By Ashley Mackin | SDUN Editor

At the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) Board of Directors?meeting on Dec. 13, the Board unanimously voted to auction off the 1984 Hillcrest sign.

The 1984 sign, which was replaced by the current sign in August 2011, will be auctioned off in early 2012. The Board approved the auction with two conditions, according to a press release. “The?first being that once ownership is procured the sign must be displayed in Hillcrest and that, secondly, new ownership must provide transportation from the sign’s current location to it’s new location,” the release stated.

In September 2011, the HBA sent out a public request for ownership proposals for the sign and received three: the Obelisk Shoppe, Rich’s San Diego and a joint application between Winn’s Barbershop and Urban Mo’s Bar and Grill. All three are located in Hillcrest. The sign was originally going to be donated to the business the HBA decided had the best proposal. Now, the proceeds from the auction will go to the HBA’s Capital Projects Fund, which pays for beautifications projects in Hillcrest.

The press release stated, “Due to increased interest in sign procurement and public involvement the HBA has decided that the most equitable way to move forward is to hold an online auction on it’s website.”

Darin Erb, owner of Winn’s Barbershop, said waiting longer to find out if he can take ownership of the sign frustrates him.

“I see the point…that they didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because they respect everybody,” Erb said. “I wish they would have voted on it and just got it done with it because I’m done with waiting to find out if I got it or not.”

Urban Mo’s Bar and Grill owner Chris Shaw, who will continue to bid on the sign with Erb, said he thinks the auction is a positive thing.

“I understand the Board’s philosophy,” Shaw said. “The people that are involved, we’re all really close. We all know each other and nobody wants to pick sides…. I thought it was a great compromise so that no one’s feelings are hurt.”

Both Erb and Shaw said the sign would be split in half, separating the front from the back so each business could display a sign that reads ‘Hillcrest’ if they were to win the auction. Erb said half would go in front of Winn’s Barbershop, and “half of it would be going down on Normal Street, [where Shaw is] opening a new bar [and] restaurant, The Hillcrest Brewery.”

Owners of Rich’s San Diego and Obelisk Shoppe did not respond to San Diego Uptown News by deadline. Nick Moede, owner of Rich’s San Diego, serves as board president of the HBA.

HBA Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls said, “We want to ensure that there is a fair and responsible process for transference of the 1984 Hillcrest Sign and our Board of Directors has?voted that this is best way to move forward.”??

A date and time for the auction has not been set, but it will be facilitated through the HBA website, HillcrestBIA.org