Hillcrest is a neighborhood in San Diego northwest of Balboa Park.
Hillcrest is known for its tolerance, diversity, and locally-owned businesses, including restaurants, cafés, bars, clubs, trendy thrift-stores, and other independent specialty stores. Hillcrest has a high population density, compared to many other neighborhoods in San Diego, and it has a large and active lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community
Geography
Hillcrest is an older neighborhood which has gone through gentrification. Many streets are lined with trees. There are Craftsman homes, and Mid-Century modern apartment buildings.
The neighborhood is bound by Mission Hills to the northwest, Bankers Hill and Balboa Park to the south, University Heights to the north, and North Park to the east. A large ridge overlooking San Diego Bay borders the neighborhood to the west.
Nearby Balboa Park provides recreational and cultural opportunities to Hillcrest residents. Scripps Mercy Hospital and the UCSD Medical Center are located here.
Hillcrest is part of the Uptown community, which consists of the neighborhoods of Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Park West, and University Heights.
Demographics
The 1990 Census showed that the neighborhood's residents had a median age of 39 and that 37% had college degrees.
In 2000, there were 43 percent of households in Hillcrest (zip code 92103) headed by unmarried couples who were gay or lesbian.
Government
The neighborhood is governed by the elected officials of the city of San Diego. An ad hoc "town council" provides a conduit for information from citizens with the government.
The Hillcrest Town Council is an organization of local residents that was formed in 2007. It meets monthly. Their mission statement is “To provide a voice & enhance the quality of life for Hillcrest renters & homeowners while supporting actions that benefit our neighborhood.”
Economy
There is a business improvement organization, and a planning organization representing residents interested in planning issues. Each attempts to work to make Hillcrest attractive for shoppers and residents. One such event is the annual "Toast to Hillcrest," which offers food and drink samples from over 20 local bars and restaurants.
Cultural
San Diego Gay Pride is an annual celebration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. In July, there has been a parade, then a two-day festival in Balboa Park. It is considered to be the largest civic event in the city of San Diego.
Hillcrest "CityFest" is an annual street festival which features food, live entertainment, a beer garden and street vendors.
Other regular events in Hillcrest include a weekly farmers market on the grounds of the local Department of Motor Vehicles, Book Fair and Mardi Gras.
Transportation
Hillcrest is a walkable neighborhood with cafés, restaurants, and shops near the main residential pockets.
Hillcrest is served by State Route 163 at the University Avenue, Washington Street and Robinson Avenue exits. University Avenue and Washington Street are the major east-west thoroughfares in Hillcrest; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Avenues connect Hillcrest to Downtown San Diego through Park West and Bankers Hill.
There is bus service connecting to Downtown as well as to the Mission Valley trolley stops because of the presence of the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard transit corridors, the two busiest in the metro region.
Parking
Uptown Partnership, the Community Parking District for the Uptown district which includes Hillcrest, receives 45% of meter revenues to reinvest in the community to improve parking availability, traffic circulation, transit effectiveness, and pedestrian mobility.
Critics contend that there has been no new parking added since 1997. .
Initially, efforts focused on building a parking structure. In 2005, a complete, professional pro forma revealed the financial infeasibility of building a parking garage in central Hillcrest. Land and construction would cost $14M, about seven times more than available funds. Repaying project financing would require increasing the on-street metered rate to $1.50/hour and spending meter revenues for all of Uptown on a single project for 8-10 years. Although dollar amounts might differ in 2009, the underlying principles remain. In light of this reality the parking district re-aligned its strategy to emphasize better use of existing parking. Examples of these projects include converting parallel parking on San Diego Avenue, which created 25 additional parking spaces. In 2007, the Partnership funded the Normal Street median project which will create 15 additional parking spaces at Normal Street and University Avenue. This project broke ground on September 28, 2009, for information on construction please visit www.uptownpartnership.org.
History
Initially, Hillcrest was a chaparral-covered mesa. Kumeyaay Indians inhabited numerous villages scattered throughout the San Diego region. Spanish colonization brought the first of twenty-nine California missions with the founding of the nearby San Diego Mission. Presidio Park in Mission Hills, and Old Town just down the hill, are a part of San Diego history.
In 1870, Mary Kearney obtained a deed from the city for the land that eventually became Hillcrest. In 1871 C. D. Arnold and D. Choate, two real estate developers, obtained that property. George Hill, a wealthy railroad tycoon, then purchased the land. Real estate development began in 1910 and the area was built out by 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s Hillcrest was considered a suburban shopping area for downtown San Diego.
In 1940 the "HILLCREST" lighted sign at the intersection of University and Fifth Avenue was first erected, donated by a group of local female shopkeepers. After falling into disrepair, it was taken down and rebuilt in 1984. After World War II, Hillcrest was left with an aging infrastructure and population. By the 1970s gays and lesbians began to settle in Hillcrest.
1994: A new Vermont Street pedestrian bridge was completed. The span, featuring public art, costs $1.2 million.
On August 2, 2007, a 100th birthday cake was served to the public, marking Hillcrest’s first one hundred years; there are Hillcrest Centennial events throughout the year.
2007: The Hillcrest Town Council was formed to give residents a voice
LGBT community
1980: The Center for Social Services founded in Golden Hill in 1973 -- now called the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, and generally known as "the Center" --moves to Hillcrest.
Protesting the city’s refusal of a parade permit, 200 gays and lesbians march through the streets of downtown for the first time.
1981: The first city-permitted gay pride parade was held.
1986: Maureen O’Connor was elected mayor. She became the first elected official to ride and march in the Pride parade.
1993: Christine Kehoe, now a state senator, was elected as the community's representative to the San Diego City Council. She was the first openly gay/lesbian elected official in San Diego.
1994: Former Mayor Roger Hedgecock led a group of protesters calling themselves “The Normal People”. They wanted to march in the Pride parade “in political disagreement to the homosexual agenda.” When rejected by the organizers of the parade, Hedgecock brought the matter to court. He filed a lawsuit, arguing that their exclusion violated San Diego's "Human Dignity Ordinance." The Superior Court rejected their claim, arguing that their right to march was not protected under the ordinance, since the Pride event was private and the "Normal People's" message was intended to interfere with the event.
2001: Mercy Gardens -- formerly the Sisters of Mercy Convent, which housed nuns from 1926-1990 -- was remodeled for use by the HIV-positive community.
Superior Court Judge Bonnie Dumanis, a Hillcrest resident, was elected San Diego District Attorney. She becomes the highest ranking, openly lesbian law enforcement officer in the nation.
2005: City Councilmember Toni Atkins, who represents Hillcrest, was elected Acting Mayor of San Diego by her fellow Councilmembers. San Diego becomes the nation's largest city with an openly gay or lesbian chief executive. She would step down from the post following the November election of new mayor Jerry Sanders.
2006: The 32nd Annual Gay Pride Festival was held July 28-30. 150,000 people gathered to watch The 25th Annual Gay Pride Parade. |
