An Outdoor Gathering Place for Coronado Residents for Over 90 Years, the Patio of the Recently Renovated Hotel Marisol, Designated an Historic Resource
At its October 15, 2014, meeting the City’s Historic Resources Commission (HRC) approved the historic designation of two properties, an Historic Alteration Permit for an already designated property, recommendation to the City Council approval of a request for a Mills Act agreement, and the demolition of an existing single family residence in a multi-family residential zone.
Left: The Residence at 1027 F Avenue was Designated an Historic Resource
Approval of the historic designation of the residence at 1027 F Avenue was passed by a unanimous vote of the four Commissioners in attendance at the meeting. The residence, built in 1934, was designated based on its distinctive characteristics as an example of the Spanish Eclectic architectural style and as a notable work of its builder Paul Hathaway.
The property at 1019 Park Place was also designated an historic resource after a lengthy discussion. The application was unique in that it requested the designation of the lot adjacent to the recently renovated Hotel Marisol, which has already been designated an historic resource. The site has been a garden and one of the premier outdoor gathering places for Coronado residents for over 90 years. It was originally associated with the Blue Lantern Café, which occupied the parcel on which the Hotel Marisol now resides.
Right: The Original 1920 Blue Lantern Café that was Moved to 915 H Avenue Where it Continues to be Used as a Private Residence
The café and the adjacent garden were where the Coronado Rotary Club was founded. The club met in the building that housed the Blue Lantern until it was moved to 915 H Avenue, where it still stands as a private residence. The history of the Hotel Marisol states that as part of the hotel’s renovations the lot has been “reincarnated as a Mediterranean inspired haven with a travertine stone patio, olive trees in stucco raised planters, brilliant red bougainvillea, simple water features, and citrus trees.” Because it reflects special elements of the City’s cultural, social, and aesthetic history and is identified with an event significant in local history, the founding of the City’s Rotary Club, the Commission designated the lot a historic resource. The designation of the lot will preserve it as open space.
Left: The Residence at 770 F Avenue that will be Altered Through the Addition of a Second Floor and the Construction of Two Additional Residences Behind It
The Commission approved the alteration of the historically designated property at 770 F Avenue. The permit will allow the demolition of approximately 1,000 square feet of the 2,200 square foot designated residence and the construction of a 573 square foot second floor. It will also allow the construction of two residences of 1,800 and 2,300 square feet, respectively, behind the existing residence. The plan is for the three residences to be occupied by different generations of the Blumenthal family. Prior to the designation of the existing residence as an historic resource in January 2014, the plan was to demolish it and to replace it with up to four residences.
Right: The Residence at 940 Country Club Lane that was Recently Designated as an Historic Resource will be Recommended to the City Council for a Mills Act Agreement
The Commission agreed to recommend to the City Council approval of the residence at 940 Country Club Lane for a Mills Act agreement. The residence was designated an historic resource on September 17, 2014. The permit for its construction was issued in 1955. In the discussion it was noted that the present owner of the property Emily Talbert, who is a member of the Commission, will not realize a savings in property taxes. As a result of Proposition 13 her property taxes are lower than the taxes that would result from a Mills Act agreement. However, a subsequent owner would realize a tax savings since the Mills Act estimated value of the property will be lower than the sale price of the property, which would otherwise be used to establish the applicable property tax.
Left: Residence at 626 Eighth Street Approved for Demolition by the Historic Resource Commission
The final action of the Commission was to approve a demolition permit for the single family residence at 626 Eighth Street, which is located in an R-3 (Multiple Family Residential) Zone. While the residence is over 75 years old, it was determined that it does not meet the criteria for designation as an historic resource.
The next meeting of the HRC is scheduled for November 5, 2014.
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John Tato
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
