http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ HillQuest.com Forums » Recent Posts en Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:11:28 +0000 http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=630#post-848 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:27:33 +0000 Another Neighbor 848@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Perhaps it should have been designed when the other Washington Street ramps were built, but currently ambulances exit at Robinson and must use their sirens at seven stop lights through the usually congested Hillcrest business district before reaching Scripps Mercy (11 traffic signals if trying to quickly get to UCSD Medical Center’s ER).</p> <p>This new ramp could be built on city/state land, and we believe that community benefits would be great.</p> <p>It makes sense for so many reasons. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=617#post-835 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:57:31 +0000 Hillcrester9 835@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p><a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/iho-extension/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/iho-extension/</a></p> <p>thank you. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=604#post-801 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:08:57 +0000 hqann 801@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>what corners smell best and why?</p> <p>One of my favorites is Fifth &amp; Spruce...with the aroma from Jimmy Carters Mexican Restaurant! What about you? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=603#post-800 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:54:00 +0000 hqann 800@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>the june meeting for hillcrest residents will be held tuesday, june 14 in the joyce beers community center (JBCC) from 6:30-8pm. everyone is invited (and encouraged) to attend. for more information visit: <a href="http://www.hillcresttowncouncil.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.hillcresttowncouncil.com</a> </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=602#post-799 Fri, 27 May 2011 14:42:13 +0000 WaltSDCA 799@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>I know there is much discussion around Hillcrest about density and building height. I'd like to reframe the discussion to be "what do we want our streets to look and feel like". How do we create an urban sense of Place that we enjoy. I, for one, want a little more Little Italy, and a lot less Mission Valley. But how do you do that?</p> <p>To have a sense of place, Streets need to be like rooms. And like rooms they need walls. It's called the Street Wall. The best street walls have architectural diversity, and a good Height to Width Proportion (HWP). A 1:1 HWP ratio is ideal. In other words, if your street is 30 feet wide, the buildings should be 30 feet tall. This gives the street a optimal feeling of having a sense of Place. A ratio of 1:2 is still OK, but once you get into 1:4 or higher, the buildings are too low, and you loose any sense of Place on the street. </p> <p>When looking at what is right for a neighborhood, look at the street. University @ 5th feels good because the building height-to-street width ratio is nearly 1:1. University at Richmond, on the other hand, has a terrible Street Wall, and no building height. It has no sense of place, and feels like you don't want to hang out there.</p> <p>Park Blvd at University is 112 feet wide. Do we want 10 story buildings? Probably not. But the street width can be visually reduced by bike lanes, wide sidewalks, and diagonal parking, so the 6-8 story buildings on park Blvd would give the street a good feeling of Place.</p> <p>There is no one answer to building height and density. We do know what makes a sucessful street is PEOPLE. William H. Whyte observed - what attracts people is other people. Very true. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=601#post-798 Fri, 20 May 2011 08:35:55 +0000 Hillcrester9 798@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>I agree, Walt. It has LOTS of design flaws, and although the community (especially seniors) have said this will negatively impact their quality of life, SANDAG moves ahead with it. What's up with that?</p> <p>This is the ONLY stretch from SDSU to downtown that will have DEDICATED bus lanes -- and we don't want them!</p> <p>Is a few seconds saving for bus commuters worth sacrificing this stretch of our neighborhood and closing Polk Street at Park Boulevard? Hillcrest has long been known as a pedestrian-friendly community, but with the city continuing to allow restaurants to encroach on public sidewalks and SANDAG closing streets for a RAPID bus line on this main artery, we're losing it quite quickly. I attended SANDAG's community meeting at the Lutheran Church where virtually EVERYONE was against it, but...it moves ahead. SANDAG is definitely not listening to North Park, University Heights and Hillcrest.</p> <p>We have a crazy government. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=601#post-796 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:58:49 +0000 WaltSDCA 796@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>There are lots of design flaws with the current SANDAG design.<br /> Let's build a NEIGHBORHOOD ... not just a road. Contact Todd Gloria at <a href="mailto:toddgloria@sandiego.gov">toddgloria@sandiego.gov</a> or Telephone: (619) 236-6633.