Park Place Methodist Episcopal Church South
Also known as: Balboa Park Place
Why it's listed
Completed in 1910 at 508 Olive Street in San Diego's Bankers Hill district, this Classical Revival church sits beside Balboa Park. Architect Norman Foote Marsh, already known for more than twenty churches and many schools across California and Arizona, designed it for a Methodist Episcopal congregation that wanted the best available architect. Ground was broken in May 1909. The wood-frame building has two stories and a basement, with brick veneer and plaster walls, a two-story Composite portico with pre-cast columns, Palladian-style stained glass windows, and a stained glass dome beneath a cupola topped by a statue of the Archangel Gabriel. The Methodist congregation worshipped here for fifty years, followed by a Baptist congregation for twenty-five more, until 1978. It is described as the only building of its style remaining in the city and as a focal point of a neighborhood that grew with the 1915 exposition planning. By 1982 it stood vacant but largely intact, with rehabilitation planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a remarkable example of Classical Revival design by Norman Foote Marsh, an architect with a strong Los Angeles reputation. It is described as the only building of this style surviving in San Diego. It also marks the Bankers Hill neighborhood's development alongside the Panama-California Exposition and Balboa Park.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83003432, listed September 15, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 508 Olive St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | September 15, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003432 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Norman Foote Marsh |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a church until 1978; described as vacant in 1982, in very good condition with minor alterations, and slated for rehabilitation for commercial and office use. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 32.73496, -117.15989 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83003432.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5909004
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.