October 23,
2009
October 22,
2009
October 21,
2009
October 20,
2009
Help plan Hillcrest’s future?
The current Uptown Community Plan was created over 20 years ago and provided zoning for building heights up to 200 feet in the heart of Hillcrest without accommodating the increased density that accompanies that growth. This has often resulted in conflicts between the development community, the planning group and residents of Hillcrest (remember the 301 University project?).
In 2008 the community successfully made the case that continual approval of high rise buildings with over-sized units had a significant cumulative impact on the neighborhood’s quality of life and community character...and the City Council passed the Interim Height Ordinance (IHO) which supported a 65-foot height limit for much of Hillcrest. The community wanted the IHO to remain in place until the update of the new plan, but were assured by the city that the updated plan would be in effect before the IHO expired, so that idea was rejected. We’re now nervously watching the calendar. Since 14 of the 30 months have passed, the Hillcrest Town Council unanimously voted to extend the IHO deadline until the plan update is place. Two days ago (October 16) Marlon Pangilinan, Senior Planner for the City of San Diego’s Planning & Community Investments Department announced that the time has nearly arrived to get to work on the Uptown Community Plan Update (it was supposed to begin last March). The first public meeting for neighborhood stakeholders will be held Thursday, October 29 in the Santa Fe Room of the Balboa Park Club from 6-8pm.
Save our history. In 2006, consultants prepared the Uptown Historical Survey for approval by the city’s Historic Resources Board. Based on concerns raised by community members (because city staff changed the definition of California’s recognized status codes), it was not adopted. The study found that over half of the Uptown planning area was available for new development. This area includes some of San Diego’s finest and oldest neighborhoods. The Hillcrest Business Association, the Hillcrest History Guild and the Hillcrest Town Council were chosen in a lottery as community stakeholders and received seats at the table. The Town Council’s seat, not yet chosen, is open to any Hillcrest resident. Want to participate? The deadline for submitting an application will be Monday, October 26 at 5pm. Do you have the time to attend monthly meetings and help plan our neighborhood’s future? Please become involved.
October 19,
2009
October 18,
2009
Consistently voted the best of San Diego’s many Farmers Markets, this popular community gathering was created in 1997 by the Hillcrest Business Association. It’s part of the California Federation of Certified Farmers Markets.
One Yelp reviewer says it best...San Diego has a glut of farmers' markets. With weekly markets in OB, North Park, La Jolla, Hillcrest and just about everywhere else, it may be difficult for the newbies and the uninitiated to sort them all out. So, for your reading pleasure, I present the Cliff’s Notes version: “The Hillcrest Farmers Market rocks.”
The diversity and deliciousness of the food here takes my breath away, week after week, Sunday morning after Sunday morning. I usually walk here from my place (to avoid the maddening parking situation) with tote bags at the ready. Before I buy anything, I walk up and down the length of Normal Street once, grabbing piles of free samples -- because, heck, eating piles of free samples is easier and cheaper than cooking my own breakfast. Peaches, plums, tomatoes, oranges, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes, papayas and the occasional crusty bread+olive oil make their way into my belly before I even buy anything. My second lap across Normal Street usually involves the actual purchasing. Before I know it, the tote bags are replete with fruits and veggies, and I know I’ll be eating well that night.
[Aside: Why do I feel so fruity whenever I say “tote”?] Anywho, the *other* reason that I can’t get enough of the Hillcrest Farmers Market is the abundance of prepared food vendors. These guys line up mostly in the DMV parking lot, unlike the fruit and veggie folks, who line up along Normal. I love the crepe dude, although the line to get a crepe usually scares me off. More often, I grab a snack at that great raw-vegan stand, with food that’s simultaneously light, healthy, and tasty (and I say this as an omnivore). Before I leave, though, I absolutely must grab a large, sweet, delicious horchata from the Mexican beverage stand. Every cup of horchata is a total mouthgasm. After my belly is full, I head on home, with tote bags brimming with goodies.
Stop by the Hillcrest Business Association booth (north of the band) and meet executive director Ben Nicholls or to pick up this yesr’s edtion of HillQuest, an Urban Guide to 92103+.
