City Historic Context Statement & Survey Information

Visit Project Coronado Website

www.projectcoronado.org

Under the “Active Projects” dropdown list, click “Historic Resource Survey”.

Once on the page, on the right side menu, you will see links to the documents:

1. Draft Context and Survey Document

2. Draft Survey Tier Matrix

According to the CA Office of Historic Preservation, historic contexts and surveys are critical tools for understanding, identifying, evaluating, and protecting those resources which give each community its individual character and sense of place. 

Historic contexts describe the broad patterns of historical development of a community or region that are represented by the physical development and character of the built environment. Historic context documents are common for municipalities with Historic Preservation Programs.

According to the CA Office of Historic Preservation, historic resource surveys are performed to identify and record historic properties within a community. 

Surveys provide information needed to make informed planning decisions, prioritize preservation goals and objectives, develop and implement land use policies, perform environmental reviews pursuant to CEQA, develop adaptive reuse and heritage tourism initiatives, educate the public and increase the understanding of and appreciation for the built environment as a tangible reminder of the community’s history. Surveys are also called "inventories". The product of the City of Coronado's historic resource survey is the Tier Matrix document.

No. The first historic survey was undertaken by Dr. Ray Brandes, a Coronado local and professor at the University of San Diego, and his graduate students in 1985. The survey report is called Sourcepoint. It was never formally adopted by the City Council but it helped pave the way for the development of the City's Historic Preservation Program. 

The Sourcepoint report is available below electronically, or in print at the Coronado Historical Association and the Coronado Public Library. 

• SourcePoint Vol 1
• SourcePoint Vol 2
• SourcePoint Vol 3
• SourcePoint Vol 4

The second historic survey was conducted by members of the Historic Resource Commission in 2008 after the commission was directed to under then-Mayor Tom Smisek. 

Unlike the current 2023 survey, the 2008 survey was a broad look at all aspects of a property's historic characteristics, such as the builder/architect and the significance of former occupants and owners. The survey utilized oral history from locals, in addition to photographic and other archival research. The survey was also never adopted by the City. The 2008 survey is available to view at this link. 

According to the Historic Context Statement & Survey report, "the Tiers are based heavily on the integrity and architectural distinctiveness required for a property to be locally designated under Criterion C. The Tier system also took into account the reversible nature of some alterations made to the buildings over time. Once established, the Tier systems were used throughout the reconnaissance and intensive-level surveys. The Tiers used during the survey are as follows:

• Tier 1. Potentially eligible for City designation under Criterion C through survey evaluation 
• Tier 2. Retains aspects of a particular architectural style, but lacks the integrity or distinction for designation under Criterion C through survey evaluation. 
• Tier 3. Heavily altered properties that retain little to no elements of a particular architectural style and have no potential for eligibility under City designation Criterion C through survey evaluation " (page 12)

No. According to the Historic Context Statement & Survey report, "All Tier statuses are recommendations to the City and do not result in designation as a City of Coronado Historic Resource." (page 12)

However, at the City Council meeting on July 20, 2023, City staff asked for the Council to give directon about "for any changes to the document regarding the following:

1. Change of the threshold for a Determination of Historic Significance review from current 75 or more years to 50 or more years. 
2. Exclusion of Tiers 2 and 3 from the Determination of Historic Significance review. 
3. Authorization to initiate the CEQA process.” (City Staff Report 6/20/23)

If the City Council decides to exclude the properties listed in Tiers 2 and 3 that means that approximately 1,843 structures will be exempt from the historic review process, potentially leading to the loss of Coronado's historic built environment and charm. 

Contact Tricia Olsen, Associate Planner - Historic Preservation, at tolsen@coronado.ca.us. 

Be sure to include documentation and or other evidence to support your case that the property is listed in the wrong tier.

