Historic Context Statement San Ysidro Final San Diego, CA October 11, 2010 Prepared for: California Office of Historic Preservation Prepared by: City of San Diego City Planning & Community Investment 202 C Street, San Diego, CA 92101 & Page & Turnbull 417 S. Hill Street, Ste. 211, Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.221.1200/www.page-turnbull.com Historic Context Statement San Ysidro Final City of San Diego San Ysidro Historic Context Statement I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 Purpose ............................................................................................................1 Definition of Geographical Area.....................................................................2 Research Design and Methodology...............................................................2 How to Use This Document ............................................................................3 II. EXISTING SURVEYS, STUDIES & REPORTS ........................................ 4 1989 Survey......................................................................................................4 San Diego Historic Register ...........................................................................4 III. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION.......................................................... 5 Summary of Significant Themes ....................................................................5 Definition of Property Types...........................................................................5 Residential Properties.....................................................................................5 Single-Family Dwellings .......................................................................................................... 5 Multiple-Family Dwellings........................................................................................................ 6 Significance of Residential Buildings....................................................................................... 6 Commercial Properties ...................................................................................6 Significance of Commercial Buildings ..................................................................................... 6 Institutional and Government Properties ......................................................6 Significance of Institutional and Government Properties ........................................................ 6 Evaluation Criteria...........................................................................................7 National Register of Historic Places & California Register of Historical Resources................ 7 City of San Diego Register ......................................................................................................8 Integrity.................................................................................................................................... 9 IV. HISTORIC CONTEXT ....................................................................... 11 Rancho Period and Early Border History (1822 – 1908) .............................11 Residential, Commercial, and Transportation Development................................................. 11 Ranchos.............................................................................................................................. 11 California Southern Railroad and Tia Juana City ............................................................... 12 Tia Juana City, 1887........................................................................................................... 12 Commercial Development and Tourism ............................................................................. 12 Associated Property Types.................................................................................................... 13 Residential .......................................................................................................................... 13 An Agricultural Community (1909 – 1964)...................................................17 Residential, Agricultural, and Community Development ....................................................... 17 Establishment of Little Landers........................................................................................... 17 Residential Development.................................................................................................... 18 11 October 2010 City of San Diego & Page & Turnbull, Inc. -i- Historic Context Statement San Ysidro Final City of San Diego Infrastructure: Irrigation....................................................................................................... 20 Community and Civic Development ...................................................................................... 23 Civic Park............................................................................................................................ 23 School................................................................................................................................. 24 Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 25 Railroad Development ........................................................................................................ 25 Road Development ............................................................................................................. 25 Associated Property Types.................................................................................................... 26 Landscape Resources ........................................................................................................ 27 Residential Properties......................................................................................................... 28 Development of a Border Town (1916 – 1956) ............................................32 Entertainment and Tourism ................................................................................................... 32 The Draw of Tourism .......................................................................................................... 32 Commercial Development .................................................................................................. 33 TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE........................................................................ 36 Road Development ............................................................................................................. 36 Water System ..................................................................................................................... 37 Residential Development....................................................................................................... 37 Community and U.S. Government Development .................................................................. 38 Associated Property Types.................................................................................................... 40 Residential Properties......................................................................................................... 41 Commercial Properties ....................................................................................................... 48 Institutional and Government Properties ............................................................................ 55 Annexation to City of San Diego (1957 – Present)......................................63 Movement to Annexation....................................................................................................... 63 Water Concerns..................................................................................................................63 Transportation ....................................................................................................................... 63 Road Development ............................................................................................................. 63 Interurban Electric Railroad ................................................................................................ 64 Residential Subdivision Development ................................................................................... 64 Commercial Expansion.......................................................................................................... 65 Associated Property Types.................................................................................................... 66 Residential Properties......................................................................................................... 66 Commercial Properties ....................................................................................................... 71 Institutional and Government Properties ............................................................................ 75 V. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................. 78 VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................. 83 Published Works............................................................................................83 Public Records...............................................................................................83 Newspapers & Periodicals............................................................................83 Unpublished Works.......................................................................................84