{"id":248478,"date":"2015-03-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-27T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/uptown-briefs-march-27\/"},"modified":"2015-03-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2015-03-27T07:00:00","slug":"uptown-briefs-march-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/uptown-briefs-march-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Uptown Briefs \u2013 March 27"},"content":{"rendered":"

Care About North Park moves towards appeal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The battle against the Jack in the Box drive-thru at the intersection of 30th and Upas streets in North Park may not be over yet. For those unfamiliar, the legal battle stems from a May 2013 remodel of a North Park Jack in the Box at the corner of Upas and 30th Streets.<\/p>\n

Nonprofit group Care About North Park (CANP) alleged the \u201cremodel\u201d was actually an illegal rebuild used to allow the building to maintain its drive-thru window, which are now prohibited in the area.<\/p>\n

CANP since hired environmental attorney Cory Briggs to sue the city of San Diego and Jack in the Box, although the judge dismissed the suit after the group missed a filing deadline.<\/p>\n

CANP is now running a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign through April 1 with a goal of $2,000 to finance another appeal. According to the funding page they have a \u201csupportive donor\u201d who will match the funds raised. At press time they had raised $1,000. Visit gofundme.com\/supportourappeal<\/a> para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

City Council to approves plan to support homeless<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Councilmember Todd Gloria earned the City Council\u2019s unanimous approval this week for a plan to create a year-round indoor interim housing shelter in lieu of temporary tents erected during the winter each year.<\/p>\n

The plan was based on a recommendation by the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) to re-purpose 350 beds at Father Joe\u2019s Villages\u2019 St. Vincent de Paul campus Downtown for use in the year-round shelter. The program is slated to begin July 1 and will cost $1.9 million annually.<\/p>\n

According to SDHC\u2019s recommendation, the shelter will provide at least 350 beds each night and also calls for 40 percent to be set aside for homeless veterans, as well as 24-hour residential and security services and 45-day lengths of stay for residents. The plan also proposes to create better connection between the new interim shelter and the Neil Good Day Center program, eventually bringing both operations to the St. Vincent de Paul campus, according to a press release by Father Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n

TASTE OF HILLCREST RETURNS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The annual \u201cTaste of Hillcrest,\u201d sponsored by the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA), will bring the neighborhood\u2019s top chefs and their cuisine together for the 15th year on April 18.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited about the 2015 Taste of Hillcrest,\u201d HBA Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls stated in a press release. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect place to experience a unique culinary adventure and enjoy an afternoon here in San Diego\u2019s finest neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

The self-guided tasting tour will span approximately 12 blocks and include more than 40 cafes, bistros and dining establishments. Check in will be at the corner of Fifth and Robinson avenues. Tickets are $30 and available at\u00a0fabulosohillcrest.com<\/a>\u00a0under \u201cevents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Updates to Undergrounding Program process approved<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"One<\/a>
One of the utility boxes in Kensington causing residents concern.
(Photo by Monica Garske)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recommendations to the city\u2019s Undergrounding Program were considered and approved by the City Council this week. The recommendations were developed by the Utility Undergrounding Advisory Committee \u2014 comprised of community members and representatives from AT&T, Cox Communications, SDG&E, Time Warner Cable and the city. The group was created over a year ago to advise the City Council on undergrounding utility boxes, which many residents say they view as an eyesore in their communities.<\/p>\n

A press release from Councilmember Todd Gloria\u2019s office outlined the approved updates to the program:<\/p>\n