San Diego California Events. Area focus - Hillcrest, Mission Hills

City: San Diego
Area Population: 30,186
Elevation: 194 feet above sea level
Distance from downtown SD: 2.3 miles north

The Uptown Community lies just north of the Centre City area. It is bounded on the north by the steep hillsides of Mission Valley, on the east by Park Boulevard and on the west and south by Old San Diego and Interstate 5.

The Uptown Community is located on a level mesa that is divided by numerous canyons and bordered by two major parks, Presidio and Balboa. The Uptown community contains some of the oldest neighborhoods in San Diego exhibiting a variety of historic architectural types and a heavily traveled pedestrian mixed-use retail commercial area. The area also features a wide range of residential opportunities and a diverse mixture of people within a distinctly urban setting. The area includes the neighborhoods of Mission Hills, Middletown, Hillcrest, the Medical Complex, University Heights, and Park West. Located in Hillcrest is the nationally recognized Uptown District, a model of mixed-use infill development that includes housing, a retail core, offices, live-work spaces and a community center.

The Uptown District is a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use retail center and residential development. The redevelopment of a 14 acre site known as the "Sears site" was completed in 1990, following a complex planning process with extensive community involvement. The project has attracted national attention as a model for the redevelopment of low-density, obsolete commercial sites for new housing and community uses. Its significance lies in its success in repairing an older city fabric that was damaged by 1950s commercial development. Uptown District has greatly spurred development in the surrounding Hillcrest neighborhood, especially adjacent to the site along University Avenue, which is the main arterial road, according to the San Diego Daily Transcript. The
National Association of Home Builders named Uptown District the Project of the Year in October 1991. It was awarded the Urban Design Award by the California Council of the American Institute of Architects the following month.

Hillcrest

Hillcrest is a neighborhood in San Diego northwest of Balboa Park.

Hillcrest is known for its tolerance, diversity, and locally-owned businesses, including restaurants, cafés, bars, clubs, trendy thrift-stores, and other independent specialty stores.[1] Due to Hillcrest's grid street pattern and relatively high population density, pedestrian activity is relatively high.

Hillcrest is the residential and commercial hub of San Diego's gay and lesbian community. Most gay bars in San Diego are located in Hillcrest and surrounding neighborhoods. The LGBT community center ("The Center") is also based in this neighborhood.

The Hillcrest Association, a business improvement organization, and Uptown Planners, an organization representing residents interested in planning issues, work to make Hillcrest attractive for shoppers and residents.

Geography

Hillcrest is an older neighborhood going through gentrification, which is mostly residential with a large amount of retail and features tree-lined streets, traditional homes, and apartments. The neighborhood is bound by Mission Hills to the northwest, Bankers Hill and Balboa Park to the south, and University Heights and North Park to the east. A large ridge overlooking San Diego Bay borders the neighborhood to the west.

Nearby Balboa Park provides recreational and cultural opportunities to Hillcrest residents, as does the neighborhood's proximity to Downtown San Diego. Hillcrest and Mission Hills are home to Scripps Mercy Hospital and the UCSD Medical Center.

Hillcrest is part of the Uptown community, which consists of the neighborhoods of Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Park West and University Heights west of Park Boulevard.

History

Initially, Hillcrest was a chaparral-covered mesa. Kumeyaay Indians inhabited numerous villages scattered throughout the San Diego region. Spanish colonization brought the first of twenty-nine California missions with the founding of the nearby San Diego Mission. Presidio Park in Mission Hills, and Old Town just down the hill, are a treasure trove of San Diego history.

In 1870, Mary Kearney obtained a deed from the city for the land that eventually became Hillcrest. In 1871 C. D. Arnold and D. Choate, two real estate developers, obtained that property. George Hill, a wealthy railroad tycoon, then purchased the land. Real estate development began in 1910 and the area was built out by 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s Hillcrest was considered a suburban shopping area for downtown San Diego.

In 1940 the "HILLCREST" lighted sign at the intersection of University and Fifth Avenue was first erected, then later restored in 1977 and rebuilt in 1987. After World War II, Hillcrest was left with an aging infrastructure and population, but by the 1970s gays and lesbians began to settle in Hillcrest and revitalize the community.

The Hillcrest Town Council is an organization of local residents that was formed in 2007. The group of renters and owners meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Joyce Beers Community Center in the Uptown District. Their mission statement is “To provide a voice & enhance the quality of life for Hillcrest renters & homeowners while supporting actions that benefit our neighborhood.”

On August 2, 2007, a 100th birthday cake was served to the public, marking Hillcrest’s first one hundred years; there were Hillcrest Centennial events throughout the year.

