Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Streamline Moderne at 4th and Palm loses out

Historic Resources Board overruled by city council

Salyers building. Prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.
Salyers building. Prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.

The San Diego City Council on Monday overturned the historic designation of a small, nondescript commercial building on the southeast corner of 4th Avenue and Palm Street in Banker's Hill.

Built by master architect Charles Salyers in 1936, the L-shaped office building at 2851-2881 4th Avenue is a somewhat rare example of the Streamline Moderne style, also known as Art Moderne, in San Diego.

The Dr. Roy and Herma Ledford/Charles Salyers Building, as it's named, was designated historic by the city's Historical Resources Board on January 28, 2021. Both the would-be buyer, Michael Rush LLC, and seller, Michael Lerner, who operates a medical office, filed appeals. At stake was a 70-unit mixed use development that was planned for the site.

At stake is a 70-unit mixed-use development planned for the site.

Under city code, the council may reject historic designations based on factual errors in information presented to the board, violations of bylaws or hearing procedures - or new information, which is what swayed the council.

Sponsored
Sponsored

"Almost half the building is known to be a new addition, and not built by a master architect," said Stephen Whitburn, who represents the uptown community where it is located.

"While I am a strong supporter of historic preservation, after reviewing the historic review of this particular property, I cannot support the designation," he said.

The Historical Resources Board designated the building under criterion D, as a notable example of Streamline Moderne by master architect Salyers, a prolific residential designer who focused on the style in his later career.

Commercial and multifamily examples of Streamline Moderne are found in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, Point Loma, downtown, Normal Heights, South Park, North Park, and Kensington, as well the El Cajon Boulevard, Park Boulevard, and University Avenue corridors, according to the board's report.

But compared to other styles of the period, "Streamline Moderne architecture is relatively rare in San Diego."

Bruce Coons, executive director of Save Our Heritage Organization, said it's actually "very rare," seen mostly along Pacific Highway and up the slopes," celebrating the city's place in aviation history.

"Unfortunately we lost most of it except the Civic Center," he said, and a few on Pacific Highway. Coons said there are no legal grounds for granting the appeal.

"We are committed to working with the developer when you uphold the designation."

Scott Moomjian, who represented Michael Rush LLC, argued that the building has expanded over time, and that prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.

Appellants pointed out that Historical Resources Board member Dr. Ann Woods has served seven terms, when no more than four are allowed.

"The city should take a hard, long look at how HRB is being governed, which is only exacerbating the housing crisis in San Diego," said John Allen, founder of Streamline Development.

Council member Joe LaCava seconded a motion made by Whitburn to uphold the appeal, but added, "throwing the entire HRB board under the bus is not the way to appeal to the City Council."

According to the city clerk, Dr. Woods was appointed in 2009, and has served four, two-year terms, which expired in 2017. The city attorney noted that her fourth term is still in effect because no replacement has been found.

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Rapper Wax wishes his name looked like an email password

“You gotta be search-engine optimized these days”
Next Article

Aaron Stewart trades Christmas wonders for his first new music in 15 years

“Just because the job part was done, didn’t mean the passion had to die”
Salyers building. Prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.
Salyers building. Prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.

The San Diego City Council on Monday overturned the historic designation of a small, nondescript commercial building on the southeast corner of 4th Avenue and Palm Street in Banker's Hill.

Built by master architect Charles Salyers in 1936, the L-shaped office building at 2851-2881 4th Avenue is a somewhat rare example of the Streamline Moderne style, also known as Art Moderne, in San Diego.

The Dr. Roy and Herma Ledford/Charles Salyers Building, as it's named, was designated historic by the city's Historical Resources Board on January 28, 2021. Both the would-be buyer, Michael Rush LLC, and seller, Michael Lerner, who operates a medical office, filed appeals. At stake was a 70-unit mixed use development that was planned for the site.

At stake is a 70-unit mixed-use development planned for the site.

Under city code, the council may reject historic designations based on factual errors in information presented to the board, violations of bylaws or hearing procedures - or new information, which is what swayed the council.

Sponsored
Sponsored

"Almost half the building is known to be a new addition, and not built by a master architect," said Stephen Whitburn, who represents the uptown community where it is located.

"While I am a strong supporter of historic preservation, after reviewing the historic review of this particular property, I cannot support the designation," he said.

The Historical Resources Board designated the building under criterion D, as a notable example of Streamline Moderne by master architect Salyers, a prolific residential designer who focused on the style in his later career.

Commercial and multifamily examples of Streamline Moderne are found in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, Point Loma, downtown, Normal Heights, South Park, North Park, and Kensington, as well the El Cajon Boulevard, Park Boulevard, and University Avenue corridors, according to the board's report.

But compared to other styles of the period, "Streamline Moderne architecture is relatively rare in San Diego."

Bruce Coons, executive director of Save Our Heritage Organization, said it's actually "very rare," seen mostly along Pacific Highway and up the slopes," celebrating the city's place in aviation history.

"Unfortunately we lost most of it except the Civic Center," he said, and a few on Pacific Highway. Coons said there are no legal grounds for granting the appeal.

"We are committed to working with the developer when you uphold the designation."

Scott Moomjian, who represented Michael Rush LLC, argued that the building has expanded over time, and that prior owners attested to two additions along the south side, as well as new stucco, porthole windows, and signage.

Appellants pointed out that Historical Resources Board member Dr. Ann Woods has served seven terms, when no more than four are allowed.

"The city should take a hard, long look at how HRB is being governed, which is only exacerbating the housing crisis in San Diego," said John Allen, founder of Streamline Development.

Council member Joe LaCava seconded a motion made by Whitburn to uphold the appeal, but added, "throwing the entire HRB board under the bus is not the way to appeal to the City Council."

According to the city clerk, Dr. Woods was appointed in 2009, and has served four, two-year terms, which expired in 2017. The city attorney noted that her fourth term is still in effect because no replacement has been found.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Rapper Wax wishes his name looked like an email password

“You gotta be search-engine optimized these days”
Next Article

Bringing Order to the Christmas Chaos

There is a sense of grandeur in Messiah that period performance mavens miss.
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader