February 23,
February 22,
First Avenue is open again
Local pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers were giddy with excitement as over 100 residents and city notables attended the ribbon cutting ceremonies at the First Avenue Bridge on Monday morning. Showers ceased just as District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer took the mic to welcome neighbors to the grand re-opening, and the sun shined on Uptown residents who have regained use of this major connector through Bankers Hill.
After short speeches, the ribbon was cut by Councilmember
Faulconer; Leo Wilson, chair of the Bankers Hill/Park West Community
Association; Councilmember Gloria and Nancy Moors, President of the
Hillcrest Business Association. A mini-parade of antique and newer cars
added an exclamation mark to the event.
The steel truss arch bridge spanning Maple Canyon was originally constructed in 1931 under the Improvement Act of 1911. The bridge was completely assembled on the floor of its Ohio fabrication plant, dismantled and shipped here. Initially known as the “Peoples Bridge” (because it was erected by demands of local property owners) the return of the old bridge is a new treat for the Uptown community.
Enjoy the views from its span or check out the bridge’s structure from below on a hike through Maple Canyon.
February 21,
February 20,
First Avenue Bridge to re-open Monday
After over a year of patiently waiting, residents of Bankers Hill will regain a major transportation connector when the First Avenue Bridge reopens on Monday.Everyone is welcome to attend this long anticipated re-opening which will take place at 10am Monday, February 22. Join councilmembers Kevin Faulconer, Todd Gloria and community leaders Leo Wilson (Chair of Uptown Planners and the Bankers Hill/Park West Community Assocation) and HBA president Nancy Moors as they cut the ribbon to again allow travel to flow between Bankers Hill and Downtown. This steel truss arch bridge spanning Maple Canyon was originally constructed in 1931 under the Improvement Act of 1911. The bridge was completely assembled on the floor of its Ohio fabrication plant, dismantled and shipped to San Diego. Initially known as the “Peoples Bridge” (because it was erected by demands of local property owners), the old bridge needed lots of work and seismic upgrades to prevent collapse during a catastrophic
earthquake. The
much-used span has been certified as a historic structure by the City
of San Diego Historical Resources Board and the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. The 14-month project provided a seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of the bridge deck, removal of existing lead paint, installation of historic street lighting, utility relocation (where needed) and repainting the structure to its original color. Last August (after lower than usual precipitation) the SD Uptown News reported that “rain delays” would affect its completion which was initially planned for last November. The project was to have begun in mid-2007 with an estimated timeline of six months to a year. The project now satisfies the state’s criteria of “no collapse” during a seismic event. With $300,000 in state bond funds, the project’s cost estimate was $12,700,000.
February 19,
February 18,
February 17,
Hillcrest fun-for-all
While colorful lasers cut through a warm clear sky, the largest crowd in local Mardi Gras history enjoyed the 9th annual Fat Tuesday celebration along University Avenue just west of the Hillcrest sign. The festive party featured a boat load of talented drag queens including superstar Jackie Beat; the hilarious Chico’s Angels (at right) who wowed the appreciative crowd; the Dreamgirls; and hometown favorites, Tootie & the Lips Girls.
As predicted, this year’s VIP tickets sold out prior to the
event, but general admission tickets were available for $20 into the
evening. Nearly 3,000 
revelers created a diverse mosaic as the
community came together for a fun evening collecting beads, dancing and
eating & drinking to excess. Complimentary beignets were served by the Big Easy located at 127 University Avenue.
(FYI...enjoy their sweet treats for free
this weekend with the purchase of a cup of coffee).
Organized by the GSDBA Foundation and the Hillcrest Business
Association, Mardi Gras proceeds again benefit LGBT youth
scholarships and neighborhood improvements.
Many thanks to all the volunteers who made this year’s event another great success.
