collection of the former developer, and massive round concrete bases that supported cylinders once used for grinding flour. The 55,000-square-foot brick bakery building, designated as an historic structure in 2001, was originally built in 1924 and contains a 16-foot-diameter, 40-foot-tall steel silo where flour was siphoned from trucks to the rooftop of the silo. WonderHaus is now home to an eclectic mix of creative and innovative enterprises and is in high demand for its recently completed event space. BLOKHAUS was founded by San Diego architect, Graham Downes AIA NCARB RIBA LEED AP, in 1998 for urban infill development projects and as a “think-tank” for undertaking special projects. These include the incubation, development and branding of unique businesses relating to progressive urban lifestyles. Downes is joined by Simon Terry-Lloyd LEED AP, an accomplished entrepreneur who focuses on management, new business opportunities and overall strategies for BLOKHAUS. The organization’s experience in urban redevelopment and revitalization primarily consist of adaptive re-use opportunities. More information about the building is available at www.wonderbreadhaus.com, the design firm at www.grahamdownes.com and the developer at www.blokhaus.com.

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Located in historic Old Town San Diego, the Whaley House stands today as a classic example of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture. Formally dedicated as a California Historic Landmark on May 25, 1960, the Whaley House was built in 1856 by Thomas Whaley, and was the first two story brick structure in San Diego. In its day, the Whaley House played a vital role in Old Town serving as the general store, the courthouse, and later, the first commercial theater. Last renovated by the County in 1959, the front porch had served visitors well for 50 years. Despite regular maintenance and repair, the porch was showing signs of age and was succumbing to dry rot, termite damage and had begun to lean away from the rest of the building. In 2007, the County of San Diego, Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), began the arduous process of planning the restoration of the porch to its historic 1860’s period architecture. Through an extensive study of historic photographs coupled with expertise in historic architecture, the project team reconstructed the details, dimensions and materials used to build the original porch and conveyed the information to the project architect who drew up plans. In May of 2008, the County’s Historic Site Board approved plans for the renovation and construction began in July. During construction, every detail of the porch was meticulously crafted by journeymen carpenters, some coming from as far away as New York. The more obvious effect of their tedious work can be seen in the historically accurate balusters of the second floor railing. The baluster design and dimensions were extrapolated from period photographs and each baluster was then hand turned and milled to the proper dimensions. Another more obvious detail is that the front grade and brick retaining wall were lowered to allow room for the bottom step that surrounds the main porch floor, a detail left out of the previous renovation. Less obvious, yet historically correct, the porch floor has been constructed from random width, tongue and groove Douglas fir decking and all other exposed wood, including the large square columns, is redwood. Additional smaller historic details include custom copper downspouts and historically accurate door and window trim. Even the paint colors are historically accurate. The sky blue porch ceilings first became popular in the 1770s when Prussion blue pigment became widely available. Demolition and construction schedules were no easy feat either. With the tremendous popularity of the Whaley House, closing the building during construction was not an option. In order to remain open, construction crews started work as early as 5:00 a.m and scheduled major tasks like demolition to occur on Wednesdays, the one day per week that the building is closed, minimizing the inconvenience to visitors and surrounding merchants. The Whaley House has been open to the public as a museum since 1960, and is one of southern California's most popular visitor destinations. Approximately 120,000 people visit the Whaley House annually, with guests traveling from around the globe to experience this world-renowned museum which is also reputed to be the most haunted place in America. Owned by the County of San Diego the property has been managed by SOHO since September of 2000. Thanks to the project team’s tremendous dedication to historic preservation and attention to the details, the Whaley House Porch Restoration Project is truly a success. As a result of the project, the front of the building looks more today like it did when it was built, than any time since.

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Regarded today as one of the finest classical music venues on the West Coast, Copley Symphony Hall originally was built in 1929 as a luxury movie palace. According to the San Diego Symphony’s web site, “(The hall) is one of the few venues in the world that belongs to the orchestra playing in it. It has proved to be a gem and a pleasure to sit in to hear great music performed superbly.”Now an octogenarian, the French Rococo-style building requires occasional retrofitting and remodeling to retain its aesthetic and historic integrity and to keep pace with the needs of the modern symphony orchestra. The most recent $3.4 million interior renovations included: upgrading theatrical and house lighting, a new sound system, new orchestra monitoring, and paging system. 5,000 square feet of musicians quarters beneath the stage also received an extensive renovation. The modernized Orchestra Quarters back of house allows the historic design of the hall to be maintained. The extensive lighting upgrade included retrofitting of the mammoth chandelier, recessed lights, decorative ceiling luminaries and wall pendant lamps. A new and brighter light has been shed on the grandeur and ornamentation of the elegant hall with its magnificent vaulted ceiling, elaborate wall murals and arched alcoves. The renovation has greatly improved the visual experience for the hall’s audiences.And while more lights are now being used, the Symphony’s monthly SDG&E bill is staying about the same. The upgrade has decreased energy usage by about 60 percent and increased light output by four times as a result of re-lighting and re-lamping theatrical and house lights with LED and florescent placements, dimming controls, diffusion elements and color corrective gels

