City of San Diego Historic Site No. 1275, Casa Descanso

Location:

Kensington, San Diego, California

5201 Marlborough Drive is a significant Spanish Eclectic house in Kensington Heights. Original fabric and integrity illustrate the unique finishing details used in this style by many builders in the Kensington Heights subdivision. Features such as the asymmetrical facade, decorative rafter tails, half-barrel red clay tile roof, narrow eaves, and arched-topped wood door make this a unique example of the architectural style by the Davis-Baker Company. Minimal modifications, including the replacement windows at the rear of the house, do not diminish the historicity of the property and its relation to the subdivision. The overall craftsmanship and integrity of the house and garage warrants designation under HRB Criterion C with a period of significance of 1929.