San Diego California Events. Area focus - City Heights

City: San Diego
Area Population: 72,994
Elevation: 338 feet above sea level
Distance from downtown SD: 8.0 miles northeast

City Heights is centrally located in the San Diego metropolitan area, south of Mission Valley, north of the Martin Luther King Freeway (State Route 94), between Interstates 15 and 805 on the west and 54th Street on the east. Development in City Heights is a mixture of single-family and multi-family residential with commercial and other non-residential development concentrated along the major arterials, including El Cajon Boulevard, University Avenue, Fairmount Avenue, and Euclid Avenue. There are also pockets of neighborhood commercial areas throughout the community. A small portion of industrial development is located on the southern edge of the community.

Within City Heights there are sixteen distinguishable neighborhoods, each with its own identity. Neighborhoods that comprise City Heights are: Corridor, Teralta West, Teralta East, Colina Park, Cherokee Point, Castle, Azalea Park, Hollywood Park, Fairmount Park, Bayridge, Fairmount Village, Swan Canyon, Islenair, Ridgeview, Chollas Creek and Fox Canyon. Neighborhood associations in each neighborhood are the focal points for local control of local affairs and are the sources of recommendations to the City Council.

Chollas Creek Enhancement Program

The City of San Diego is undertaking the Chollas Creek Enhancement Program as a key element in revitalizing this culturally-rich portion of the City. The goal is to create an open space system that lends identity to this area and provides a safe recreational and natural resource for the region.

Construction on two Pilot Projects for the Chollas Creek Enhancement Program has begun. Segment 2A is at the intersection of Market Street and Euclid Avenue and Segment 8 is adjacent to the intersection of South 38th and Alpha Streets.The scope of this project includes the removal of concrete channels along the creek, restoration of native vegetation and the creation of a linear park type setting with the inclusion of a trail system and an educational / interpretive element. This project will transform these two sections of the creek and the surrounding areas into positive open space features that the community can be proud of.

More infomation

City Heights is a large community in the eastern part of San Diego, California, known for its ethnic diversity. Along the main streets (which include University Avenue, El Cajon Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue) one can find Hispanic, East African, African American, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian businesses.

Socially and economically, City Heights has a high concentration of lower income businesses and households, resulting from the newly arrived immigrant communities. Businesses tend to be smaller and wider spread than to the north and east. Like other urban mesa neighborhoods north of Balboa Park, City Heights has a high rate of pedestrian activity, relative to the rest of San Diego. Crime rates were quite high until the recent renaissance, which ushered in one of the highest concentrations of police presence in the city.

Geography

City Heights is large and diffuse, with many subneighborhoods. The neighborhood is divided into two pieces by Fairmount Avenue: City Heights East and City Heights West. The neighboorhood is bounded by Interstate 805 to the West, El Cajon Boulevard to the North, 54th Street to the East, and Home Avenue/Euclid Avenue/Chollas Parkway to the Southeast.

"Downtown" City Heights is generally regarded as around Fairmount Avenue and 43rd Street.

The neighborhood is further divided into nineteen subneighborhoods: Adams North, Normal Heights, Kensington, Talmadge, Rolando, Colina Del Sol, Teralta East, Teralta West, Corridor, Cherokee Point, Castle, Fairmount Village, Fox Canyon, Islenair, Chollas Creek, Swan Canyon, Azalea/Hollywood Park, Fairmount Park, and Oak Park.

Transportation

City Heights is a walkable neighborhood with many of the restaurants, businesses and shops near the main residential pockets. It is common to see pedestrians, cyclists and scooters throughout the neighborhood and surrounding communities. Centrally located within San Diego, City Heights has easy access to freeways, Mission Valley commercial centers and the downtown area. University Avenue, El Cajon Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue are the major thoroughfares.

Because of the presence of the University Avenue transit corridor (the busiest in the metro region), City Heights has substantial bus service connecting to Downtown as well as to the Mission Valley trolley stops.