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For years, what is believed to be one of the last collaborations of Irving Gill and William Hebbard sat boarded up and deteriorating in the heart of Coronado. In 2005, several couples banded together to buy the property and return it to its original use. In 1906 when it was built, this type of lodging was called a boarding house. Today it is a 17 room boutique hotel that includes breakfast and afternoon refreshments in the daily rate.

Prior to being “condemned” and boarded up by the City of Coronado, it had become, in the saddest chapter of its century-long history, a haven for undesirable transients and a frightening eyesore to the surrounding neighborhood. Over the years, both the interior and exterior had been ravaged. Rooms were reconfigured with plywood dividers, a bathroom was carved out of the corner of the parlor, and only one toilet was in working condition for the 21 occupants. Every vestige of the building’s original stately elegance seemed lost forever. “Tear-down” was the operative phrase.

In his Historical and Architectural Report, dated January 15, 2003, Dr. Ray Brandes concluded that the building represents “an exceptional contribution to the architectural history of Coronado, and the main building represents one of only a few examples of early remaining rooming houses.” Grey Court Inn, as the house was originally named, was built by the Roper family. In 1924 it was purchased by Frederick Winchester, a prominent Coronado businessman. The Winchesters renamed it the Bay View Lodge in 1936. In 1942, James Trant purchased the property and it remained in the Trant family as apartments until purchased by its current owners.

Although it was built as a boarding house for the working class, Gill and Hebbard chose to detail the parlor with a boxed beam coffered ceiling and wood wainscoting. The parlor’s most significant feature is the mission style brick fireplace, with its unique arched leaded glass window directly over the mantel. The owners took care to meticulously restore and recreate all of these features of the parlor as well as the front veranda, staircase, and coved ceiling on the second floor. All original windows were hand restored and several missing leaded glass windows were recreated in the parlor.

All non-original construction was removed including a fire escape, back porch, and a 2-storied addition of kitchens and bathrooms tacked on in the 1950s. Six guest rooms and an inviting dining room were created in the remaining space. A breakfast veranda, reflecting pool and courtyard garden replaced dilapidated garages and outbuildings. The entire property was excavated to provide underground guest parking and meeting rooms. Supporting an unreinforced concrete building proved to be a significant challenge for the restoration team. The seismic retrofit and a desire to provide an ADA accessible guest room on the second floor led to the decision to add an elevator. To create an economically viable hotel, more than six guest rooms were needed. A new building was added to the property with 11 guest suites featuring fireplaces, private porches, and spa tubs.

With guidance from Coronado’s Historic Resource Commission (the Lodge received Coronado historic designation in 2005) and due to the requirements for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (an application has been submitted), the new guest suite building is slightly different in size, materials and details while still complimenting and being subordinate in importance to the original structure. Should the application be approved, the building will be only the second building in Coronado to have the designation. Finally, it should be noted that each of the 17 guest rooms has been decorated to honor a person or place special to Coronado’s past. Guests can choose to stay in the Winchester Room with its stately sleigh bed and cozy window seat, the Country Club Suite with its tribute to early golfing in Coronado, or the premiere suite – North Island - which honors Coronado’s rich military history.

The owners’ vision was to create a unique venue where guests could relax in the simple beauty of Coronado’s past. Opened to overnight guests in May of 2009, the 1906 Lodge at Coronado Beach has been brought back from the grave to enjoy the next hundred years as one of Coronado’s most significant historic resources.

A recent article with more information about The 1906 Lodge can be found at: http://lifestylemags.com/stories/1906.html

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What is the smell at 30th and Myrtle in North Park? No, it's not delicious American style food. It's the onion that is called Eddie's Place. This could have been a nicely restored craftsman home converted into a family restaurant. Besides the kitchen exhaust vent and a/c on the roof, the terrible signage and the generic canvas awning, the biggest problem with Eddie's Place is the amount of guardrail. Instead of opting for a lift or putting the ramp somewhere else (or atleast putting some effort into the design of the guardrail), theyinstalled a mile long ramp with an equal amount of guardrail and thensome. Rumor has it they used the same contractor the US is using for the Mexican border. Let's hope the food is good.