<br /> Let's demand landscaping that enhances the street. With Balboa Park being so close, and a primary destination for bicyclists and pedestrians, it seems like a no brainer that Park Blvd should have bicycle lanes, and good pedestrian access. Businesses would benefit from visitors and tourists coming from up from the Zoo and the Park ... if they were attracted to a great urban, lively, beautiful street. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=601#post-795 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:51:23 +0000 hqann 795@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Do you know that SANDAG wants to close Polk Street at Park Boulevard? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=600#post-794 Sat, 14 May 2011 10:48:20 +0000 MILMEAT68 794@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Write to your council person and mayor. I just took pictures of this area with all thier "trash" tied to the tree. Sent it to my councilmoron Todd Gloria (USELESS) and mayor Sanders and asked them for assistance.<br /> I sent an email to the church website stating I have seen these homeless/vagrants disrespect our neighborhood by urininating and deficating in public.</p> <p>You have to consistently call the police to report loitering<br /> Contact the church everyday and complain<br /> Contact Hillcrest Town Council and inform them of the issue of the church not being a good corporate citizen<br /> Contact the Environmental services division and report trash at the site and have them pick up the trash.</p> <p>When I walk around my nieghborhood, I tell the vagrants they are not welcome and they should move along. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=600#post-793 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:47:46 +0000 jcsandiego 793@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>I am looking for constructive criticism in regards to dealing with our neighbor. We live next door to the San Diego Calvalry Temple on Blaine and Normal Street. If anyone has ever been by the church you will see that it is very unsightly and scary. We have approached Pastor Jack Semper in regards to this problem but he is at a loss of what to do. Here's is what we have done.<br /> 1. We have had the pastor sign a do not trespass order with the police dept. Since he then does allow them access to his property the police are unsure if they have his permission to remove them or not. He has not posted No Tresspassing sign on his property.<br /> 2. Contacted Envionmental services in regards to the public urination. They are going out to the property to inspect and advise.<br /> 3. Placed phone calls to our San Diego Community Police Officer.<br /> 4. Filed a formal complaint with the Assembly of God District office in regards to the Church Property provided photographs to back up our complaint.<br /> 5. Filed a request with the police department for additional patrols.<br /> 6. Keep an open line of communication between us and the church.<br /> If you have any ideas for me I would appreciate it. The problem seems to be growing worse with time. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=599#post-792 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:51:36 +0000 WaltSDCA 792@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Bruce Leidenberger from La Jolla Pacific Development presented his latest proposal for the lot at 3rd and University at the March 2011 meeting. He is proposing to demolish the existing building, and turn the corner lot into a "temporary" parking lot. Incredibly, he was unable to describe to HTC what the new parking lot would look like - fencing? landscaping? lighting?; he did not know how long "temporary" would be; he did not know who would operate the parking lot, or how much the parking would cost; he did not know what would eventually be built on the site or when it would be built.</p> <p>Essentially Mr Leidenberger was asking for blanket approval from the HTC to do whatever he wanted. Astonishingly, he got it by 21-4 vote.</p> <p>Any urban planner or architect can tell you that a gapping hole in the urban street scape (such as a parking lot) can be deadly to the vitality of the urban street. Corners are especially important to maintaining the street scape. Our biggest fear should be a chain-linked, blacktopped, no landscape lot that will occupy this corner for the next 5-10 years. It could be a death knell for this section of Hillcrest. </p> <p>Hillcrest is familiar with Mr Leidenberger's development group and should know to approach their proposals with healthy skepticism and lots of questions. This did not happen at the HTC meeting. Before this project proceeds, HTC should demand that Landscape Plans, Lighting Plans, and Fencing Materials be presented for approval. Likewise, a time limit of 3-5 years should be put on the "temporary" lot, so that it doesn't become permanent. Uptown Planning Group should do the same. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=596#post-789 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:22:39 +0000 Dan Soderberg 789@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>It was a very good discussion. I believe there were valuable insights from all of the panelists. I at times found myself nodding in agreement with each of them on certain points. However I don't believe any one of them has a complete solution--or complete rebuttals to one another. It would be very interesting to see such a panel try to negotiate and hammer out a plan from their diverse points of view such as what sometimes happens in D.C. with joint party commissions.