November 23,
2009
Walking through Hillcrest
After camping Saturday night in Pacific
Beach’s Crown Point Park the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk concluded
their 60-mile effort through Hillcrest on their way to a closing
ceremony at Petco Park Sunday afternoon.
Good job!
(photo
courtesy Susan Fosselman)
November 22,
2009
November 21,
2009
A victorious day for Uptown historic preservation
San Diego’s Historic Resource Board (HRB) held a very long
monthly meeting yesterday afternoon (1pm until after 5pm) that included
three
important Uptown properties under review for demolition or historic
designation. This Edwardian warehouse (right) 
at 1041-47 University Avenue, first a furniture
store, but remembered more recently as two popular coffeehouses, first
SOHO, then Euphoria. The building was designated as one of the few
great examples of Edwardian style in San Diego. The HRB board agreed
that it is a neighborhood landmark. The loss of this building would
have torn the heart out of Hillcrest’s historic business district. The
HRB board also designated the old Vet Center at 2900 Sixth Avenue
across from Balboa Park which was once home to George & Alice
Hazzard (left).
Friday’s final hearing was regarding 4040 Fifth Avenue. The
owner, Scripps Mercy Hospital, wanted to demolish this 1911 Craftsman
home, one of the final remaining structures from the original
“Hillcrest” subdivision. Ron May, president of Legacy 106 made a
presentation on behalf of the Hillcrest
History Guild demonstrating why this house needed to be granted an
historic designation and preserved. The 
last speaker was a woman from Point Loma who
would like to save the house by relocating it to a suitable location,
hopefully in Hillcrest. This may be the final result, however the
optimum outcome would be to preserve and restore the house on its
present site since this bungalow is one of few remaining in William
Wesley Whitson’s original “Hillcrest” subdivision in what was then
called “University Heights.”
Thank you, Ron & Dale May, Barry Hager, Ernie Bonn, Dan Soderberg, John Taylor, Janet O’Dea, Lisa Hannula, Leo Wilson, George Wedermeyer, Don Schmitt, Christine Mann, Diane Kane and Bruce Coons from Save Our Hertitage Organisation. You gave so much of your time to save these pieces of our neighborhood history for future generations.
November 20,
2009
November 19,
2009
Hillcrest demolitions to be decided Friday
Scripps Mercy Hospital has asked for a demolition permit for this old bungalow across from their ER. Several community organizations, including the Uptown Planners, the Hillcrest Town Council, Save Hillcrest, the Hillcrest History Guild and the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition have overwhelming supported saving the 1911 structure. Its hearing will be tomorrow afternoon at City Hall.
Friday
at 1pm the city’s Historic Resources Board will consider
historic designation of three important properties in our neighborhood: Item #6: 2900
Sixth Avenue (right), George and Alice Hazard House. One of the last
great residences left along Sixth Avenue, where many of San Diego’s
most influential families lived. We’ve lost many great homes along this
street: Klauber, Mrs. U.S. Grant & U.S. Grant Presidential
Library, our only Greene & Greene, many Irving Gill houses, etc.
Staff is supporting designation. Item #8: 4040 Fifth
(shown above). The last bungalow in front of Scripps Mercy Hospital; part
of William Wesley Whitson’s original “Hillcrest” subdivision in what
was then “University Heights.” Staff is supporting designation. Item
#9: 1041-47 University Avenue (left). With Rich’s on the east and
Pomegranate to the west, the former home of Euphoria Coffeehouse is one
of the best existing wooden Edwardian commercial buildings in
Hillcrest. Staff is not recommending its
designation. The loss of this building would tear the heart out of
Hillcrest’s historic business district.
The Friday afternoon hearing will be held at the City Administration Building, 202 C Street, 12th floor. Please take action by attending and supporting historic designation of these three properties and helping to preserve Hillcrest’s rich past. It will be a huge loss to the community if these properties are hauled to the landfill.
November 18,
2009
HBA holds 1st business forum
Nearly 50 Hillcrest business owners and residents participated in Hillcrest 2.0, the first in a series of forums being organized to discuss the future of our neighborhood.The Wednesday evening event with the topic of economic revitalization started with each of several tables choosing what appealed to them from photos featuring design elements, transportation and community amenities. The choices were posted and participant comments were discussed. UCSD Professor of Urban Studies Dr. Mirle Bussell shared a presentation of the history of Hillcrest and the factors that have contributed to the success of the area over the decades.
Dr. Bussell reported new Hillcrest data showing the area population at 37,300 with a median household income of $60,493 (a little less than city average). She noted an interesting fact — that our neighborhood’s population trends older than the city as a whole with 40% of the population in the 30 to 49 age bracket, compared to 28% for the San Diego average. Information gathered this evening will be used as Hillcrest gives input for the new Community Plan which will serve Uptown for the next 20-30 years.
The Hillcrest Business Association sponsored the event which was held at the lovely Bombay Restaurant. The organization plans to hold quarterly forums as the neighborhood progresses through the plan update process.
November 17,
2009
