Kensington is a small historic neighborhood that is located within the city of San Diego. This neighborhood is approximately six miles away from the downtown area, making it a relatively short commute for most residents. The neighborhood boundaries include Escondido Freeway to the west, Fairmont Avenue to the east, El Cajon Blvd. to the south and Interstate 8 to the north.
The neighborhood was founded in 1910 after real estate promoter William Douglas began advertising and selling lots for the then-new ex-Rancho Mission development. Douglas did this on behalf of the original owners of the land, Abby Hitchcock (nee Hall) and Mary Gleason (nee Hall), two sisters who happened to own much of the land that makes up present-day Kensington.
Split-level and two-story homes tend to dominate the Kensington area. Many of the original houses in the area were all built in the Craftsman style. The area also features an excellent collection of Spanish Revival homes for sale, as well. Although these homes tend to have extraordinarily strong value, intrepid real estate buyers can still find excellent deals on the property they're looking for.
Some these homes have been recently renovated. Most of these renovations include the addition of energy efficient appliances, brand-new kitchen decor, new flooring and much more. Many of these new additions and renovations do not take away from the initial attractiveness of these homes, but instead seek to complement these looks with a slightly more modern touch.