Thursday,
May 8,
2008
2008
(continued from March 6, April 3 & April 17) The proposed Interim Height Ordinance (IHO) amendment was approved unanimously by planning commissioners this afternoon after they added wording that could allow buildings over the limit if they have a process four discretionary review.
The opposition was there in force, including the BIA, the Board of Realtors and the Chamber of Commerce. This was a big (and unexpected) win for the residents of Hillcrest and Mission Hills. The amendment will now move to the City Council for a final vote.
Wednesday,
May 7,
2008
2008
Enough is enough... Help stop destructive growth
Interim Height Ordinance at City Hall (again)
(continued from March 6, April 3 & April 17) The proposed IHO amendment will again be discussed by the planning commissioners at 9am in City Council Chambers Thursday morning. It would limit structures to 65 feet along specific portions of Fifth Avenue, Robinson Avenue, University Avenue and Washington Street north of Brookes Avenue, although the community wants to use Upas Street as the southern boundary. (The 20-year-old community plan allows for buildings up to 200 feet tall.)If approved, this amendment would remain in effect until the adoption of a new Uptown Community Plan Update or 30 months from the adoption of this ordinance whichever occurs first. After the commissioners give their opinion, the amendment will be decided by the City Council next month.
Tuesday,
May 6,
2008
2008
tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 7th from 6-8pm
An open invitation from James Brennan —
We at EnDev would love to meet you and establish open lines of communication. We are aware of the amazing and vibrant community which we are fortunate to be a part of, and we take seriously our responsibility to help keep it great! This is a casual forum intended to encourage dialog concerning any issues that need to be addressed. We’d also like to share contact information to help keep the communication going. We hope you can make it and look forward to meeting you and working together to keep Hillcrest an incredible place to work, live and play!
Please join the management and staff of Universal Hillcrest, Dish and Ciro’s Pizzeria for refreshments and appetizers from 6pm to 6:30pm. Following by a meeting from 6:30pm to 8pm to discuss any neighborhood concerns and distribute contact info.
Monday,
May 5,
2008
2008
Humphrey’s Shelter Island Backstage Lounge
Monday, May 5th at 6:30pm
Enjoy great musicians and help out San Diego’s blues legend Candye Kane who recently had pancreatic cancer surgery. Like many musicians, Candye has no health insurance. She has given us decades of great entertainment....let’s give back to this “toughest gal in town!”
Featuring Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra with special guest Toni Price, and including John “Juke” Logan, Missy Andersen, Joey Harris and the Mentals, the Bayou Brothers with Michele Lundeen, Scotty Blinn, Anna Troy and many more. $20.
Sunday,
May 4,
2008
2008
Performing Illusionist Jimmy James at Martinis tonight
For the price of one ticket you can be entertained tonight by Cher, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Billie Holiday, Bette Davis, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline and Macy Gray at a fun-filled show featuring the talented Jimmy James Sunday evening at Martinis Above Fourth.“I love doing them all,” he says. “Whenever I do Judy Garland’s voice, it transforms the room in a certain way, and whenever I do Bette Davis, then it’s a hilarious thing that transforms the room in another way.” Don’t miss it — call for reservations.
Tickets for the 6pm dinner show or 9pm cocktail show are $25; a three-course prix-fixe dinner and beverages are in addition to the ticket price.
Saturday,
May 3,
2008
2008
Uptown Planners meet Tuesday
Several topics of interest for Hillcrest & Bankers Hill residents will be discussed at this Tuesday’s meeting of the Uptown Planners. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Projects on the agenda include the proposed boutique hotel for Fifth Avenue north of the Union Bank building (at left) which will necessitate demolision of Amonite, Corvette Diner & Kemo Sabe structures. Although this image seems as if the steel and glass hotel (with residential units) will blend well with the 3-story Union Bank and Far West Savings buildings, the hotel will be 8 stories (126 feet tall). Another item: a Bankers Hill/Park West conceptual presentation for a mixed-use hotel 50-100 condos approximately 150 feet tall at Fifth & Maple (Mandarin House) and a report on zoo construction related traffic impacts in Marston Hills.
Don’t miss it — 6pm Tuesday at Joyce Beers Community Center in the Uptown District.
Friday,
May 2,
2008
2008
Another error at City Hall
As you may know, Mayor Sanders’ Development Services Dept. was found to have granted a developer 9 extra units above the number allowed by the zoning. The City’s notes for this project describes the problem. “The 22,390 s.f. lot would therefore allow a maximum of 28 residential units. Due to a typographical error the project was...allowed the 37 units.”If we use a figure of $160,000 for the market value of land suitable for a condominium in Hillcrest, then the DSD “error” can be seen to amount to a $1.4 million giveaway to the developer.
The developers on the DECA project (corner of Robinson & Park Blvd) are Bruce Leidenberger and Michael McPhee. Interestingly, these two are also the developers of the 301 University project in Hillcrest, dubbed the “Monster Building” by opponents. After the City staff represented that the project complied with all applicable laws, and a lawsuit was initiated by Hillcrest residents and business leaders, the Superior Court ruled that the City had violated the law on seven counts. Why did the City staff break the rules a second time to aide these two developers? The clincher was the revelation that Leidenberger and McPhee have a business relationship with Jerry Sanders. These developers provided office space to Sanders for his last election, and Leidenberger was one of the many developers who contributed to Sanders’ campaign.
— Tom Mullaney,
Friends of San Diego
Thursday,
May 1,
2008
2008
— City Medical Director Jim
Dunford re: the 236 suicide deaths from the Coronado Bridge
