San Diego Bungalow Courts May Qualify for the National Register

Elm Courts in South Park Nominated to the National Register. Photo courtesy of Scott Crosby.

Thanks to a recent decision made by the California State Historic Resources Commission (SHRC), it is now easier and less expensive for owners of bungalow courts in San Diego to nominate their property to the National Register of Historic Places.‍ ‍

At its meeting on May 7, the SHRC unanimously approved the San Diego Bungalow Courts Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF), which documents the history of bungalow courts in the City of San Diego and provides a framework for the nomination of associated properties throughout the city to the National Register of Historic Places. Two bungalow courts in San Diego, El Cantorral Court in University Heights, and Elm Courts in South Park, were also approved by the SHRC and placed on the National Register in conjunction with the MPDF.

The San Diego Bungalow Courts MPDF and associated nominations for El Cantorral Court and Elm Courts were prepared by South Environmental in Pasadena. The University Heights Historical Society contracted with South Environmental with financial support from the North Park Historical Society, Hillcrest History Guild, and the Ocean Beach Historical Society.

“My preservation partners and I are thrilled that owners of these cherished housing types now have a clear path forward for nominating their properties to the National Register”, said Kristin Harms, President of the University Heights Historical Society. “Volunteers have worked for years to identify, document, and preserve these important historic resources throughout our communities.”

According to approved City of San Diego historic surveys, there are an estimated 400 bungalow courts throughout the city and 70 just in University Heights. Approval of the San Diego Bungalow Courts MPDF, El Cantorral Court, and Elm Courts provides a framework and specific examples for other bungalow court owners to use in nominating their own properties to the National Register. Owners can prepare their own nominations using National Park Service Form 10-900 or hire a consultant to help prepare and submit the form.

Scott Crosby, owner of El Cantorral Court and Elm Courts, encourages owners to take advantage of this simplified process to nominate their properties to the National Register. “Bungalow court owners have a great opportunity to protect these important historic resources, which are such a tremendous asset to the character of San Diego’s neighborhoods.”

To further simplify the nomination process, the University Heights Historical Society offers bungalow court owners throughout San Diego a low-cost architectural assessment by experienced Architectural Historians Amie Hayes and Ginger Weatherford to determine if their property might qualify for the National Register. This assessment is entirely separate from the National Register nomination process but may help owners decide if they want to pursue nomination or not.

Bungalow court owners with questions are encouraged to reach out to the University Heights Historical Society at kristin@uhhs-uhcdc.org