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Standing with San Diego’s Historical Resources Board
September/October 2025
San Diego’s Historical Resources Board (HRB) plays a vital and crucial role in protecting our city’s cultural and architectural heritage. The board is made up of community volunteers—historians, architects, designers, archaeologists, environmental specialists, and academics—who contribute considerable time, effort, and expertise.
It is not an easy job. Their decisions carry weight, and their efforts are both technical and public in nature. Their work requires hours of reading, site visits, and thoughtful analysis. It is complex, sometimes contentious, and always essential. Their decisions carry lasting consequences. Once a resource is gone, it is gone forever.
In recent years, however, the HRB’s role has begun to erode and diminish. City staff interpretations, advice, and positions have too often overshadowed the board’s authority, sometimes leaving members to think or feel they have less independence than they truly do. The reality is that the HRB is much more than advisory. It is quasi-judicial and independent, entrusted with applying preservation law and established standards, safeguarding the public interest, and ensuring that San Diego’s legacy endures.
Across the country, preservation boards are recognized and empowered as leaders in shaping preservation policy, not just reviewing designation nominations. In most parts of the U.S., local boards are active participants in ordinance reform and public education.
With major changes to our preservation ordinance on the horizon through the City's ongoing Preservation and Progress initiative, now is the moment for the HRB to step confidently into its role. As stewards of this ordinance, the board has every right to request formal, meaningful involvement in the reform process and its outcome. It is essential that the HRB have an official seat at the table, rather than be held in the restricted position of only reacting to the City's long list of revisions. We urge the expert HRB to request deeper involvement in the reforms, and to stand confidently in its role.
Know that preservation groups, historians, professionals, and neighbors stand behind you. You are not alone in this important work. When you ask hard questions, request additional research, or dissent from questionable recommendations, this is good governance. You were appointed for your expertise and your commitment to preservation, not to rubber-stamp the positions and conclusions of others.
Understandably, you may sometimes rely on staff and the City Attorney’s office for guidance, but too often, particularly recently, both have provided less than accurate counsel. Because the public experts who attend meetings may speak only at designated times, they are unable to immediately correct or explain inaccurate information or enumerate available options you may be working with on the spot.
Your role matters greatly, and your voice is needed now more than ever. SOHO and many others throughout San Diego are grateful for your service; you have the ability to ensure that San Diego’s preservation ordinance reflects public values [claiming this might backfire; how about something like 'longstanding values'] and protects our heritage for generations to come.
Your authority as an HRB member includes:
- Voting independently with decisions based on findings and facts.
- Asking clarifying or challenging questions of staff, applicants, and public experts.
- Requesting continuances, outside expertise, or additional information when needed.
- Initiating motions or recommendations, including ordinance reform and board process.
Your authority has both rights and responsibilities. Exercising them strengthens the HRB, builds public trust, and safeguards our shared history, which underlies community character, identity, and well-being.
To our SOHO members and our other readers:
A Public Call to Action: Support Your HRB
- Attend HRB meetings (typically held the fourth Thursday of each month at 1pm) and show your support in person or via public comment, in emails and by Zoom. City of San Diego+1.
- Speak up during the Policy Subcommittee meetings. You have up to one minute to comment, helping ensure transparency and the democratic process. Policy Subcommittee.
- Raise your voice for HRB involvement in current preservation ordinance reform. The board is not just an end user of policy and regulations. Members should be formally included in shaping the rules that guide preservation.
Stay Engaged: Upcoming Meetings
(as of current schedule)
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