Opinion: The time has come for the California Theatre to come down to make way for housing [Opinion]
” : The only reason the former California Theatre building has been boarded up for 32 years is because it was designated as a city of San Diego Historical Resource.
That designation has prevented it from being replaced with new housing that would have benefited thousands of people over the years and given the city millions of dollars in new property taxes. Historical designation should be voluntary only, not forced properties all over the city, when the city has no proof that designation is for the greater good of society. Its own Real Estate Assets Department can tell that designation lowers the value of city-owned properties, restricts what can be done with them and raises costs to maintain them.
The majority of people don’t really care about historical preservation. The proof is that none of the city’s historical museums make money.