For the homeowners of 870 D Avenue, the decision to purchase the dilapidated Victorian behind Vons wasn't just a real estate transaction; it was a rescue mission. Once destined for demolition to make way for a modern four-plex, the 1892 redwood structure has been lovingly returned to its former glory.
The journey began when the couple, who had long dreamed of owning a Victorian, walked by the property after dinner one night. Even in the dark, the "bones" of the house spoke to them. Once their hearts were set on the house, realtor Molly McKay helped them navigate the very tricky and ongoing process of purchasing the house, which was also attractive to developers.
Despite the peeling paint, neglected landscaping, and decades of use as a rental, the current homeowners saw the potential in saving the house. As seasoned champions of historic homes, the owners recognized the property as a rare survivor from Coronado’s first wave of residential development. The house was built before the San Diego Bay was dredged, before the Navy came to Coronado, before indoor plumbing, and before the invention of the airplane. “The stories its walls must hold!” thought the homeowners.
The restoration was a labor of love that required stripping away layers of neglect and shoddy, over-built design elements. Inside, they found original redwood trim hidden under coats of paint and the original hearth under an ill-fitted electric fireplace box. In the kitchen and dining room, they painstakingly peeled back ten layers of wallpaper—miniature time capsules that they eventually framed as a tribute to the home's past. They even uncovered 1920s glass shoe-shine bottles in the backyard, which now serve as bud vases on their windowsills. Landscaper Israel Talavera helped bring the garden to life and transform so much of the property with wonderful living greenery.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was the meticulous attention to detail. The homeowners personally removed and stripped every original copper door hinge and spent hours at architectural salvage yards finding period-correct switch plates and heating vent grills. "They don’t make things like they used to," the homeowner noted, pointing out the "untouchable" 12-foot redwood beams that provide a structural integrity rarely seen in modern builds. Old-growth redwood is renowned for being an insect-resistant, fire-resistant wood that is virtually indestructible. The homeowners recognize that materials like these make old houses so valuable; they were made at the very height of American craftsmanship and cannot be replicated.
Today, the home’s wrap-around porch is a favorite spot for the family. Situated in a high-traffic area of town, the porch offers a lively vantage point to greet neighbors and watch the local high schoolers on their lunch break. The interior balance of cozy, segmented rooms and soaring ceilings creates a home that feels both intimate and grand.
The neighborhood reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. After many decades of decline, residents have stopped by to share that the house finally "looks happy and smiling." For these homeowners, the reward is in the stewardship. Their advice to others considering restoration over demolition is simple: be patient and hold onto the vision. They say, “It’s such a rare opportunity to own an old home. They have such soul, so many stories. It’s a privilege to get to preserve them and care for them so they can be part of the stories of the generations to come (and vice versa)!” By saving 870 D Avenue, they haven't just preserved a building; they’ve protected some of the earliest historical fabric that makes Coronado a community.
