San Diego Before and After

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I used to live above the "smoke shop" on 6th and University across from what used to be Harvey Milks in Hillcrest. My apartment was built sometime in the 1910's and the interior looked immaculate.

What I found most interesting about that block was the old-Hollywood style Egyptian decor on the building exteriors that presumably was installed at the same time it was in Los Angeles. Makes me wonder what kind of vision planners had for San Diego at the time.

There are still a few Egyptian themed buildings along Park Blvd/University Ave. They even integrated the old Egyptian movie theater facade into the apartment complex they built around it.

[T. Damon]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

I used to live above the "smoke shop" on 6th and University across from what used to be Harvey Milks in Hillcrest. My apartment was built sometime in the 1910's and the interior looked immaculate.

What I found most interesting about that block was the old-Hollywood style Egyptian decor on the building exteriors that presumably was installed at the same time it was in Los Angeles. Makes me wonder what kind of vision planners had for San Diego at the time.

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

There are still a few Egyptian themed buildings along Park Blvd/University Ave. They even integrated the old Egyptian movie theater facade into the apartment complex they built around it.

30+ years ago while living next to the Georgia St. bridge and as an architecture buff I quickly became aware of and greatly admired those buildings. Even the now replaced auto repair garage on the corner of Park Blvd. and Robinson had Egyptian themed parapet designs (which made it very difficult to be demolished and replaced by Jonathan Segal’s “Mr. Robinson Lofts” building). Often times I would take new found friends from the Flame outside to give them a quick tour of the Egyptian Revival District who’s buildings they went past for years but never really noticed their distinct themed architecture.

It was a short-lived nationwide (and perhaps somewhat, worldwide) all-things Egyptian fad that came into being after the discovery in 1922 of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Which is why one can sometimes find similar architecture themed buildings in many cities from that era.

Today, the new condo developments on the street, with almost none of the Egyptian embellishments, are named The Egyptian and Cairo as a half-hearted homage to the remaining buildings that make up the tiny District.