{"id":251728,"date":"2017-06-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/hillcrest-town-council-looks-to-the-future\/"},"modified":"2017-06-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-06-16T07:00:00","slug":"hillcrest-town-council-looks-to-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/hillcrest-town-council-looks-to-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Hillcrest Town Council looks to the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By Mary McKenzie<\/p>\n<p>What is your vision for Hillcrest?<\/p>\n<p>Community members were asked to address this question at the June 13 meeting of the Hillcrest Town Council (HTC), held at the Joyce Beers Community Center in the HUB shopping center.<!--more--><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29349\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29349\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29349 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/web-Ben-Nicholls.jpeg\" alt=\"Hillcrest Town Council looks to the future\" width=\"600\" height=\"580\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/580;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29349\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Benjamin Nicholls, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association, calls the lack of affordable housing as the top issue facing the neighborhood. <em>(Foto de William Poncio)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Benjamin Nicholls, executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA), opened the discussion with a brief analysis of the state of doing business in Hillcrest. Businesses follow customers, he said, and first-time homeowners or renters are moving or shopping elsewhere because of the lack of affordable housing in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p>Affordable housing is the main challenge facing Hillcrest, Nicholls said.<\/p>\n<p>The HBA, he added, is focusing on two efforts to improve the quality of life in Hillcrest. First is the \u201cNew Normal,\u201d which debuted as a pilot project last year. In this proposal, Normal Street would be transformed into a park-like setting with fewer traffic lanes, more pedestrian space and additional bike lanes. The plan is awaiting approval by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHillcrest Clean and Safe\u201d is a more recent program focusing on the extension of the East Hillcrest Maintenance Assessment District. This expanded district would levy a special assessment on willing property owners on the east end of Hillcrest to pay for enhanced security, cleaning and gardening services.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_29452\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29452\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-29452 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/web-IMG_6237.jpg\" alt=\"Hillcrest Town Council looks to the future\" width=\"600\" height=\"597\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/597;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-29452\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(l to r) Andrew Dugger, HTC&#8217;s Neighborhood Improvement Committee chair, board member David Vance and the chair, Kath Rogers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The HTC also heard from public representatives in Hillcrest.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jessica Meir from U.S. Rep. Susan Davis\u2019 office announced a second Town Hall meeting at San Diego State University on June 19.<\/li>\n<li>HTC Vice Chair Ben Cartwright gave a report on behalf of state Sen. Toni G. Atkins, who is supporting a sock drive for homeless veterans now through July 10. To find drop-off locations, google \u201cSocks for Stand Down.\u201d Or you can bring new socks to the HTC Summer Social on July 6 at 5 p.m. at Uptown Tavern, located at 1236 University Ave. in Hillcrest.<\/li>\n<li>Brittany Bailey from Councilmember Chris Ward\u2019s office was asked about the recent volatile debates about the city\u2019s fiscal year 2018 budget. Controversy surrounded funding of a special election in the fall, which the City Council opposed. Mayor Kevin Faulconer overrode the council\u2019s decision to not approve money for the special election, but the money will remain undispersed unless the council changes its mind. The office and programs budgets were cut for two council districts whose representatives opposed the mayor\u2019s decision, including Ward\u2019s District 3 comprising Downtown and most of the Uptown neighborhoods.<\/li>\n<li>Nick Serrano spoke on behalf of Assemblymember Todd Gloria. Gloria is sponsoring #Gloria100, an effort to encourage the adoption of pets from Humane Society locations in San Diego County. From June 16-19, the first 100 adoptions will have fees waived. On June 30, Gloria will be co-sponsoring a seminar for citizens seeking to serve on state boards and commissions, which is being held at 5:30 p.m. at the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The meeting adjourned after a brief discussion of the attendees\u2019 vision for Hillcrest. The beautification of University Avenue was paramount in the responses. Maybe murals? All suggestions will be summarized in a report to enable HTC to share the results with the area\u2019s elected leadership.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-29353 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/logo-300x127.png\" alt=\"Hillcrest Town Council looks to the future\" width=\"300\" height=\"127\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/127;\" \/>If you have ideas or are just interested in helping Hillcrest become the gem of the city, HTC welcomes you to attend the next meeting on Aug. 8. Or join the HTC at the social on July 6 at Uptown Tavern. If you have any comments or concerns, contact Chair Kath Rogers at <a href=\"mailto:dognamedannie@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dognamedannie@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u2014Mary M. McKenzie is the secretary of the Hillcrest Town Council.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Mary McKenzie What is your vision for Hillcrest? 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