Normal Street median project moves ahead

After years and  years of waiting the Normal Street median project north of University Avenue will break ground with a ceremony on Monday morning beginning at 11:15 in front of the KTU+A office at 3916 Normal Street (at Blaine).
At this month’s Hillcrest Town Council meeting Julie Ballesteros, who is overseeing the project for the City made a presentation. Neighbors had many questions, but appeared to get vague answers. Improvement will include 15 new paid spaces and one less unpaid space. Parking will be diagonal. The new median north of University Avenue will not be as wide the current one and will be landscaped with trees and drought tolerant plants. TriGroup construction was awarded the contract which is supposed to take 50 days. The city will maintain the landscaping for six months and then turn it over to the MAD (Maintenance Assessment District).
The neighbors pointed out numerous traffic-related problems with the plan. Among the issues of concern were: the need for a left-arrow turn from eastbound University to Normal; the need for a crosswalk at Blaine & Normal; and the need for a 4-way stop at Blaine & Normal. Many residents brought up about how the plans were deviating on what the City talked about with the homeowners previously. According to the Uptown Partnership’s website — in February 2006 and September 2007 the Partnership sponsored neighborhood meetings to review the City of San Diego’s preferred alternatives for reconstructing the median. People asked if there were plans to extend northward. When the City representative said no, the resident pulled out the City’s plan from 1996. Ernie Bonn from the UHCDC suggested that the City check in to the DMV redevelopment.
Rebuilding the median on Normal Street between University Avenue & Blaine Street will add more than 15 parking spaces. The Uptown Partnership has allocated $149,250 from parking meter revenues for construction costs. Former Councilmember Toni Atkins (District 3) added $104,000 in Developer Impact Fees (DIF), so the project has been fully funded.