</p> <p>I agree the best line of the night, drawing the biggest laugh, came from Alan Gin who said "San Diegans are cheap!" </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=596#post-788 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:03:42 +0000 Hillcrester9 788@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>What a fabulous event. Thanks for bringing this to the community. We need more open dialog on how to work together to solve the problems created by Mayor Susan Golding and the bevy of greedy politicians who love the easy pickins at San Diego City Hall. Pensions seems to be the biggest problem.</p> <p>Here are a few former San Diego elected officials who began taking a pension before age 50 (with their 2009 payout and age they started collecting a pension).</p> <p>•Ralph Inzunza, 31,$21,058</p> <p>•Michael Zucchet, 35, $14,764</p> <p>•Brian Maienschein, 39, $25,306</p> <p>•Juan Vargas, 44, $19,132</p> <p>•Casey Gwinn, 45, $96,887</p> <p>•Toni Atkins, 46, $39,356</p> <p>•Jim Madaffer, 48, $46,734 </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=596#post-787 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:38:53 +0000 sweetcheeks 787@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>What a great night...this is what a community is all about. The aggressive Mike Aguirre continues his bankruptcy mantra, Prof. Gin crunching numbers and calling us "cheap", Mike Z. wanting us to believe municipal employees pensions isn't a major factor and "white knight" mayoral contender DeMaio leading the road to recovery. The cherry on the sundae was Voice of San Diego's Scott Lewis doing a fact check on the panelists! Way to go Scott.</p> <p>Better than a Steven Spielberg movie. When is the next forum....how about redevelopment as a topic?</p> <p>And maybe the Uptown District can sport for a few more chairs...my butt's sore...I had to sit on the floor! </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=596#post-786 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:26:41 +0000 hqann 786@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>The February 8, 2011 meeting of the town council hosted a community forum focused on solutions to address the city’s fiscal crisis with panelists City Councilman Carl DeMaio; former City Councilman Michael Zucchet, now with MEA; former City Attorney Michael Aguirre; and USD economics professor Alan Gin. The evening was moderated by Scott Lewis of the Voice of San Diego. A standing room only crowd of 150 neighbors from throughout Uptown packed the Joyce Beers Community Center. </p> <p>DeMaio led the panelists sharing his Roadmap to Recovery plan that balances the city’s budget and reforms the pension system. He believes that San Diegans sent a strong message with athe defeat of Proposition D. They don’t want an increase in tax revenue, until the city enacts meaningful financial reforms.</p> <p>Zucchet followed sharing his concern that DeMaio’s forecast of the pension deficit depicted 15 years versus a 30-year forecast used by the MEA. Zucchet believes that in year 16 the pension funding recovers. Bankers Hill resident Mike Aguirre advocated for bankruptcy to solve San Diego problems. If you take away the pension portions arising from service credits that were not paid for, then we’d be OK. Zucchet responded that the city is too solvent to declare bankruptcy.</p> <p>USD’s Alan Gin promotes increased revenue through an increase of fees. SD charges significantly less than other cities for business taxes, hotel surcharges and stormwater fees. It also doesn’t collect money for trash collection (except from multifamily homes). The professor had a memorable quote re: constituents wanting a higher level of service with no increase in fees stating that “San Diegans are cheap.” The evening was full of spirited exchanges and enjoyed by all. </p> <p>Did you attend? What are your thoughts? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=68#post-768 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 06:26:13 +0000 sweetcheeks 768@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>I thought I'd add my two cents to this post. Many residents and visitors to Hillcrest may not realize that the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) pays for sidewalk pressure washing twice a year. This includes gum removal. In addition, the HBA, invests in the neighborhood in many other ways including, the purchase of over 30 green trash cans to supplement the city containers. The HBA pays to sweep the streets, remove the trash from the green containers and removal from the neighborhood. In cooperation with the Maintenance Assessment District (MAD) a walking security patrol is provided in the core of Hillcrest. The HBA is the owner of the Hillcrest Farmers Market successfully run by a market manager. While the market does not fall into the cleanliness category, it does add to our sense of place. Money from the farmers market contributes to providing these services that continue to supplement the dwindling city services.</p> <p>The Hillcrest Town Council, an organization of neighbors (homeowners and renters), Neighborhood Improvement Committee sponsors quarterly cleanup throughout the neighborhood. They also provide graffiti removal and make awards to storefronts and residents who have gone above and beyond to beautify their piece of Hillcrest.</p> <p>You see, while it may not be apparent to you, there are folks in the business community and residents who care about Hillcrest and are doing something about it even though sometimes it never seems to be enough.