Arts, culture, businesses and cuisine

Due to the large immigrant population of City Heights, a vast array of ethnic restaurants can be found in the community. Most are located along the main arteries of University Avenue, El Cajon Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue.

There is also a sizeable gay community in Azalea Park.

The annual International Village Celebration is held around late spring or early summer and is aimed at highlighting the community's diversity.

One can find many types of cuisine from all corners of the world. You will find anything from Vietnamese, African, Mexican, etc. City Heights also has a Jamba Juice, Subway, Albertson's, a drive-thru Starbucks, many car repair shops, Pet Zone, a local pet shop/tropical fish store, and much more businesses just to name a few and much more for this booming diverse community. Quite a few pubs and bars such as Nancy's are around to cater to those into the nightlife.

Renaissance

As with other older neighborhoods found just north of Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park, City Heights is currently enjoying a renaissance.

In an effort to reverse the high crime rate and the depressed economy, the community has undergone some redevelopments. The local projects are a major focus of the Smart Growth strategy by the City of San Diego, which is funded in part by private organizations and philanthropic individuals, notably Sol Price (founder of Fedmart and Price Club).

These projects concentrate primarily on education, crime and gang-related activity reduction, economic improvements, smart urban growth, renewal of community pride and improvement of overall quality of life, while at the same time enhance the "melting-pot" identity for which City Heights is known.

Recent projects that have been completed include the very first alternative fuel station in the city, a new retail complex with some mixed-use developments, several newly expanded and improved basic education schools, a new "urban village" with a new library, a new police headquarter and a gymnasium, as well as a number of innovative uses of open spaces as parks.

As a result of the improvements, population in the neighborhood has been on the increase, reversing the trend of urban flight for those who could afford to move just a few years prior. Indeed, the redevelopment is now starting to focus on controlling growth.

A few trendy bars and clubs have started to move into the neighborhood; some would argue that gentrification is happening along with redevelopment. This most evident in Normal Heights and Kensington.

History

A detailed history of the City Heights neighborhood can be found at Price Charities' official website. This in-depth history is summarized below.

In the 1880s, Entrepreneurs Abraham Klauber and Samuel Steiner purchased a tract of over 240 unincorporated acres that sat 400 feet above sea level northeast of Balboa Park in hopes of developing the area, and named it City Heights. With the opening of the Panama Canal and the planned Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, the voters of the area voted for City Heights to become an incorporated city known as East San Diego on November 2, 1912. Population boomed in the next few years from 400 in 1910 to 4000 during the incorporation.

On December 31, 1923, the City of East San Diego ceased to exist and was annexed into the City of San Diego. The status of the city was in limbo throughout the early part of 1924, since the East San Diego trustees did not immediately recognize the annexation. Complete annexation occurred over the next few years with the City of San Diego taking over, improving or adding new services into the City Heights area.

During most of the 1930s, 1940s, and the 1950s the area was an important commercial center. In 1959 the neighborhood began to experience a decline as Fashion Valley, Mission Valley and the College Grove Shopping Center siphoned off merchants and customers from the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard corridor.

In 1965 the San Diego City Council approved the Mid-City Plan. The plan was a means of increasing business and commerce. The plan resulted in many single-family homes being replaced with multi-family apartments. The 1970s and 1980s saw an increase in crime started to increase with the arrival of the illegal drug industry, mainly methamphetamine.

A state of emergency was declared by the City of San Diego. The houses bought by Caltrans for the construction of SR 15 contributed to the rising crime rate because Caltrans had no policy in place for dealing with abandoned buildings. The abandoned areas were prime spots for gang and drug-related activities. It took years before they were finally taken down for the actual construction of the freeway.

In 1993, three teen boys were killed in a gang-related fight at Hoover High School. The community reacted and spurred efforts to reduce crime in the neighborhood. The City Heights Business Improvement Association erected billboards that declared Welcome to City Heights, San Diego's Crime Capital. Won't Anybody Help? to gain city officials' attention.

