225 Orange Avenue in Coronado, California recently was mentioned in San Diego Architectural Foundation's "Orchids & Onions". The SDAF wrote:
"225 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California This residential building was built in 1963 in Coronado, California. During this time, replication of prototypical residential buildings was common. As a result, neighborhood character or livability issues were not considered. The windowless building façade and stark appearance was uncharacteristic of this traditional neighborhood. The City of Coronado acquired these six townhomes as affordable housing but soon realized the design shortcomings and the eyesore they had become. It was imperative to restore the neighborhood and develop strategies for the renewing the building. San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation, a non-profit developer, along with Rodriguez Associates Architects & Planners were chosen for the renovation and restoration. The first step was to redesign street and alley facades with new windows, porches, balconies and front doors. It was important that the building restored a presence along Orange Avenue with new windows and doors. A wood picket fence greets the visitor and establishes the first point of transition. A townhome front door was relocated to face the street. A large porch was added to the front yard serving as a second transition. Side yard entries are linked to the front yard with a brick walk and archway. Similar design concepts activate the alley with a new pedestrian walk, balcony and windows. Human connections to the community were essential. The renovation recalls a Craftsman style, which is very prominent in Coronado. This architecture compliments established homes and is reminiscent of the city’s history. The townhomes were renovated with smart growth and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principals. New green materials and communication technologies were installed. The emphasis on new doors, windows, balconies and porches create natural surveillance and promote ownership of outdoor spaces, improving neighborhood security. Overall, the project has restored a lost part of city to the citizens of Coronado and enhanced the street scene along Orange Avenue."
The Project Owner/ Developer was listed as San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation. The owner being Jonathan Taylor and the Project Architect/ Designer was Carlos Rodriguez.
Coronado Common Sense would like to share the before & after photos with you so you'll know what you're looking for next time you drive by!
225 Orange Avenue "before" photo of front elevation
"After" view
Street view
Rear elevation "before"
New view from alley
Interior view
Kitchen view
Comments written on the Orchids & Onions site are all anonymous so it's difficult to know if it's really a cross-section of the community. A couple of the commenters made the observation that a "Craftsman" without history is not a good idea, though others loved it.
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