</p> <p>There are always opportunities to become involved in our neighborhood whether it is attending a Hillcrest Town Council meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in the Joyce Beers Community Center or volunteering for a cleanup or helping out at an HBA event like CityFest. Call their office at 619-299-3330.</p> <p>Hang in there, smile, and pick up a piece of trash when you see it. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=76#post-265 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 07:20:36 +0000 Another Neighbor 265@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>It looks like you may be have saved this old tree, Filbert. </p> <p>Turko has now taken up the cause, too. Watch KUSI on Wednesday (10/27) for his report and attend the next Hillcrest Town Council meeting (www.hillcresttowncouncil.com) for an update on this century old landmark. Thanks to all the neighbors who stood up and spoke out. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=76#post-264 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:34:33 +0000 hcrestnative 264@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>There is a 100+ year old tree on the corner of Richmond and Pennsylvania which is marked for removal to accomodate a new wheelchair ramp! That side of the street leads down a very unsafe hill and the sidewalk ends in the canyon which is not a safe place for wheelchairs in the first place. It would be a terrible loss of such a grand old tree to accomodate a ramp which will be basically unusable. Please call Todd Gloria's office at 619-236-6633 to voice your concern. And please walk by the tree to see which one I am talking about. Thank you! </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=75#post-263 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:59:34 +0000 Benny 263@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Everytime I read about this organization's woes, I think to myself, "what am I missing?" I always try to find the best in things and not be someone who complains about every little thing - boards of directors and organizations often have to make tough, and often unpopular decisions for the ultimate betterment of the community they serve. But in the case of the Uptown Partnership there is just no good. It's a miserable waste of taxpayer dollars and it needs to go away. It's another example of multiple levels of government that are just unneccessary waste... being run by people who taking full, inappropriate advantage of the public revenues they are taking in. As the city examines ways to operate in a more streamlined, sensical manner, this organization MUST go. There is no point to it, and the people running it are doing bad bad bad!</p> <p>Should this organization's contract be re-newed, we need to take them up on their offer posted on their website and get people on board that will make sense of this insanity:<br /> Join the Board</p> <p>If you are interested in becoming a member of the Uptown Partnership Board of Directors please contact us for information on how you can be involved! </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=75#post-262 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:01:03 +0000 hillcrestray 262@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Every day it's a new issue with these people. Why are they still here? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=75#post-261 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:46:41 +0000 phd in 92103 261@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>The Uptown Partnership has a tainted past. Input from the community has been minimal and workshops have not been well attended. Outrage over the lack of public input has been ignored. The Hillcrest Town Council, Hillcrest Business Association and the Uptown Planners have all overwhelmingly voted a lack of confidence in the Uptown Partnership. The most recent Grand Jury report supports the feelings of the community. </p> <p>Personally, I hope that the continued outcries from the neighborhoods, media and community organizations will be heard and lead to mandated reforms that will eventually, hopefully, maybe, lead to better representation.  But until the Uptown Partnership prove themselves, their opinions and any study coordinated by the Partnership should still be considered tainted fruit.</p> <p>We deserve better. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=75#post-260 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:37:18 +0000 Mad as Hell 260@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Why is this city bureaucracy still wasting our parking meter money? (Or maybe the bigger question is why does Hillcrest even have meters!!) When set up in 1997, the Uptown Partnership's mission was to save money for a Hillcrest parking lot. This is the group that is supposed to advocating for the community, but over the past several years their actions show quite the contrary. </p> <p>After years patiently waiting for a parking lot, the “Partnership” is now changing their vision and want to spend these savings for new parking meters. Why give Uptown NEW meters when Pacific Beach, North Park, La Jolla and Ocean Beach don't have any OLD ones. These communities still offer free street parking to shoppers and residents.</p> <p>Here’s something else I recently learned....Do you know that the Uptown Partnership staff rents a hotel suite across the street from their Fifth Avenue office for their two-hour monthly board meetings? That is paid with parking meter money.</p> <p>The San Diego Grand Jury can see the problem. It's too bad Mayor Sanders and some of the city council members can't.</p> <p>Next Tuesday the City Council will decide if this group should be given another contract. What do you think?!? