THIS PLACE CALLED HOME- Part 1

Part 1: History of Kearney Lodge MHP

Our beloved San Diego seems like an age-old place in history, but it wasn't incorporated as a city until 1850. Early development was mostly in Old Town and coastal spots; Clairemont and Kearney Mesa was nothing but scrub-brush canyon. Following WWII, cities saw a surge in population that demanded housing. A G.I. bill stimulated residential construction (mostly by privateers), which is how the teeny-tiny town of Clairemont began in 1949.

In the mid 50's, a group of family investors bought the land to build KLMHP. The building began in 1963 and opened in 1965. The land surrounding it belonged to the Navy. East of KL, the Navy granted acreage to Clairemont Mesa LIttle League, (which had been displaced by the 1964 construction plans for the 805 freeway). They named the ballpark Hickman Field to commemorate a heroic naval aviator, Lt. Albert J. Hickman, who sacrificed his life to avoid crashing his disabled fighter jet into a nearby elementary school in 1959. In 2001 it was deeded to San Diego Parks & Recs and will permanently remain 4 acres of youth sports fields. The property northwest of KL also belongs to the city and is future-allocated to the SD Fire Dept. training facility. The Copley Drive commercial land is privately owned. The Arby's posted sometime around 1966 and may be the longest standing location in San Diego.

The freeway and ramps were not yet built, so a south-bound road connected KL to Clairmont Mesa BIvd. Also at the entrance, there stood seven model mobile homes in differing size and design layouts for buyers to choose from. (see aerial view, 1970) The park was built around pre-existing power lines which ran down the mid-section of the

grounds separating the west "family" side of 200 units, from the weast "adult" side with 100 units. Sometime before 1983, the power lines were removed to the eastern side of the park (spanning over empty spaces 35, 36 and the RV parking lot). This provided space down the middle of the park for 25 new units (spcs. 310-333). These latter additions are why the space numbers there are discontinuous.

Surviving the decades of change, KLMHP has remained a "small-town" oasis in a rapidly developing big town place. It retains professional standards of performance and care: infrastructure is updated as needed, grounds maintained, aestheticism renewed; it is clean, respectable and well-managed. Thanks to owner leadership, management facilitation and resident participation, KL is a thriving community partnership that pays dividends in long-term security, financial affordability and neighborhood safety. I am among the many when I say I am proud to live in "this place called home".