The house, recognized by the La Jolla Historical Society in 2024 for restoration, retains its 1940 American Colonial Revival style characteristics.

A year after receiving a local award for restoration, a La Jolla home has earned historic designation from the San Diego Historic Resources Board.

Called the “Fred and Margaret Vesper House,” the house at 6210 Camino de la Costa, now owned by Nancy Jo and John Cappetta, is a historical resource with a period of significance of 1940 for its distinctive Colonial Revival style characteristics, the HRB determined Oct 23 via its consent agenda.

The home, constructed by the Vespers as their personal residence, was designed by Edgar Ullrich, the supervising architect for the homes built on that street during its development.

In 2019, the Cappettas began a renovation; HRB determined the work to be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The resource achieves historical significance as exemplified by its wood-shingled roof, brick detail and courtyard, among other characteristics, according to the HRB staff report.

The designation excludes the 1948 south upper deck and 1950 north upper deck enclosures, as well as the 1953 sunroom addition on the west elevation, all of which were constructed outside the period of significance.

The Cappettas and design team Trip Bennett and AJ Remen of Arista Architects received a 2024 La Jolla Historical Society Jewel Award for restoration for their renovation efforts. 

At the time, Historical Society Landmark Committee Chair Seonaid McArthur said the restoration “retained the structural character and historical integrity of the house while enhancing the interior flow and ocean views and reworking core building systems,” further noting the project was a “huge effort.”

Remen thanked HRB upon hearing the decision Oct 23, along with the La Jolla Historical Society, which “has been very supportive of the project throughout the whole process.”