There Are Some Changes Coming to Taylor Court

In the formative years of the Loma Linda campus, there was a small block of  land, which was part of Tract No, 2421, formerly known as the C. T. Norwood Orchard. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, a small block was carved out to form fourteen residential lots. These lots feel within the boundaries of Taylor Street on the north, Prospect Street to the South, Anderson Street to the east, and Taylor Court on the west.  By the late the 1950s the small block had become well established with small cottages and trees deeply rooted in the heart of the campus. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, institutional demands for additional space “close in” to what was becoming the heart of the campus became a necessity. It was a longterm strategy. So as the small homes went on the market, the University bought the property. Some, no doubt, were obtained through trusts and wills. At first the cottages were rented to faculty, staff, and/or students, but as office space was needed the University would convert the property into office space or commercial property. However, the sleepy little block within the shadow of the Medical Center’s clover leaf towers became front and center as the plans for the new hospital began to take shape. Entered into the discussion was expansion of the power plant, power generators, and a high rise  parking structure. No doubt, there maybe other ideas that are on the longterm drawing board.

Some of the property has remained commercial. However, all parcels are now in the hands of the University. The last piece on the northeast corner of Taylor Court and Prospect Street was acquired by the University sometime around 2010. For many years this corner property has been the short-term home for many families who literally had to be a stones throw from a loved ones who was critically ill. Several years before, this home had been converted to studio apartments, and was known for many years as the “White House,” named for pastor Wayne W. White, who had purchased the property in the early 40s and converted the rooms for student rental use.

Due to the LLUCTP (Loma Linda University Campus Transformation Project), the existing Power Plant in the process of being upgraded and its capacity expanded to meet the increased loads required by the new hospitals. In addition new generators fueled by the power plant must be built. Where will the generators go? Taylor Court. Where on Taylor Court? You ask. Something has to give for Taylor Court is just a short wedge shot long. Two building that have some history with the campus will be effected: RAZED as in demolished … torn down … leveled … gone only to be remembered in photographs.

The first building can boast of having two campus locations. The first location was on the Hill (aka the Mound). It was a rather long building, which sat on the south brow of the hill with a view of the Loma Linda Hills to the south. In one of the expansion phases on the hill (sometime in the early 60s), the building was in  footprint of some project. Rather than demolish the building, which had served, at sometime, as a clinic, the powers-to-be elected to have the building cut in half (the contractor could not negotiate the sharp corner on the hill) and relocated and reattached on a small parcel of land on the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court, which runs east to west, and Taylor Court, which runs north to south. The entrance faced (still faces as of today) Taylor Street. For a number of years, the repurposed and remodeled building served as the home to Loma Linda Endodontics until 2010, when the offices relocated to Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

The second building to be razed in favor of the new generator facility was known for many years as the Faculty Dental Offices. The building was built in the early 60s, and stands on the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court. Its entrance also faces Taylor Street.

And so, the hammer blows of progress will soon begin on the northwest corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court .

Placing Taylor Court in Context to the LLUCTP 

The two buildings that are facing demolition: The former Endodontics building (1), and (2) the former Faculty Dental Office building. The photo illustrates how close Taylor Court is to the main entrance to the Medical Center.

Taylor Court as seen from the 5th floor.

At the corner of Taylor street and Taylor Court facing south. The building at the left is scheduled to be demolished to make room for a generator building.

The back half of the old clinic building as it is being maneuvered to turn right (south) onto Hill Drive in preparation for the move to its new location at the corner of Taylor Street and Taylor Court. Photo courtesy of the Loma Linda University Heritage Room. 

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At left: The back of the Endodontics building. Note that the doors are in the same location as the opening in the previous photo (Circa 2004).

Above: The entrance to Endodontics building (Circa 2004). The building looks much the same today as it did fourteen years ago.

On the southwest corner of Taylor Street and Taylor court is the building that once served as the Faculty Dental offices.

Taylor court from the sixth floor of the podium.