Por Ashley Mackin | Editor SDUN

In an effort to relieve some of the parking issues in Uptown, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) focused their quarterly Open House on the issue. Additionally, efforts to reassemble the Uptown Community Parking District, which would represent Hillcrest, Mission Hills and Bankers Hill, are underway.

At the Open House, held on Nov. 30, community members discussed the problems and suggestions for improving Uptown parking. Some of the issues mentioned were overpriced parking meters, clearer street signs and bicycle safety on University Avenue.

Ideas for improvements ranged from a parking app for smart phones to constructing a “lid” over SR-163 and building a parking structure on it.

HBA Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls hosted the Open House and said he was happy about the suggestions. He further explained that one of the problems they have had in the past is a lack of funds to implement the suggestions. Nicholls said reassembling the Uptown Community Parking District would help solve that. The Parking District, a group of elected community members, will be responsible for distributing the money allocated by the City that comes from Uptown parking meters.

Nicholls explained that of the money that goes into Uptown meters, 55 percent goes to the City and 45 percent goes to the Parking District to allocate for various projects. In 2010, the 45 percent for Uptown was over $3.8 million. Nicholls anticipates the coming fiscal years will yield higher numbers.

The Parking District, formerly referred to as the Uptown Partnership, has been inactive for the last 18 months. The money collected for the inactive Uptown Partnership has remained unused. Nicholls explained that the group existed, but did not meet to discuss how to distribute the parking meter monies.

Upon reassembling the Parking District, members of the former group stepped down from their positions to allow for a new District filled with elected community members.

While the Parking District seats that represent Hillcrest and Mission Hills have been filled, there will be an election to fill the seats that represent Bankers Hill on Jan. 23. There are two residential representative seats and three business representative seats available.

Nicholls said, “Under the new structure the money generated from Bankers Hill parking meters will be allocated and spent by Bankers Hill folks and Hillcrest money will be spent by Hillcrest folks. There are safeguards in place for that.”

Councilmember Todd Gloria, a supporter of the formation of the Parking District, said, “The reformed Uptown Partnership will be incredibly important to shaping decisions about parking management throughout many thriving neighborhoods.” He added, “I am grateful to the board members for taking on this challenge and look forward to working with them to aggressively implement solutions to parking and mobility challenges in the Uptown neighborhoods.”

Nicholls said, “Just like in Hillcrest, I know that Bankers Hill has a solid core of dedicated activists. This election is their chance to finally have a voice in how this money is spent.”