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The House of Heirlooms, an approx. 9,500-sq-ft retail property at 801-815 University Avenue was recently sold for $1.3 million. The buyer was 819 University Acquisition Company, a California limited partnership headed by Masayuki Ueda who owns Studio 819 next door to the east. The seller, Donald Levi trustee of the Ruth Schulman Trust, took back a trust deed for $300,000. Occupying a nearly quarter-acre lot, the building was occupied for decades by House of Heirlooms. Constructed in 1919 as a surgery annex to St. Joseph’s Hospital across the street, it was moved to this location in 1924. In January 2007, San Diego's Historic Resource Board voted to designate the structure as historical. Mr. Ueda's company has allowed historical elements of the building to be removed, broken windows boarded up, graffiti and general disregard for this historic building. Mr. Ueda's attoneys tried to discredit the historicity of this structure before the HRB. To their credit, the HRB designated the property as historic. Today, Mr. Ueda is allowing the structure to decay to the point where there is no other choice but to demolish a building that plays an important role in the history of Hillcrest.

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This small Craftsman home that stood for decades at the southeast corner of Tenth & Robinson (1005 Robinson Avenue) in Hillcrest was taken down. It was so sad to see this happen to the Sear’s catalog house that has greeted Hillcrest arrivals from the 163N exit. Unfortunately, we are erasing our history and the community character at an alarming rate. The Historical Resources Board didn’t think it was worth saving. Shame on the developer for this pimple on the history of our neighborhoods character.In its space are two townhomes that look like they are built with the wavy aluminum that was on our 1950's patio. The character of our sweet little Craftsman will not be forgotten.

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I had to throw this one in the hat for consideration. What a phenomenal job the developer did in renovating this building...the fact that they built five stories of parking underneath this thing and then built a 44-story tower out of it...AND brought it back to it's original exterior beauty??? The effort involved with this definitely deserves some praise.

 This is an exerpt from something I found online about the building:

  Anoriginal and traditional building used for boiler and turbine housing for theSan Diego Electrical Railway Company back in 1911, the new and modern ElectraSan Diego condominium tower residences will take the place of one of the oldestand most significant turn of the century building lands in the waterfront stripof SD, California. By 1928, the Gas and electric Company purchase this propertyat the Electra San Diego condo residences and expanded it as the city began togrow exponentially both from migration from the east as well as frominternational business people. In 1939 to 1941, the Electra land in San Diegowas further expanded by a team of architects that included Johnson in order tokeep up with the expansion of this most liveable urban city in California. Thisled to 1998 when the new Electra condo tower residence homes and apartments wasdesignated a historical landmark in San Diego’s waterfront district because ofits history and art deco architecture that is graceful and striking. With dramaticlifestyle choices in a great real estate investment opportunity, the San DiegoElectra condominium homes and residence real estate properties in Californiaare a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a luxury property along thewaterfront community of the Embarcadero district in San Diego CA that is closeto Petco Park, art galleries, live theater, entertainment night life,restaurants, museums, schools, universities and major thoroughfares. For aphoto gallery of the amazing views from your home at the Electra San Diegocondo homes, please visit the following web site addresselectrasandiego.com/view.asp. In addition, you can view more photos of theinterior and exterior building of the San Diego Electra Bosa development aswell as a webcam online at http://www.electrasandiego.com/view.asp.

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The Ryan complex adjacent to Lindbergh Field is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places yet the Port of San Diego has elected to demolish it and there isn't even a new use planned for the site!

From the first passenger flight from San Diego and the construction of the Spirit of St. Louis to World War II aircraft production to the Lunar Lander and, finally, the Tomahawk cruise missile, Ryan was there. T. Claude Ryan founded the first commercial airline to operate out of San Diego and developed our aerospace industries from the Ryan Aeronautical Company. He convinced city leaders to support the establishment of Lindbergh Field.

Ryan built the first buildings at Lindbergh Field, including the terminal and his first manufacturing plant in 1932, which still stands at the Ryan complex. This complex is among the most historic in San Diego and should be a Historic District. San Diego should honor Ryan's legacy by using some of these buildings to house large aircraft that the San Diego Air and Space Museum has no place to exhibit. These buildings are so large they could be used for parking or virtually anything else.

The Port of San Diego is thoughtlessly destroying our heritage, so they deserve an Onion. Shame on them!

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