We're ending 2024 by showcasing how your support made a difference this year!
In 2024, our members and community came together in unity for a successful year filled with activism, events, and comradery in service of Our Mission: To preserve and protect the character, charm and historic resources of Mission Hills for the education and benefit of the public. We thank you for your involvement and invite you to continue your support in the coming year! At the end of the newsletter, we have included our 2025 wish list and community engagement opportunities. We hope you’ll join us!
2024 Outcomes and Accomplishments
Drumroll, please… Thanks to your membership, volunteerism, and participation, we are happy to highlight the following accomplishments from our mission-driven activism in 2024. Holiday Reminder: A Mission Hills Heritage Membership or Donation makes a wonderful gift and is a great way to show support (click here)!
With your support, we achieved:
350 Mission Hills Homes Added to the National Register of Historic Places!
Following an intense effort, we succeeded in adding a Mission Hills Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places—the Arnold and Choate’s Addition – North Florence Heights Historic District, which encompasses approximately 350 Mission Hills homes. This major milestone comes after appearing before the State Historical Resource Commission TWICE, to advocate for the nominations of the Arnold and Choate’s Addition – North Florence Heights Historic District and Talmadge Estates Historic District to the National Register.
Eight Historical Resources Board Advocacy-Focused Appearances
We made our voices heard, appearing before the Historical Resources Board (HRB) EIGHT times, to advocate that the City and HRB process local historic districts, adopt rules to process local designation of National Register historic districts, and to generally advocate for historic preservation in Mission Hills and the larger community. We also provided input to city staff to identify potentially historic homes by commenting on ongoing “over 45-year reviews.”
Five Letters Drafted and Submitted to the HRB Regarding Neighboring Preservation Efforts
We submitted THREE advocacy letters provided input to the Hillcrest Focus Plan Amendment for elements affecting Mission Hills and advocated for the listing of national register districts on the local register. In addition, we drafted TWO letters in conjunction with SOHO and other preservation groups for purposes of submitting comments to the City and HRB on behalf of the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition, related to the City’s Preservation and Progress initiative and the need for an economic study of the effects of historic preservation.
Several Candidates Seated on the Uptown Planning Group
We endorsed and helped elect several community-minded candidates to the Uptown Community Planning Group. Securing a preservation-friendly composition of these decision-making bodies is critical to ensure that our mission continues to have a seat at the table.
Historical Feature Restoration at Presidio Park
We launched an important project to restore the historic cobblestone swales in Presidio Park in collaboration with the San Diego Parks Foundation and City of San Diego’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation.
Enriching Our City’s Historical Archives
We were honored to facilitate a donation of Martin V. Melhorn’s architectural documents to the San Diego History Center Research Archives.
Increased Member Outreach
This year we published and hand-delivered our first hardcopy of the Mission Hills Heritage Newsletter in over three years. We are also bringing you this year-end summary to help engage your appreciation for how your support makes a real difference.
501(c)(3) Progress
We began taking steps to form a non-profit 501(c)(3) subsidiary organization to be named Mission Hills Heritage Foundation, to further our goals and to offer tax-exempt donation options to all of our supporters!
