Former San Diego LGBT Center Demolished By Mistake

A historic LGBT building in San Diego was mistakenly demolished last week due to an apparent clerical error.

HG Fenton, the developer of a 165-unit mixed-use apartment community, received a demolition permit Friday for the former LGBT Center at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Florida Street, in University Heights.

"This represents the very humble beginnings of what grew into a huge movement here in San Diego," Jaye MacAskill, president of Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) told NBC San Diego.

SOHO was trying to work with HG Fenton to incorporate the former center into the apartment community. Although the demolition permit was processed, it bypassed the city's historic resources staff.

"They knew the city was requiring them to go through an additional historical review," MacAskill said of the city and the developer. "How are they going to explain temporary amnesia on Friday afternoon when they decided it was time to get rolling?"

The developer proposed a few ways to honor the LGBT community, including moving the building to another location, but an agreement was never reached.