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=31&page=2#post-257 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:06:25 +0000 Egyptiancondoowner 257@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Who has a positive pedestrian experience any more?<br /> Get rid of the bikers and skate boarders on the sidewalks! And have the cops enforce the posted laws against this activity! It's unsafe for all pedestrians, especially our sizable elderly and disabled neighbors. We've almost been knocked over by them too many times to count, and the cops reply, when contacted, is that they'll get to the problem "time permitting". Why is that acceptable?<br /> Get rid of the growing homeless and grunge street people! It's a travesty that our country has this problem, but why should Hillcrest become the haven-of-choice in San Diego? We know it's not against the law to be homeless, but it should be against the law to panhandle, to sleep on private propery, to defecate, booze/drug it up and litter on private property, etc. The safety of our community, the reputation of our community and our property values are all being negatively impacted by this growing problem.<br /> Get rid of the dog shit on the side walks! If the city won't accept responsibility for keeping our sidewalks clean, then shop and home owners must take this on. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=72#post-256 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:42:35 +0000 Alex 256@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>It's unfortunate, but it seems to me that the community should start all over with the whole Pride organization. If the Executive Director was trying to cover up a payment to a board member while in return receiving $20K in bonuses (by the way – not a bad gig for a non-profit that is raising festival ticket prices during a downturn in the economy when most folks can’t afford to attend the festival). I can’t believe they are working for the community. Aren’t there more talented, caring people searching for jobs that would be a better fit? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=72#post-255 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:33:10 +0000 livingin92103 255@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>I support the suggestion to have Stephen Whitburn moderate the community meeting on Sunday. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=72#post-254 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:30:08 +0000 hqann 254@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>A controversy erupted this week concerning an October 2009 payment (approved by the Board of Directors of SD LGBT Pride) in the amount of $5,000 to the Board’s Chair, Dr Philip Princetta. A community meeting has been called for 6pm this Sunday evening at The LGBT Center. </p> <p>for more information visit <a href="http://www.miketidmus.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.miketidmus.com</a> </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=71#post-253 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:54:40 +0000 hqann 253@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>All Hillcrest renters and home owners are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting of the Hillcrest Town Council Tuesday evening (November 10, 2009) from 6:30-8pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center in the Joyce Beers Community Center in Hillcrest (on Vermont Street north of Cleveland Avenue).</p> <p>HTC chair John Taylor will kick off the meeting at 6:30pm with introductions followed by public comment, then announcements from representatives of elected officials and community organizations. At 7pm Juli Peters-Hyde will make a proposal for a bylaw amendment. From 7:05-7:10 preservationist Ron May will share the history of 4040 Fifth Avenue which is scheduled for demolition. At 7:10 Tim Gahagan will give updates from the Neighborhood Improvement Committee. The main presentation from 7:15-8pm will be a candid conversation with our City Council representative Todd Gloria who will convey the latest scoop from city hall and seek your input during San Diego’s budget crises. Please join us and share Hillcrest Town Council meetingyour thoughts, questions and concerns.</p> <p>A complimentary pasta dinner will be once more be provided by Babbo Grande Restaurant. Please tell your neighbors. Everyone is welcome. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=70#post-252 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:00:27 +0000 Hillcrester9 252@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Cost-efficient public services? What a wonderful idea. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=70#post-251 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:41:18 +0000 Greg Choate 251@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>What does everyone think of the petition to make CA legislatures part-time like 43 other states with part-time legislature.</p> <p><a href="http://www.reformcal.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.reformcal.com/</a> </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=31&page=2#post-250 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:30:45 +0000 wendell 250@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>It's very easy... slow down the traffic so they are less likely to hit a pedestrian to make a light or a turn. GIVE PEDESTRIANS THE RIGHT OF WAY!</p> <p>1) Give out more tickets to drivers who disobey pedestrian right of ways: ENFORCE LAWS ON THE BOOKS!