Hillcrest is a small and prosperous neighborhood in San Diego, California northwest of Balboa Park and south of Mission Valley.
Hillcrest is known for its "tolerance and acceptance," gender diversity, and many locally-owned businesses, including restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, trendy trendy stores and other independent specialty stores. Hillcrest has a high population density compared with many other neighborhoods in San Diego, and has a large and active lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Video Hillcrest, San Diego
Geography
Hillcrest is an older neighborhood that has been through gentrification. Many paths were filled with trees. There are craftsmen of homes and buildings of modern medieval condos.
The environment is limited 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 is bordered by areas to the west.
Hillcrest is part of the Uptown community planning area, comprising the Mission Hills neighborhood, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Park West, and University Heights.
Maps Hillcrest, San Diego
History
Originally, Hillcrest was a mesa covered in pythroid. The Kumeyaay Indians inhabit many villages scattered throughout the San Diego area. Spanish colonization brings the first of twenty-nine California missions with the establishment of a nearby San Diego Mission. Presidio Park in Mission Hills and Old Town at the bottom of the hill is part of the history of San Diego.
In 1870, Mary Kearney obtained a deed from the city for the land that eventually became Hillcrest. In 1871 Arnold and D. Choate, two real estate developers, acquired the property. George Hill, a wealthy rail conglomerate, then bought the land. Real estate development began in 1910 and the area was built in 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s Hillcrest was considered a suburban shopping area for downtown San Diego.
In the 1910s, Hillcrest became one of many San Diego neighborhoods connected by the Class 1 tram and San Diego's extensive public transport system sparked by the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 and built by John D. Spreckels. These cars became a residence in this neighborhood until they retired in 1939.
In 1940, the "HILLCREST" sign lit up at the University junction and Fifth Avenue was first established, donated by the Hillcrest Women's Association, a group of local female guards. After falling into the damage, it was lowered and rebuilt in 1984.
After World War II, Hillcrest was abandoned with infrastructure and an aging population.
During the 1970s gays and lesbians began building residential, business, and organizations at Hillcrest.
1974: Protesting city's rejection of parade permits, 200 gay and lesbians marched through downtown streets for the first time.
1975: The first gay pride parade allowed by the city to be held.
1980: The Social Service Center, founded in Golden Hill in 1973 - now called the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, commonly known as the "Center" - moved to Hillcrest.
1984: Hillcrest Business Association, a business improvement district, was formed.
1985: Hillcrest Business Association hosts the first CityFest.
1994: The new Vermont Street crossing bridge is completed. Range, public art display, cost $ 1.2 million.
2001: Mercy Gardens - formerly the Sisters of Mercy Convent, which housed the nuns from 1926-1990 - was renovated for use by the HIV-positive community.
On August 2, 2007, the 100th anniversary cake was presented to the public, marking the first hundred years of Hillcrest; there is Hillcrest's Hundred Years event throughout the year.
2007: The Hillcrest Town Council was set up to vote for residents.
2012: City approves plans for a privately funded rainbow on the corner of University Avenue and Normal Street. The city also approved the name change of the road from Blaine Avenue to Harvey Milk Street.
Demographics
The 2000 census showed that the population in that neighborhood had an average age of 39 and 49.3% had a bachelor's degree.
The 2000 census showed the average family income in 1999 was $ 61,741 ($ 80,011 in 2010 adjusted dollar inflation).
The government did not record sexual orientation, but at the 2000 census, from ~ 10% of households headed by unmarried couples at Hillcrest (zip code 92103), 43% were headed by two people of the same gender, an indication that they may become a gay or lesbian couple. It shows that more than 4% of all households in Hillcrest are headed by two people who are not married to the same sex.
Government
This neighborhood is governed by elected officials from the city of San Diego. This is part of the Third District of San Diego City Council; Current board member is Chris Ward, who replaced Todd Gloria in the 2016 election when Todd Gloria moved to the California State Assembly. This made Chris Ward the fourth consecutive openly chosen LGBT District 3 representative since the election of Chris Kehoe in 1993.
