Dubbed “La Estrella Del Mar,” the home was initially recommended for denial of historic designation but further review proved successful.
The San Diego Historic Resources Board has designated the home at 306 Sea Lane in La Jolla a historical resource, with a period of significance of 1925-1928 as an example of Spanish Colonial Revival style.
The designation excludes the garage, a second-story addition and the kitchen and stair additions on the north façade, constructed outside of the period of significance.
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The 1925 home, named “La Estrella Del Mar” (“The Star of the Sea”), is a two-story, single-family residential building in the residential Barber Tract neighborhood.
The designation, approved on the HRB’s Nov 20 consent agenda without presentation, came after an Oct 23 continuation of the item, requested by the applicant after city of San Diego staff initially recommended the property not receive historic designation.
The October staff report on the home indicated a lack of integrity of previous window restorations that were not supported by photo documentation.
The applicant provided historic photos recently discovered, along with other clarifying details that were “useful in evaluating the property’s historic integrity,” a staff memo states.
The circa 1959 photos verified the historic accuracy of the metal windows; a 2005 project included the change of a window to a set of French doors with iron Juliet balcony; and the circa 1959 photos display the original garage door on the west façade.
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“Based on the new information provided, staff believes there is enough to recommend the property for designation under HRB Criterion C as an example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style,” the memo states.
The home, according to information in the staff report, was designed by Master Architect Herbert Palmer for Elizabeth Venus but as a 1928 addition was not designed by Palmer, there is a loss of integrity due to the addition’s location on a primary façade.
The co-owner of the home, who did not give her name, thanked the HRB for approving the historic designation.
“It’s a lovely home, and it has so many nice qualities that all the previous owners have kept up,” she said.
“I love your home so much,” said HRB Chair Kristi Byers.
