A Historic Site

Opened in 1939, the Old Police Headquarters is a historic structure consisting of several linked buildings around a large open-air courtyard. The buildings, which contain approximately 74,600 square feet of first floor space and 26,228 square feet of second floor space (total of 100,828 square feet) are comprised of the former jail and processing area, administration and police offices, assembly area, gym, food service, auto repair facility, and courtrooms. The design reflects an eclectic combination of Spanish Colonial Revival and Classical styles. The property, presently vacant, was vacated in 1987 when the San Diego Police relocated to a new building.

In 1998, OPH was added to the National Register of Historic Places, an action that automatically added the site to the California Register of Historical Resources. Because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, OPH is eligible for 20% tax incentives if rehabilitation work meets the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for rehabilitation and is approved by the State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service.

In accordance with the Port District Act and California Coastal Act, the Port has a long-range, comprehensive Port Master Plan (PMP) that has been certified by the California Coastal Commission. In the PMP, the OPH and Park site land area is currently designated for Commercial Recreation, Park/Plaza, and Promenade land uses. Because the project includes the retention of the OPH and the creation of new park/plaza areas where commercial uses were previously contemplated, an amendment to the Port Master Plan has been certified by the Board of Port Commissioners. This amendment, necessary in order for the underlying land use designations to be consistent with the proposed improvements, will go before the California Costal Commission in early summer.