Por Dave Schwab<\/p>\n
It\u2019s no surprise that the unwavering commitment of the San Diego Downtown Residents Group (SDDRG) to improving the area is why it survived to celebrate its 30th anniversary Feb. 22 at the Children’s Museum.<\/p>\n
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SDDRG was formed in 1987 and has devoted itself since to preserving and enhancing the quality of life for Downtown residents. That’s accomplished, in part, by leveraging collective opinion on key issues.<\/p>\n
SDDRG’s president, Gary J.E. Smith, pointed out Downtown \u201cwas a different world\u201d when SDDRG started out in the late 1980s with its peep shows and strip clubs and a decidedly unsavory reputation.<\/p>\n
Given that Downtown also \u201cdid not have a community plan group\u201d back then, Smith said the Downtown Resident\u2019s Group was subsequently formed to fill that niche \u2014 and void.<\/p>\n
The idea behind SDDRG\u2019s formation was to \u201cmake the city keep their promises,\u201d said Smith, adding the group gradually became more proactive over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSDDRG insisted this senior folks home got put over here, and this crosswalk got marked over there,\u201d Smith said. \u201cA lot of stuff was done behind the scenes to make Downtown San Diego a better place to live, work and play.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are presently 35,000 residents living Downtown, with projections of as many as 90,000 in the next 30 years. Growth of that magnitude requires careful and cautious urban planning. That\u2019s where SDDRG has stepped in to provide Downtowners with a voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe seek to bring our concerns and opinions to those whose policy decisions will impact the quality of life of our residents for many years into the future,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Among SDDRG\u2019s many successes, Smith cited creation of the \u201cQuiet Zone\u201d that eliminated nighttime train horns, the setting aside of space for Downtown parks and the creation of Petco Park.<\/p>\n
Moving ahead, SDDRG intends to grapple with several complex and vexing issues including \u201cthe scourge of homelessness, the Navy Broadway Complex, Seaport Village redevelopment, the future of Horton Plaza and a proposed transient occupancy tax to fund Convention Center expansion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Topping SDDRG’s accomplishment list was getting community planning representation Downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things we got we agitated for \u2014 our own planning group, the Downtown Community Planning Council,\u201d Smith said adding, \u201cWe work in conjunction with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith pointed out that, while individual civic groups Downtown are \u201cmore concerned about things in their particular neighborhoods,\u201d he added groups as a whole are \u201cmore concerned about the overall issues \u2014 where bike lanes are going, managing parking, good design and whether or not a building is a good fit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concerning San Diego’s affordable housing crisis, Smith noted Downtown has an advantage in addressing the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s one of the only places that’s willing to take really dense housing,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have no qualms about taking dense housing. Part of that is being able to put in parks and other things that make Downtown livable. And our job is to ensure those things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Smith cautioned that affordable housing is \u201ca function of the marketplace,\u201d wherein supply and demand determine price. Unfortunately, Smith said demand far exceeds supply currently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 40,000 people on a waiting list for housing \u2014 it’s a lottery,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Concerning homelessness Downtown, Smith pointed out that, \u201cas the rest of Downtown has grown up, the homeless are being forced into a smaller and smaller area. Therefore, it starts to look worse with tents and it\u2019s much more noticeable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith said problems with combatting homelessness are compounded by the shortage of affordable housing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have programs to get these people off the street, and some of them are ready to go into housing, but right now they [the city] have nowhere to move them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Seaport Village’s redevelopment is another area of focus for the SDDRG.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether or not you scrape it down and redo it, planning for it is one of the things we’re looking at,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Smith added that, while Downtown \u201chas a huge amount of revenue from sales and Transit Occupancy taxes,\u201d that is counterbalanced by things like the Gaslamp Quarter being a magnet for entertainment drawing people Downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a rash of problems that come with people partying at night, and all of the things that happen in an urban environment,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Even improvements Downtown come with a price, Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou build a new park and then you have to worry about how you do the maintenance,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s a constant battle with the city as to how to keep it all up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith said SDDRG has about 400 dues-paying members, many of whom are couples. For more information, visit sddrg.org<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n