In November 1993, the city of San Diego proposed to build a new police station to address the rising crime rate. However, the city was strapped for cash and did not have funds readily available. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sol Price pledged money for redevelopment efforts in concert with the city and his for-profit redevelopment corporation. The city and Sol Price's redevelopment corporation opened the new police substation in 1996.

The 2000s have seen redevelopment efforts continue and new public facilities have opened. New services are being provided to residents of City Heights including schools, a library and a community center. Crime rates are also down and a new urban retail village is serving the community.

Chollas Lake Park
6350 College Grove Drive
San Diego, CA 92105
(619-527-7683) Map

As a reservoir built in 1901, Chollas Lake helped serve early San Diego's water supply. In 1966 it was turned over to the Park and Recreation Department, and was designated a youth fishing lake (for children ages 15 and under only) in 1971. Facilities: A 16-acre lake for free youth fishing (age 15 and under ONLY); an 8/10's-of-a-mile dirt path around the lake for walking, jogging, and bicycling; picnic tables with barbecue grills; children's play equipment; a small basketball court; hiking trails; and a multi-purpose ball field in North Chollas canyon. Peddle Boats are also available on weekends, form Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend, through Wheel Fun Rentals.

Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet Street
San Diego, CA 92105
(619-235-1162) Map

The center was built in 1972 and serves the recreational and leisure needs of children and adults living in the densely populated area of Azalea Park in City Heights. Facilities: Outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, picnic tables near BBQ grills and a community building for meetings and classes.

City Heights Recreation Center
4380 Landis Street
San Diego, CA 92105
(619-641-6125) Map

The center is part of the "City Heights Revitalization Plan" and replaced the Highland Park facility that was there for years. The center which opened in 1998 is the recreation component of the "Urban Village" which includes a library, a performance annex, Head Start Program, a community college, gymnasium, and police station. Facilities: Tot lot, playground, picnic areas, a multi purpose athletic field, tennis courts, a full size gymnasium, meeting room, game room, craft and ceramic room, mini kitchen and a full-sized swimming pool.

Mid-City Gym
4302 Landis Street
San Diego, CA 92105
(619-516-3082) Map

The Mid City Gymnasium opened in 1996 as a result of strong community organization and effort. It was part of the first phase of City Heights Urban Village bringing together in one location a number of opportunities in recreation and education. Facilities: Gymnasium.

Library
3795 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-641-6100) Map

Library
2802 54th Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-527-3406) Map

Post Office
4193 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(800-275-8777) Map

Police
4310 Landis Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-516-3000) Map

Police
5348 University Avenue, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-515-2733) Map

Fire
2850 54th Street, San Diego, CA 92105
Map

Carver Elementary School (K-6)
3251 Juanita Street, San Diego 92105
(619-583-7021) Map

Central Elementary School (K-6)
4063 Polk Avenue, San Diego 92105
(619-281-6644) Map - Website

Euclid Elementary School (K-6)
4166 Euclid Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-282-2192) Map

Hamilton Elementary School (K-6)
2807 Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-262-2483) Map

Marshall Elementary School (K-6)
3550 Altadena Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-283-5924) Map

Oak Park Elementary School (K-6)
2606 54th Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-264-3179) Map - Website

Parks Elementary School (K-6)
4510 Landis Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-282-6803) Map

Rowan Elementary School (K-6)
1755 Rowan Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-262-7541) Map

Clark Middle School (4-8/7-8)
4388 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-563-6801) Map - Website

Wilson Middle School (4-8/7-8)
3838 Orange Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
(619-280-1661) Map - Website

San Diego City Website
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
City Heights Demographic Profile - Fact Sheet
City Heights Demographic Profile - Map

City Heights Weather - NOAA
Air Quality Forecast
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City Heights Homes For Sale
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City Heights Multi-Family Properties For Sale
City Heights Rentals

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Azalea Park Neighborhood Association
City of San Diego Community Profile - City Heights
City of San Diego Community Profile - City Heights Map
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San Diego County Business Directory - City of San Diego
San Diego Unified School District
Wikipedia - City Heights, San Diego, California

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