From sleaze to chic: The unlikely savior of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter

Tom Hom’s Revival of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter

San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter wasn’t always the hip spot it is now. After World War II, the area went downhill fast as folks moved to the suburbs.

By the 1970s, this 16-block district had turned into a seedy zone with 30 adult bookstores and was known mainly as a “sailor’s entertainment district.”

Then came Tom Hom, a Chinese-American businessman and former city councilman who had seen enough.

In 1974, he got local owners to push for change, and the city pitched in $100,000 to save the area’s Victorian charm.

The transformation worked so well that today’s Gaslamp Quarter stands as proof of what locals can do when they band together to save a piece of history.

Sailors and Sleaze Took Over Downtown San Diego After WWII

Downtown San Diego emptied after WWII as people moved to the suburbs. Returning soldiers wanted new homes away from city centers, and businesses followed them.

The 16-block area now called the Gaslamp Quarter fell apart by the 1950s. The neighborhood turned into a rough “sailor’s entertainment district” with boarded-up buildings.

About 30 adult bookstores, massage parlors, peep shows, bars, pawn shops, and tattoo parlors filled the streets. Homeless people slept in doorways while the Rescue Mission became the area’s busiest spot.

Tom Hom Spotted Potential Where Others Saw Only Decay

Tom Hom broke barriers in 1963 as the first Asian-American on San Diego’s City Council.

In 1973, he and his brother bought the Security Pacific National Bank building from 1884, his first downtown property purchase.

By 1974, Hom became president of the new Gaslamp Quarter Association, bringing together worried property and business owners.

While others wanted to tear down old buildings, Hom saw something special – Victorian-era architecture worth saving.

Property Owners Banded Together With a Bold Petition

On March 21, 1974, Tom Hom took action by sending petitions to San Diego City Council asking for help to save the Gaslamp Quarter.

The petition asked for an “exciting office and visitor area showing the history and architecture of San Diego.”

Hom and his supporters wanted money while keeping the neighborhood’s unique old-time look. The City Council sent the request to the Planning Department to create tools to make it happen.

Money Talks: City Council Backed the Vision With Cash

San Diego City Council supported the community movement in 1974 by giving $100,000 for fixing up the Gaslamp Quarter.

This money helped create design rules aimed at keeping the historic look of the district. The council also promised to make special building rules for the Gaslamp Quarter’s needs.

This official support gave credibility to what started as a neighborhood effort and provided crucial funds to start the changes.

A Bold Restaurant Owner Took the First Restoration Gamble

The 1898 Buel-Town Company Building at 278 Fifth Avenue became the first fully fixed-up structure in 1974.

Restaurant owner Gus Dussin bought the building and spent over $1 million on repairs, adding antique furnishings, fancy lighting, and stained glass.

The building reopened as the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant, complete with an antique trolley car for dining.

Success Stories Spread Like Wildfire Through the District

The Pacific Hotel and Keating Building quickly followed with their own fixes after seeing the Buel-Town success.

These first few restored buildings brought new businesses and curious customers to an area they used to avoid.

Each success story convinced more property owners to invest in fixing instead of leaving their buildings, creating a chain reaction of positive change.

Rules Made the Restoration Vision Stick

In 1976, San Diego City Council approved the Gaslamp Quarter Urban Design and Development Manual, making the plan official.

The rules focused on keeping Victorian-era architecture while allowing modern businesses inside these historic buildings.

This framework legally required historically correct renovations throughout the district, ensuring the area would keep its unique character.

Brick Sidewalks and Gas Lamps Created a Victorian Atmosphere

The city changed the streets with new brick sidewalks and replica gas lamps that gave the district its name.

Workers put in five-globed light fixtures and planted eucalyptus trees to create a cohesive old-time look. The sidewalks got wider to encourage walking and outdoor dining.

These physical improvements helped change how people saw the area, shifting from dangerous to charming.

Uncle Sam Recognized the Gaslamp’s Historic Value

In 1980, the Gaslamp Quarter earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, making it officially historically important.

This title created a framework for ongoing preservation efforts and opened doors to more funding. The federal recognition brought status to the area and attracted visitors interested in historic architecture.

This national status confirmed what the community had been saying all along – these old buildings were worth saving.

Old Buildings Found New Life With Modern Purposes

Throughout the 1980s, property owners used new techniques to breathe life into Victorian structures.

Preservation leaders like Leon Herrick and Cathy Herrick-Anderson fixed up multiple buildings, including the Louis Bank of Commerce.

Owners kept original facades, windows, and architectural details while updating interiors for restaurants, shops, and offices.

Restaurants Replaced Adult Bookstores in Just Two Decades

By 1992, the transformation was complete.

The adult bookstore count dropped from 30 to just 3, while 65 restaurants had opened their doors in the district.

The Gaslamp Quarter became one of America’s best collections of preserved Victorian commercial buildings.

Cities across the country started looking at San Diego’s success as a model for their own historic district revivals.

Visiting Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego

You can learn about Tom Hom’s amazing transformation of the Gaslamp Quarter at the Davis-Horton House museum at 410 Island Avenue.

The museum offers self-guided tours Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm for $8, plus historical walking tours Thursdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 11am for $25.

The quarter now spans 16 blocks with 90+ Victorian buildings.

You can also join ghost tours, crime tours, and food tours, and reach the area via San Diego Trolley Green Line.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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