The real issue is homelessness
Re: “HBA: yes to National Main Street Program, no to historic district,” guest editorial by HBA Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls [Volume 7, Issue 24 or bit.ly/1RjVyHL] and “Guest editorial: A response to Benjamin Nicholls” by Nancy Moors [Volume 7, Issue 25 or bit.ly/1YibKJq]
Before I could respond to Benjamin Nicholls’ irrational commentary, Nancy Moores responded with just about all I needed to say, excellently and well documented.
Anyone who says there is and has been no development in Hillcrest/Uptown has large blinders on. There is and has been, for decades, major development and increased density and it continues.
As far as businesses closing, we cannot eat out every night, and we did not ever have really “high end” shops in Hillcrest. The trendy boutiques and gift shops do come and go for a variety of reasons.
I have lived here for 30 years. Hillcrest is not dying a “slow death” but neighborhoods do progress in cycles. Ben thinks we are in competition with North Park and they are winning because we have a 65-foot height limit. Huh? North Park and South Park have no buildings over three stories and they are doing great. (South Park created its present resurgence by down zoning decades ago to respect and preserve the neighborhood’s historic character.)
What is really bringing down Hillcrest is this — and more so than any other neighborhood, even downtown. The issue that is enormously challenging Hillcrest and Uptown, dwarfing the parking issue, is the HOMELESS ISSUE!
It is unrelenting, heartbreaking, disgusting and aggravating! OMG! It is worse than ever and apparently growing. It faces us every day, morning and evening, right outside our homes and businesses.
If Ben and the Hillcrest Business Association are really serious about assisting Hillcrest’s success, they will show up at the Mayor’s State of the City Address (Jan. 14, 2016, 6 p.m., Balboa Theatre) with placards demanding ACTION on the HOMELESS ISSUE NOW. This issue is harming central San Diego’s economic development all over, but in Hillcrest as a small neighborhood community it is overwhelming.
This is Hillcrest’s worst enemy.
—Deirdre Lee of Hillcrest/Bankers’ Hill via Facebook
(Editor’s note: There are a few buildings in North Park that are taller than three stories, including the San Diego County Credit Union building at the northwest corner of University Avenue and 32nd Street.)
Reaction to Smart & Final Extra!
Re: “Smart & Final Extra! concept explained” [Volume 7, Issue 26 or at bit.ly/1QX2R9b]
Community members need to actually take the time to step into a new Smart & Final Extra! store before rejecting the idea. I was skeptical about doing a regular shopping at S&F, but my husband had already scoped out one of the upgraded stores in another part of San Diego. Wow! Produce was fresh and flavorful, meat was high quality, and the shelves are stocked with all the foods in normal quantities for household shopping. The prices were significantly lower than Ralphs and Vons.
In recent months we’ve done some of our stocking up at Wal-Mart’s Super Store in the Eastlake area of Chula Vista and found that Smart & Final Extra! turns out to be better in final cost than Wal-Mart. We are running out of competition in supermarkets, with only Vons and Ralphs in that category. We can’t all afford to shop at Whole Foods for anything more than the occasional specialty item, and Sprouts offers good produce and groceries, but not for stocking up. So, before weighing in, I suggest giving them a tour and see for yourselves.
—Dennis Wood via Facebook
I don’t believe a word.
—John Fjorgen via Facebook
Unless they rip down that building, like what they did to Vons in Mission Hills, forget it. Paint and a new floor and sign won’t entice shoppers and [the store] will remain a swill pit — which will lead to failure.
—Kypt via Facebook
This is great! I think it will be a great addition to the neighborhood. I hope the process for this to happen is simple and doesn’t generate neighborhood opposition — this is so much better than the vacant building that sits there now after Haggen shuttered.
—Benny Cartwright via Facebook
That CEO is way too quick to volunteer that these would be non-union jobs for my taste. She’s very eager to hire a loss prevention team to protect her inventory, but won’t allow a contract to protect her workers? I’ll pass.
—Lian Shoemake via Facebook
[Editor’s note: The spokeswoman was the director of publicity for the Commerce-based Smart & Final company, not the CEO. She was answering my question about whether the jobs would be union or non-union.]
Demise of Antique Row
Re: “The Death of Antique Row” [Volume 7, Issue 26 or at bit.ly/1JcpZOi]
You know, one of the best ways to fight gentrification is to ensure an adequate supply of housing to meet demand. This generally means building dense, mixed use buildings that don’t always have free parking. It means buildings that could be four or five stories tall. It means places that are just hideous, like the Champs-Elysees. But San Diego votes against providing homes over, and over, and over again.
—Robert Lawson via Facebook
A recommendation
Re: “In the zone” [Dr. Ink’s review of Pacific Time in Linda Vista, Volume 7, Issue 26 or at bit.ly/1YNwjxJ]
You should have had a meat and cheese board. They are phenomenal!! Sandwiches are great too! Great spot, wonderful staff and awesome addition to the neighborhood.
—Ashley via Facebook
¿Lo que hay en un nombre?
Re: “How University Heights streets got their names” [Published Nov. 11, 2011 or at bit.ly/1MDE42g]
Doug Sommer, I share your curiosity about Gunn Street. Chester and Douglas Gunn had a sister, Anna, who married George Marston in 1878. The house they built in 1905 on Seventh Avenue is open to the public. I have thought perhaps Gunn Street was named after Douglas Gunn, at one time the owner and editor of the San Diego Union.
—Jean Samuels via Facebook
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