Taking a drive into Point Loma, you can turn on any street and find gorgeous homes or ordinary and perfectly fine homes with drop dead gorgeous panoramic views.

You know how it is. We've all done it. You're driving along, snooping around and trying to check out the private homes. You're a lookie-loo. The chorus in the car sounds like, "ooohh.. ahhhh.. if only....ohhh that would be my dream house." You are undeterred by signs that read, "Not A Through Street." To you, that sign means proceed, something good is coming that they don't want me to see! House envy takes the oxygen right out of the car. Lookie-loo syndrome kicks in.

Check out Point Loma. Some of these homes will leave your tongue wagging like the cocker spaniel in the backseat.

Just when you think you've seen some real spreads, someone in the car shrieks, "STOP! What is that?!" Back up. Slow down. At this point, you can almost feel one of the neighbors peering out their window and wondering if you're casing the block.

This one will make you slam on the brakes and reverse willy-nilly. We did. Tucked away on a quiet residential street is 15,000 sq. feet of Italian Renaissance architecture on what is now 2.5 acres of property. Built in 1912, it is obvious that them were there days when beauty was in architecture and construction. Alfred D. Robinson had Rosecroft Estate built by Emmor Brooke Weaver on 10 acres of barley fields.

Robinson made quite a name for himself when he came to the U.S., from England, in the early 1900's. He became the preeminent Begonia expert, developing over 100 new specimens at the Rosecroft Estate. But, he also worked with Kate Sessions and he was responsible for the Lathe House known now as the Balboa Park Botanical Garden. He wanted to take advantage of the sun's position as it moved across the sky from east to west providing both filtering and perfect conditions for growing Begonias and other plants. Robinson also started the San Diego Floral Association and California Garden Magazine.

Rosecroft Historic Marker

The house is now privately owned by Mary and Scott Clifton and often is used for charity events and weddings. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Homes.

Rosecroft Estate
530 Silvergate Avenue
Map