JOSEPH IRELAND BUILDING & ANNEX

San Diego, California
East Village
Mixed-Use, Remodel
14 residential units, 2 commercial units

The Joseph Ireland Building and Annex are Victorian style structures which were originally constructed in the early 1880's.  They are located in the rapidly expanding East Village neighborhood and bordered by new residential development.  The site, which contains both buildings, is a Designated Historical Landmark in the City of San Diego and therefore, the renovation was required to conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for rehabilitation.  Unfortunately, years of neglect had taken their toll on the structures.  Pigeons had been the primary residents and they had not done a good job maintaining the buildings.  Before the cosmetic issues could be addressed, the buildings needed to undergo a full structural renovation and seismic retrofit.  As part of the architectural renovation, the original exterior wood siding and corbel details were maintained and repaired wherever possible.  New wood windows were crafted to match the design and detailing of the original windows.  The main building was divided into two commercial spaces and four residential units on the ground floor.  The second floor was divided into six additional apartments.  The annex building was raised in order to provide adequate ceiling height on the ground floor and divided into four small apartments.  A fresh coat of paint in a vibrant color scheme highlights the original architectural details and completes the transformation.