History Clairemont, San Diego

clairemont development in 1950s (courtesy of san diego historical society)



image graphically depicts boundaries of community (courtesy of city of san diego planning department)

the kumeyaay indians came canyon area within clairemont centuries ago in search of food , shelter. given name tecolote (meaning owl), after native bird lives in canyon. judge hyde 1 of first settlers of clairemont , began farming in tecolote canyon in 1872. farming , ranching continued in area until world war ii.

in 1887 morena subdivision mapped. 1,200 acre subdivision bounded streets known today morena boulevard on west, milton street on south, illion street on east, , on north east-west line approximately 1,000 feet north of gesner street.

in 1887 train depot constructed in vicinity of kane street , morena boulevard accommodate potential buyers in morena subdivision. torn down in 1920s.

in 1936 bay park village subdivision approved city council. project, located south of morena subdivision , south of milton street featured 60 x 100 feet or larger lots single-family homes.

in 1939 bay park elementary school constructed @ 2433 denver street.

in 1950, carlos tavares , lou burgener developed became san diego s largest post-war subdivision. dubbed village within city , people started living in new clairemont subdivision in may 1951. design of new subdivision represented new concept in community living because did not incorporate traditional grid system of uniform blocks , streets. instead, winding streets , scenic view lots took advantage of canyons , bluffs overlooking mission bay. first homes, built burgener , tavares construction company, had highly customized floor plans.

the developers assembled necessary acreage develop clairemont 3 primary land holdings: peavey cattle ranch, mission bay heights (owned hazard family), , tecolote heights (owned jack & dan danciger). before homes built in new development, tavares & burgener invested $125,000 in off-street improvements including sewers, water, , access roads; necessary because proposed development not adjacent developed areas. original subdivision map used name “clairemont” first time approved , recorded county of san diego on october 16, 1950. map named clairemont unit #1, map #2725 . area in clairemont includes deerpark drive, burgener boulevard, , grandview street field street jellett street. according burgener, between 1952 & 1954, 7 homes constructed day . noted clairemont largest development of kind in country.

within few years, several thousand houses had been constructed, including single family homes, duplexes , apartments. since clairemont removed city proper, commercial business , retail shopping, schools, libraries , other city amenities designed overall plan. although concept of suburban living commonplace today, approach considered novel. tavares vision clairemont had far-reaching implications san diego, stretched city limits outward , began familiar pattern of migration city suburb.

marian bear memorial park (aka san clemente canyon) , tecolote canyon natural park officially designated parks city of san diego in 1960s , 1970s.