Three properties across La Jolla were designated as historic at the San Diego Historical Resources Board’s meeting May 22.
All were approved on the consent agenda, meaning there were no presentations or discussions.
They are the Sarah Beckwith House at 836 Prospect St. in The Village, the Heinz and Elizabeth Poppendiek/Russell Forester House at 7834 Esterel Drive in La Jolla Heights, and the Wilber and Dorothy Larrabee/Edgar Ullrich House at 6714 Muirlands Drive in the Muirlands neighborhood.
Sarah Beckwith House
This property was designated with a period of significance of 1922 under HRB Criterion C (indicating it embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction or is a valuable example of the use of natural materials or craftsmanship) for its Tudor Revival style with Craftsman influence.
“Specifically, the resource exhibits a stucco and brick veneer exterior, half-timbering, a moderately steeped pitched cross gable roof with little eave overhang, projecting front-facing gable, massive brick chimney and tall, narrow multilite wood windows,” according to a city staff report associated with the nomination. “The tapered front porch columns are influenced by the Craftsman style.”
The building was originally constructed as a single-family residence but currently contains offices, the report states. No other buildings are onsite.
The historic designation excludes the 1954 rear addition and circa-1971 rear enclosed staircase, both of which were built outside the period of significance.
Heinz and Elizabeth Poppendiek House
This house, designed by master architect and one-time La Jolla resident Russell Forester, was designated under Criteria C and D, the latter indicating the property is representative of a notable work of a master builder, designer, architect, engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, artist or craftsman.
The house, considered an example of the International style, features a flat roof, horizontal bands of flush windows, asymmetrical facades, square corners and exterior brick veneer siding, with a lack of applied ornamentation.
City staff determined that the house “embodies the distinctive characteristics through the retention of character-defining features of the International style and retains integrity from its 1965 period of significance.”
Additionally, it reflects Forester’s “original design, intent and aesthetic … for a single-family residence in the 1960s,” the staff report states.
Forester moved to La Jolla as a child and graduated from La Jolla High School in 1938. In 1950, he was inspired by architect Lloyd Ruocco to study architecture at the Institute of Design in Chicago.
When Forester returned to San Diego around 1951, he began deg in Modernist styles. He is credited with helping to introduce the International style to San Diego. At least eight of Forester’s works are designated as historic by the HRB.
Wilber and Dorothy Larrabee House
This Tudor Revival-style 1933 home was designated under Criteria C and D.
The L-shaped house “is representative of a notable work of master architect Edgar Ullrich and retains integrity as it relates to its 1933 period of significance,” according to a staff report. “Specifically, the house is significant for its custom high-style Tudor Revival design, as one of many large luxury residences designed during Ullrich’s early career in La Jolla.”
“The residence exhibits a variety of architectural features, such as a sprawling floor plan, multiple bay windows, bands of divided-lite windows and restrained use of half-timbering, all of which are associated with Ullrich’s historically significant residential design,” the report adds. “Prominent features such as a corner turret and porte cochere further underscore the property’s high style.”
Ullrich, known as the tract architect for the La Jolla Hermosa subdivision, moved to San Diego in 1924 to take a commission from Isabel Hopkins to design the Casa de Mañana resort hotel (now a retirement facility).
“His style for this subdivision emphasized color coordination, random tile roofing with noticeable mortar, distinctive chimneys, window grilles and wood shutters with pegs,” according to the report.
Benefits of historic designation include availability of the Mills Act program for reduced property tax for owners to help maintain, restore and rehabilitate historic properties; use of the more flexible Historical Building Code and the historical conditional use permit, which allows flexibility of use; and flexibility in other regulatory requirements. However, houses cannot be modified significantly once they are designated historic.
The San Diego Historical Resources Board meets monthly. To learn more, visit sandiego.gov/development-services and click on “Public hearings, meetings and notices.” ♦
