Completed Projects/Issues - Roads & Infrastructure

View photos of pole removal ceremony

On September 30, 2002 the Del Mar Terrace Undergrounding project will commence. Councilman Scott Peters and community members will participate in the ceremonial lowering of the first pole. The celebration will take place at 1:00 pm at the intersection of Via Esperia and Via Aprilia.

Below is a brief history of the project as well as a poem written by Maura Harvey, a Del Mar Terrace resident.

History of the Assessment District

Del Mar Terrace is an older neighborhood of San Diego, laid out in 1913. This beautiful neighborhood is nestled on the hills just North of Los Penasquiots Lagoon and Torrey Pines Reserve.

The movement to convert overhead utilities to an underground service began inearnest in 1995. A successful street-paving project had been completed, but did not include removing the clutter of poles and wires from this scenic San Diego neighborhood. Challenged by the prospect of bringing their neighborhood up-to-date with the newer communities surrounding them, the residents of Del Mar Terrace began a series of meetings with representatives of the various utilities. Stalled by price issues and the threat of an added Federal CIAC tax, the community sought help from, first, U. S. Congressman Randy Cunningham regarding the Federal Tax issues and then, the City of San Diego. With the full support of District 1 Council Member Harry Mathis, and his successor Councilman Scott Peters the City of San Diego came to the aid of the Del Mar Terrace. San Diego City Engineer and Director of Capital Projects, Frank Belock took charge of the project, successfully handling negotiations with SDG&E, Pacific Bell and Time Warner.

Two successful neighborhood petitions culminated with the San Diego City Council vote, June 1, 1999, to create the first neighborhood initiated assessment district for the conversion of overhead utilities. Over 150 homes in the Del Mar Terrace were assessed to underground the utilities in the public right of way. Each homeowner was responsible for additional costs to convert overhead utilities from their home to the street. Trenching began in December 2000.

The undergrounding program will enhance the beauty of this neighborhood by removing overhead wires from view corridors. The project will also bring this older community up to the undergrounding standards of newer communities in the area. The Community looks forward to the first pole being removed on the 30th and Councilman Peters invites everyone to attend the event.

Read a poem about the project (PDF: 67K) written by Del Mar Terrace Resident Maura Harvey