November 21, 2008
A special hearing of the City Council will be held at the Balboa Park Club at 6pm next Monday regarding the Mayor’s “Proposed Changes to the Mills Act Program.” Mayor Sanders is once again proposing inappropriate changes to the Mills Act. These changes would ensure that few historic homes would benefit from the provisions of the Act.
The Mayor’s claims that it reduces City revenues are completely unfounded. In fact, from numerous studies, we (and the Mayor) know the it actually increases net revenue to the City and that historic designation improves an area so significantly that it causes adjoining non-historic property values to rise an average of 16%, offsetting the Mills Act tax reductions, plus extra City revenue.
Mayor Sanders believes San Diego loses $2,000 on average per house in property tax revenue. He wants to limit this loss to $100,000 (or 50 Mills Act contracts a year). But the Mayor continues to ignore factual proof that historical designation drives property values and neighboring property taxes (at time of sale) upward, thus increasing tax revenues. Professor Andrew Narwold, Economics Department, University of San Diego tested Zip Codes 92102 and 92103 and demonstrated the Mills Act increases
property tax revenue for the City of San
Diego. You should also be aware that the city paid developers $150 million dollars last year as incentives and subsidies and yet the Mills Act’s new annual investment by the City of $150,000 is where the Mayor sees a budget problem. This is another attempt to appeal to the interests of developers and to not provide what is best for the citizens of San Diego. The Mills Act is the single most important and successful incentive to encourage voluntary designations by owners of historic buildings. Please attend this important meeting at the Balboa Park Club (2150 Pan American Road in Balboa Park) at 6pm next Monday, November 24. Our neighborhood’s historicity aided in the American Planners Association (APA) announcement in October of 2007 that Hillcrest was one of the ten great neighborhoods in the nation. (This was the first time the APA honored any communities.)
November 20, 2008
Hillcrest hot spot celebrates their 4th anniversary
Baja Betty’s owners Doug Snyder and Chris Shaw (right) and their amazing staff threw a great party last night as the community showed up dressed in red to celebrate their 4th anniversary. The event featured free hors d’oeurves, sangria, margaritas and a tequila-infused good time.
The festive Mexican restaurant & tequila bar at 1421 University Avenue was packed as the happy crowd celebrated four fabulous years of great times, great food, great memories as they toasted to the continued success of one of Hillcrest’s favorite meeting places. Thanks, guys!
November 19, 2008
— Councilman Tony Young re: the Peters-principle pickle
November 18, 2008
Hillcrest History Guild fun-raiser also generates funds
Sue Palmer’s Motel Swing entertained friends of the Hillcrest History Guild (HHG) at the Park Manor Suites Hotel this evening. Great food, fabulous folks and spectacular views of San
Diego
were the highlights. April West (left) showed off her talented tootsie
by playing the trombone to the delight of the guests. The beautiful venue combined with Tuesday night’s perfect weather to take in the sweeping views overlooking downtown, Bankers Hill and Hillcrest. Thanks to each of the local merchants
who
donated items for the slilent auction, and much appreciation to David,
Ed and Jim at the Park Manor for a superb evening of fun. Guests
Michael Eller and Mitzi Stone (above) find time for a cocktail between
dancing and bidding...while Kari & Nick Berry enjoyed the rooftop
views overlooking “The Meadows” with their buddy Heather (left).
Over
$1,000 was raised for the Hillcrest
History Guild.
The group’s goals are to preserve the past for future generations while
honoring the character of our neighborhood, building community and
creating awareness of the businesses that make up our diverse
neighborhood.
Interested
in becoming involved in the Guild? Call (619) 260-1929.
November 17, 2008
Bankers Hill bridge closed for months
The First Avenue Bridge over Maple Canyon will be closed for at least nine months beginning today as the bridge undergoes a seismic retrofit.The historic character of this 1931 bridge will be respected, and many original features (such as the original lighting) will be restored. Pedestrian access across the bridge is also not allowed during the process. Construction equipment and workers will primarily access the site from the west through the bottom of Maple Canyon.
Northbound traffic on Fifth is detoured west at Upas. Bus Route 11 has been detoured from First Avenue, between Laurel Street and University Avenue, to Fourth and Fifth avenues. The bus stops on First Avenue between Laurel Street and University Street will be temporarily discontinued until the bridge reopens in late 2009.
November 16, 2008
Thousands march for equal rights
Yesterday’s March and Rally for Marriage Equality, an event organized nationally by JoinTheImpact.com and locally by a team of grassroots volunteers, drew 20,000 protestors, which was the largest group in California. The marchers occupied more than one mile of roadway space; several lanes of traffic were closed along the route. The crowd marched peacefully along the two-mile route and the SDPD did not report any arrests among participants.
A team of 100 volunteers, desigated with specially created t-shirts, helped to control the crowd. The San Diego police department thanked Sara Beth Brooks, the head of the volunteers who organized this march, for her commitment to a peaceful march, and for the clean up efforts made by Brooks and her team at their rally location at County Administration. The rally site was left exactly as it was found — without trash of any kind.
A 16,000 square foot gay pride flag was created by 3,000 volunteers who held pieces of rainbow colored posterboard above their heads. After told to “Show Us Your Pride!” the flag was captured from the air by several news helicopters. The rally had a variety of speakers including Hillcrest businessman and organizer Nick Moede, City Attorney Mike Aguirre, Councilman-elect Todd Gloria and civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred.
