Save Victor Condo

Once this wonderful, unique piece of architecture is gone, it's gone forever. Come to your senses, Carlsbad, before it's too late!

We’ve already lost too many of Carlsbad’s classic, historical, and unique buildings to ugly, cookie cutter boxes. We must preserve these historic, architecturally significant structures that not only give our town character, but preserve an important piece of history.

I refuse to accept this demolition of San Diego's most innovative architects!

4 years ago Featured

Bad idea for lots of reasons. Removing six affordable units. Eliminating distinctive unique building. So frustrating to see what’s come of our town. Been here since 1989 in the village has been destroyed over the last few years.

These culturally significant buildings should remain in place.

I live in Carlsbad. Consider the consequences of destroying what make Carlsbad unique character.

As past president of the Carlsbad Historical Society, a co-author of Carlsbad's original Historic Sites Ordinance & Growth Management Plan, and former Carlsbad City Planning Commissioner, as well as Architect of record for several significant projects in this immediate area, I agree that this project is one of the most important Architectural statements in Carlsbad and meets all of the criteria for designation as an historic site, and should not be destroyed.

Too many unique, culturally significant buildings have already been lost in San Diego County. Please don’t let this treasure be demolished!

The Victor Condos are so many things. They are striking— reminiscent to me of Amsterdam row houses along the canal, but with modernist and regional touches. They were built from affordable materials, intended to offer affordable living spaces, for a total of 6 separate livable units. They were designed by renown, award winning architects who continue to design innovation projects in our region. And did I say affordable? To demolish the Victor Condos (which have graced the cover of design magazines) and replace with yet more luxury units we don’t need, is a travesty.

The presence of creativity and whimsy in the built environment is fundamental to providing a complete and sustainable community for all of us. Please preserve this important work of architectural history in Southern California.

No need to destroy history especially since it sounds like it won’t be anything better…..

This is a prime example where conservation is warranted.

Please save it.

Victor Condo was innovative both stylistically and in terms of architectural type. Preserving this original piece of architecture makes sense for the entire City of Carslbad, because it enhances its character and ultimately its economic appeal. Take the long view, City Council!

Kathleen McCormick and Ted Smith are among the most significant contributors to California architecture since the 1980s, just as "Go Homes" are among the most original experiments with housing. Demolishing Victor Condo would be a terrible mistake! Let's unite in trying to appeal to public officials and other parties about our architectural heritage.

Smith & Others’ Victor Street project is as important to its era as San Diego-area buildings by Irving Gill, Lilian Rice, Richard Requa, William Templeton Johnson, Lloyd Ruocco, Lloyd Wright (Frank’s son) and Homer Delawie. Smith and Others stands on an equal footing with prominent peers such as Quigley, Segal, PAPA, and Studio E. Carlsbad’s Victor project is an essential example of Smith’s earliest work and is clearly worthy of preservation.

4 years ago Featured

The Victor condos are an iconic precedent for this period of architecture recognized by architects, editors, and academic theorists. It is an authentic version of “blendo” facades and associated color theory. Please save it as a significant moment is San Diego North County Architecture.

It did and still has architectural significance. A first of its kind

Victor Condo is clearly of cultural significance and -- depending on how many years are required to define something as "historic" -- a fine example of a pivotal historic time in Carlsbad's built-environment growth from a small coastal community to a vibrant city worthy of vibrant architecture. This Cultural Resource Assessment, if its same logic had been applied in any community over the past 150+ years, would have allowed the tear-down of 35-year-old adobes, Victorians, Craftsman, Mid-Century Modern residences—all of which would eventually be revered by many rather than the few or the short-sighted. Are we arguing that every "stylish" building should be enshrined on our streets permanently? Of course not. But some, including Victor Condo, represent a highpoint of true and important architectural eras. They also are a key marker in the role Smith + McCormick have played in making the San Diego region "wake up" to the possibilities of affordable-yet-stylishly significant (not to mention excitingly livable) dwellings. In my role as an editor or contributor for both Sunset magazine and San Diego Home/Garden magazine for over 40 years, I reported many houses and the work of many architects and designers; few have been as thought provoking and humanistic as Smith + McCormick, and Victor Condo will stand during the next century as a perfect example of late 20th Century innovation in a region that too-often relies on stereotypical cookie-cutter architecture to fit in with some kind of mythical "norm." Please save this unique and important building.

Seminal work of Ted Smith and Kathleen McCormick, quintessential California Blendo, an important part of our 1980s coastal vibe. Save it.