The Uptown planner is a select planning group consisting of residents, property owners, and business people from the Uptown area, which includes Hillcrest; it suggests the city on land use and other problems.
An ad hoc city council provides a channel for information from citizens with government. The Hillcrest Town Council is a local resident organization formed in 2007. Meet every month. His mission statement is "To vote and improve the quality of life for Hillcrest tenants & homeowners while supporting actions that benefit our environment."
Economy
The Hillcrest Business Association has been around since 1921; in 1984 it became a city-approved Business Improvement District. The association supports most of the beautiful residential projects, oversees iconic Hillcrest marks, runs street festivals, manages Hillcrest Farmers Market, and sponsors an annual "Taste of Hillcrest", which offers samples of food and drink from over 50 local bars and restaurants.
In 2012, the Hillcrest Business Association, with the support of many businesses, created the HIllcrest Pride Flag.
The commercial area of ââHillcrest is famous for its many restaurants. Scripps Mercy Hospital and UC San Diego Medical Center are located here.
Transportation
Hillcrest is a very easy neighborhood with cafes, restaurants and shops near major housing pockets.
Hillcrest is served by State Route 163 on University Avenue, Washington Street, and Robinson Avenue. University Avenue and Washington Street are the east-west main roads on Hillcrest; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Avenues connect Hillcrest to Downtown San Diego via Park West and Bankers Hill. There is a bus service that connects to Downtown as well as the Mission Valley trolley stop.
Parking
Parking is a major concern in the Hillcrest area. The lack of parking is so acute that the opening of a new 36-room parking lot in June 2010 is front page news. In an effort to address the lack of parking at Hillcrest, as well as Mission Hills, Bankers Hill, and other uptown areas, the city council in 1997 set up a community parking district. Originally run by a local nonprofit organization called Uptown Partnership, which receives a portion of the revenue from an area parking meter, amounting to about $ 700,000 per year. The money should be used to increase parking availability, traffic circulation, transit effectiveness, and pedestrian mobility. After 12 years and $ 2.5 million, the Partnership has created just 50 new parking spaces, leading to criticism from the Grand Jury county and calls from the public to remove them. The Uptown partnership withdrew from the district parking management in 2010.
After several years of inactivity, in which revenues are collected but not spent, the Uptown Community Parking District is revived in 2012 with new boards of directors and new operations managers. In 2013, the parking district introduces a free trolley that runs along the main road on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is also a website, Accessendcrest, which helps people find parking lots, share rides, or cycle.
Hillcrest is traditionally governed by the 1988 zoning plan, limiting high-rise buildings within its boundaries. Recently city planners have been reviewing this issue, and are moving forward to allow for higher-density buildings but also have restrictions that parking should be improved and also emphasize the first level of retailing into every residential building. Although this will add to the density of the environment, additional parking will be helpful if it is publicly available.
Culture
Hillcrest "CityFest" is an annual street festival featuring food, live entertainment, beer gardens, and street hawkers.
Other regular events at Hillcrest include a weekly farmer's market on the basis of the local Department of Motor Vehicles, Book Fairs, and Mardi Gras.
Festival of Pride
San Diego Pride is an annual celebration every July for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. It features a Pride Parade on Saturday morning, preceded by Hillcrest Bloc Party on Friday night and followed by a two-day festival at Balboa Park. It is sponsored by San Diego LGBT Pride and is considered the largest citizenship event in the city of San Diego. Large rainbow flags approved in May 2012 were established on time for the 2012 Pride Festival.
References
External links
- Hillcrest Business Association 1921-2012
- Hillcrest Farmers Market
- Hillcrest Centennial 1907-2007
- Hillcrest City Council
- Hillcrest History
Source of the article : Wikipedia