Transportation in Hillcrest

Hillcrest is a walkable neighborhood with many of the cafés, restaurants 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, Hillcrest has easy access to freeways, beaches and the downtown area.

Hillcrest is served by State Route 163 at the University Avenue, Washington Street and Robinson Avenue exits. University Avenue and Washington Street are the major east-west thoroughfares in Hillcrest; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Avenues connect Hillcrest to Downtown San Diego through Park West and Bankers Hill.

There is substantial bus service connecting to Downtown as well as to the Mission Valley trolley stops because of the presence of the University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard transit corridors, the two busiest in the metro region.

Events in Hillcrest

San Diego Gay Pride is an annual celebration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Festivities take place the second to the last weekend in July; there is a Gay Pride parade, then a two-day festival in Balboa Park. The route of the annual Pride Parade runs through University Avenue to Sixth Avenue, ending at the west entrance to Balboa Park. San Diego Gay Pride is considered to be the largest civic event in the city of San Diego.

Hillcrest "CityFest" is an annual street festival which features food, live entertainment, a beer garden and street vendors. This event takes place annually in August.

Other regular events in Hillcrest include a weekly farmers market, Book Fair and Mardi Gras.

Mission Hills

Mission Hills is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located on hills just south of the San Diego River valley and north of downtown San Diego, overlooking Old Town and San Diego Bay. It was subdivided on January 20, 1908 as a smaller portion of what is now referred to as Mission Hills. The City of San Diego describes Mission Hills a being the area north of Horton Avenue, South of Mission Valley, West of Goldfinch Streer and Reynard Way, and East of the Old Town community area. Mission Hills is part of the 92103 zip code area.

The area is primarily residential, with some small shops and restaurants. The area was developed in the early 20th century and most of the houses are still from that era, often carefully preserved and restored. Homes there were also often designed by San Diego’s premier architects including William Hebbard, William Templeton Johnson, Emmor Brooke Weaver, Nathan Rigdon, Richard Requa, and Joel E. Brown. Master Builders such as the Pacific Building Company, Morris B. Irvin, and Martin V. Melhorn contributed by building in the vernacular architecture.

Modern homes were built along canyon rims as infill during the 1950s and 1960s by modern masters such as Lloyd Ruocco, Homer Delawie, John Lloyd Wright and Sim Bruce Richards, among others. Ironically, San Diego's most famous architect, Irving Gill never built in Mission Hills as by the time this area was being developed he was mainly working in Los Angeles county.

The famous horticulturalist Kate Sessions helped to influence development in Mission Hills. She founded the Mission Hills Nursery, which is still an active business (since 1910).

Several public, private, and religious schools are located in Mission Hills. The best known is the “lower school” campus of the private Francis Parker School, founded in 1912. This school was run on Progressive ideals by William Templeton Johnson and his wife Clara. Mr. Johnson designed the original school building and his wife ran the school.

Library
925 West Washington Street, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-692-4910) Map

Library
4193 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-692-4912) Map

Post Office
3911 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
(800-275-8777) Map

Police
1040 University Avenue, Suite B-205, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-299-7028) Map

Fire
725 West Kalmia Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Map

Fire
3902 9th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
Map

Fire
3974 Goldfinch Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Map

Birney Elementary School (K-6)
4345 Campus Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-293-4400) Map - Website

Florence Elementary School (K-6)
3914 1st Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-293-4440) Map

Grant Elementary School (K-6)
1425 Washington Place, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-293-4420) Map - Website

Museum Charter School (K-6)
211 Maple Street, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-236-8712) Map - Website

San Diego Coop Charter School (K-8)
2850 6th Avenue, Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-574-0694) Map

Roosevelt Middle School (4-8/7-8)
3366 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-293-4450) Map - Website

A L B A Community Day School (Alternative Education)
3760 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103
(619-287-8395) Map

San Diego City Website
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Hillcrest, Mission Hills Demographic Profile - Fact Sheet
Hillcrest, Mission Hills Demographic Profile - Map

Hillcrest, Mission Hills Weather - NOAA
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Hillcrest, Mission Hills Homes For Sale
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Hillcrest, Mission Hills Multi-Family Properties For Sale
Hillcrest, Mission Hills Rentals

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City of San Diego Community Profile - Uptown
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City of San Diego Neighborhood Maps - Western Neighborhood
Hillcrest Town Council
San Diego County Business Directory - City of San Diego
San Diego Unified School District
Wikipedia - Hillcrest, San Diego, California
Wikipedia - Mission Hills, San Diego, California

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