The City of Coronado Historic Preservation Ordianance currently has an age threshold of  75 years or older to be considered for historic designation or to be flagged to go through the historic determination process if a permit for partial or full demolishment has been requested. Properties less than 75 years old can also voluntarily apply to go through the historic determination process and may be added to the register if it is demonstrated that the property has achieved historic significance within the last 75 years. 

The National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources has a threshold age of 50 years. The City's Historic Resource Survey document included properties that were built prior to 1971, using the 50 year threshold. 

Since historical resources are considered a part of the environment, projects that “may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an historical resource” can be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  According to the CA Office of Historic Preservation, CEQA has two major functions, "One is to provide decision makers with information about the environmental impacts of projects prior to granting approval. The second is to allow the public to comment on the impacts of projects in their community. Through the comment process, citizens can help projects avoid and minimize impacts by developing project alternatives and mitigation measures." The 50 year threshold is also understood in relation to CEQA because it is referring to the California Historic Register's age threshold.

At the City Council meeting on July 20, 2023, City staff asked for the Council to give directon about "for any changes to the document regarding the following:

1. Change of the threshold for a Determination of Historic Significance review from current 75 or more years to 50 or more years. 
2. Exclusion of Tiers 2 and 3 from the Determination of Historic Significance review. 
3. Authorization to initiate the CEQA process.” (City Staff Report 6/20/23)

Change of the threshold for a Determination of Historic Significance review from current 75 or more years to 50 or more years would make Coronado's Historic Ordianance more in line with the National and State registers.

The Historic Context Statement & Survey regarding City Historic Districts reported that: “No areas within the City were found to have the visual cohesion to be considered as a local historic district” (pg 127).

However, Significant research and analysis of potential historic districts in Coronado is lacking within the Context Statement and the reports recommendation should not be taken to mean that Coronado could not form a historic district in the future. Historic districts can be formed if they meet two or more of the City’s designation criteria, like an individual resource. As per the City Municipal Code 84.10.020H: “Historic District means a contiguous geographic area containing a multiple number of historic resources that collectively have a special character or special historical, cultural, architectural, archaeological, community or aesthetic value.”

At a public gathering held at CHA on August 4, 2023, about historic properties, community members identified several potential historic districts including: First Street, the 400 block of G Avenue, Loma Ave/Star Park Circle, Coronado’s commercial district between the 800 and 1400 blocks along Orange Avenue, and the houses of worship on C Avenue, among others. 

There are many ways that you can submit a public comment: 

• Email Tricia Olsen, Associate Planner - Historic Preservation, at tolsen@coronado.ca.us

• Email, call, or talk to your City Council representative.
  • Richard Bailey (Mayor) - rbailey@coronado.ca.us | 619-522-7320
  • Mike Donovan (Council Member) - mdonovan@coronado.ca.us | 619-889-8771
  • Carrie Downey (Council Member) - cdowney@coronado.ca.us | 619-522-7320
  • John Duncan (Council Member) - jduncan@coronado.ca.us | 619-522-7320
  • Casey Tanaka (Council Member) - ctanaka@coronado.ca.us |  619-207-7757
• Attend the City forums about the Historic Context Statement and Survey. (Meeting dates and locations to be determined.)

• Attend the City Council meeting where the Historic Context Statement & Survey will be discussed and make a verbal public comment. (Meeting date to be announced.)
• Leave a public comment on the City Council agenda. (Meeting date to be announced)

• Leave a comment on the Public Coronado Website through the "Guestbook" feature on the bottom of the page. 

The public comment period was originally from June 20, 2023 - August 20, 2023, but has now been extended to October 31, 2023. 

It is not known when this item will go back to be reviewed by City Council but the Coronado Historical Association there will be two public comment meetings: 

• The regular meeting of the Historic Resource Commission on September 20, 2023 at 3:00pm in the City Hall Council Chambers
• Public Comment Meeting on Wednesday October 11, 2023 at 5:30pm in the Winn Room at the Coronado Public Library