After. City's gutted preservation spirit allowed demolition of 1912 craftsman style bungalow in Mission Hills despite large outcry from citizens and preservationists. City's lack of sensitivity to preservation is highlighted once again by historic leadership past and present.
"A Breakdown in Collaboration" - Former City Officials Sound Alarm on Dysfunctional Management of San Diego’s Preservation Program
SAN DIEGO, CA - January 7, 2026 - A coalition of 17 former staff leaders and board members of the San Diego Historical Resources Board (HRB) has issued a formal letter to City leadership (read here), charging that the City’s Historical Resources Program has become professionally isolated and administratively dysfunctional. The group is calling for immediate administrative reform to restore the transparency and collaborative spirit that once defined San Diego’s preservation efforts.
The signatories, which include retired senior planners, former board chairs, and a past State Historic Preservation Officer, argue that the program now managed within the Development Services Department has lost the independence and transparency that once defined it.
The group highlights a critical shift in departmental culture:
• Loss of Public Collaboration. Former officials cite growing concerns regarding "diminishing communication and collaboration" between HRB staff and the public, noting that the principles of openness and mutual respect that once fostered confidence in the process have been replaced by administrative barriers and a loss of meaningful review.
• Operational Inefficiency. Despite having more staff than in decades past, the program is currently processing only a fraction of the resources it once handled.
• Administrative Red Tape. The length of designation reports has been allowed to balloon to over 160 pages, creating "administrative barriers" that drive up costs for the public without improving effectiveness.
• Erosion of Expert Input. The letter protests the administrative decision to relegate the Design Assistance Subcommittee to a purely advisory role, removing a key mechanism for ensuring quality preservation outcomes.
• Conflicting Priorities. The letter notes that the department’s current focus appears to prioritize new construction at the expense of community character and environmental stewardship. "We served during a period when the City’s preservation program was defined by its effectiveness, fairness, and spirit of collaboration," the letter states. "By recalling these productive partnerships—built on trust, access, and shared purpose—we urge a renewed commitment to these values."
The former officials urge the Mayor and City Council to address these administrative and staffing issues to ensure the long-term vitality of San Diego’s historic resources.
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| Before: Red tape sinks Red Bungalow |
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