Talk of Plan Hillcrest updates were in the works again on Oct. 13 during the City of San Diego Planning Commission meeting.

A focused amendment Plan Hillcrest, an initiative to better the quality of business and life and celebrate the LGBTQ+ history in the Hillcrest area, has been making its way through the planning department and public hearings since 2020. 

During the Planning Commission meeting, it was made clear that the item was a “workshop item,” meaning no vote would come out of the discussion.

Shannon Mulderig, Plan Hillcrest project manager, opened the discussion to share details and background information on the plan. Mulderig shared the project’s overarching goals, including their plans to address urban design, maintain high-density housing near transit and preservation of historic features.

“The five Plan Hillcrest objectives are to celebrate the legacy of the LGBTQ+ community, to create public spaces and parks, to strengthen connections, to support local business and address housing needs,” Mulderig said during the Oct. 13 meeting.

Mulderig went on to describe attributes residents of Hillcrest identified as necessary for the plan, including housing opportunities, mobility, public space and other enhancements that connect the community.

“The community plan did not increase housing capacity and rather maintained the residential densities established by the previous 1988 community plan,” Mulderig said, touching on the areas needed to address the San Diego housing crisis.

In 2020, there were 24,203 homes in the Hillcrest neighborhood— 849 of which were deemed affordable housing. Within the focused area of Plan Hillcrest, there are 4,800 homes. In addition to housing many, the area is also a hotspot for business, specifically healthcare-related employment.

While the updated Plan Hillcrest passed last year gained the support of many locals, maintaining residential density goals passed in 1988 divided the community. For example, data reflects that 17% of Plan Hillcrest’s audience is against high-density, high-rise complexes, while 15% are for them. High-density, high-rise complexes would add housing options, especially near transit which is now mandated by state law’s attempting to address the housing crisis.

Another divisive issue emerged when the City Planning Department proposed turning Hillcrest into a historical district due to its significance the LGBTQ+ community. While preserving this history is important, there was backlash from LGBTQ+ businesses and nonprofits. Historical districts often impose restrictions that halt any new construction or renovation. The proposition would protect many buildings in the Hillcrest area and prevent new growth and remodeling of businesses and housing, something that goes against much of Plan Hillcrest’s mission.

In a letter to Chair Hofman and Commission Members written by several community members and LGBTQ+ advocates, the proposal for the zone to be a historic district was denounced.

“If we spend too much energy on the preservation of buildings we repeat the biased and patriarchal storytelling methods of the past and run the real risk of making the community unattractive and unaffordable to the very people who breathe life into the community,” the letter said.

The signees urged the city to focus on preserving the history and letting Hillcrest adapt to the current needs of the LGBT+ community rather than preserving the buildings themselves.

Another point of contention has been SB 2, a law that is supposed to provide an ongoing source of affordable housing funds. Locally, money from SB 2 has largely gone to providing plan updates rather than building more housing and according to Voice of San Diego, “the state collected more than $1.6 billion by the end of 2021. Only 17.7% has been disbursed statewide as of June 30.”

Each of these concerns played a part in the discussion surrounding updating Plan Hillcrest once again and has provoked a serious conversation regarding the city’s plans to help aid in the neighborhood’s remodel.

Following the background information presented by Mulderig, next steps were shared. Plan Hillcrest recently wrapped up the concept development phase and is planning to release it this winter to promote a community discussion. They will then bring the plan forward for City Council consideration in summer or fall of 2023.

After, Planning Commission members heard from members of the public. Benjamin Nicholls, Executive Director of Hillcrest Business Association, expressed that the city’s history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community was “lackluster.” Nicholls echoed concerns of other members of the community about the update, sharing hopes that the project moves forward promptly.

Concluding the meeting, the Planning Commission thanked the Plan Hillcrest representatives and re-stated that they will consider all concerns moving forward. Information on Plan Hillcrest, their mission, recent meetings and engagement information can be found at planhillcrest.org.