<br /> 2) Time the lights so there is no grid-lock or traffic back-up<br /> 3) All pedestrian WALK/DONT WALK signs should accommodate pedestrians automatically as the lights change WITHOUT having to press those darn non-working buzzers. It should be assumed that there is a pedestrian who wants to cross at all times just as they assume there are always cars that want to go through an intersection.<br /> 4) Do what Santa Barbara does: Have cross walks with buttons for that will immediately allow a pedestrian to cross by giving vehicles a red-light.<br /> 5) Do what Mexico does: Have the green traffic light flash seconds before it turns yellow... It gives everyone a few seconds to safely decide what to do<br /> 6) Mexico also has speed bumps in busy city streets that slows traffic and allows walkers to compete.<br /> 7) Make NO LEFT TURN along most of University... left-turners block traffic in BOTH directions and I have seen many pedestrians almost swiped by cars trying to beat oncoming traffic<br /> 8) Put in white street lights and take out the ghastly yellow ones</p> <p>MOST OF THE ABOVE REQUIRES NO MONEY... LETS DO IT! </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=69#post-249 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:06:25 +0000 rich 249@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Parking at the new library branch is a good idea (perhaps not a million dollar one) as the library will need parking (one of the reasons I use University Heights rather than Mission Hills as my branch of choice is the difficulty of parking at Mission Hills). It will also serve to support the medical offices on 3rd Avenue and some of the parking-starved businesses along Washington Street.</p> <p>Admittedly, it won't do much for central Hillcrest, but it could serve as a good basepoint for a shuttle service that central Hillcrest businesses might find cheaper to underwrite than to acquire additional parking closer to them. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=69#post-248 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:50:00 +0000 hqann 248@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>The Uptown Partnership is at a crossroads in parking management.<br /> <a href="http://sduptownnews.com/?p=404&#38;cpage=1#comment-65" rel="nofollow">http://sduptownnews.com/?p=404&#38;cpage=1#comment-65</a></p> <p>This community organization was formed in 1997 by the Hillcrest Business Association. The Uptown Partnership’s mission has been to create new parking with 45% of the collected Hillcrest parking meter money. Unfortunately, since their inception, our community has lost a few spots. </p> <p>The Uptown Partnership held a "forum" on the eve of the July 4th holiday weekend. (Was this the best time to gather community input? Their executive director and president weren’t even there.)</p> <p>Ten residents (seven from Essex Street concerned with the Partnership’s move to add diagonal parking on their street) attended. The board filmed residents’ concerns and were to respond the next week on their website. (One month later, this promise is still unfulfilled.)</p> <p>This community forum has been set up for community business and residents to leave input for ideas to help ease parking in the Hillcrest core. Please share your thoughts. </p> <p>Their board will meet again on Thursday, August 6 at 4:30 in their offices at 3108 Fifth Avenue. Interested in solving Hillcrest parking problems? Please attend. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=68#post-247 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:48:50 +0000 hillcrestrian 247@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>What can we do about the cleanliness of Hillcrest's much-used sidewalks?</p> <p>Wikipedia: Cleanliness is the absence of dirt, including dust, stains, bad smells and garbage. Purposes of cleanliness include health, beauty, absence of offensive odor, avoidance of shame...</p> <p>Almost any sidewalk in front of Hillcrest businesses is covered in grime. Sticky beer and other beverages that have spilled over the years. Thousands of gum patches. Urine marks and last week's throw-up. Several businesses, such as Alibi, have their dumpster in close proximity to the sidewalk, which unleashes a noxious odor and a stream of warm beer/liquid waste.</p> <p>Beautification consisting of plants, benches, and art is one thing. But I'm more interested in a solution to the basic cleanliness of the sidewalks. I would like to see the Hillcrest businesses come together and invest in a pressure cleaner (or service) that would routinely clean the sidewalks (probably at night). I've seen this done by local governments in city's around the country, which might be another option. Compared to other improvements, I can't imagine that such a program would be too expensive--and, in fact, I think the cleaner streets would increase pedestrian traffic and encourage businesses to invest in other "cleaning" efforts to their storefronts.</p> <p>What do you guys think? </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=31&page=2#post-246 Mon, 25 May 2009 14:42:06 +0000 JT 246@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Bicycle riding on sidewalks of University Ave. is rampant and annoying, specifically the two blocks between 10th and Richmond. I see it literally daily. There is apparently no enforcement of the law prohibiting it. </p> http://www.hillquest.com/forums/topic.php?id=67#post-245 Tue, 05 May 2009 12:15:33 +0000 Hillcrester9 245@http://www.hillquest.com/forums/ <p>Thank you for the coupons, HillQuest. These days everyone is looking for savings, but I want to support our local businesses. </p>