We need your help. On Tuesday, April 20, the San Diego City Council will consider the appeal of the historical designation of 540 Thorn Street, an exemplary and rare example of a Tudor Revival style house with both Richardsonian Romanesque and Arts and Crafts era influences.
540 Thorn is prominently featured on promotional postcards of the period, showing off the collection of important early 20th century homes along Sixth Avenue which included the homes of many of San Diego’s community leaders, designed by master architects. Sixth Avenue has already lost the Irving Gill masterpiece the Melville Klauber House and the Julia Dent Grant House/US Grant Presidential Library to demolition. Don't let us lose another architectural gem!
The appeal argument does not meet the City's three requirements: factual errors in materials, factual errors in information presented to the board, or new information. 540 Thorn must remain designated under Criterion C for architecture.
This home is rare. Its character-defining features remain, including the asymmetrical facade with its rectangular windows, round arches above the porch and entries, and masonry walls with rough-faced squared stonework, and the use of ashlar stone. The Tudor Revival elements are seen in half-timbering, steeply pitched side-gabled roof, and wood frame divided-light and sash windows while Arts and Crafts era influences can be seen in the partial width front porch, windows of varying shapes and sizes, and rectangular massing.
An unusual and uniquely mixed-style building for San Diego and, importantly situated on a corner, effectively impacting adversely two streets. Don’t allow this one to be lost too!
