Economic Development | City of San Diego

Project Areas

For 15 years, the City of San Diego's Neighborhood Revitalization Team has worked closely with various community groups and other City departments to enhance and improve commercial areas and other neighborhood public spaces in older San Diego communities. These projects help beautify neighborhood commercial districts and attract new businesses and customers to benefit the surrounding communities and the City as a whole.

City Heights El Cajon Boulevard - North Park

Golden Hill Hillcrest

Kensington/Normal Heights Linda Vista

Mission Hills North Park

North Ocean Beach Ocean Beach

Otay Mesa/Nestor Pacific Beach

San Ysidro Talmadge

University Heights

City Heights

Communities in City Heights have benefited from enhancements of over $3 million in streetscape improvements along El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue from I-805 to 54th Street including street trees, flowering ground covers, automatic irrigation and pedestrian lighting. Continuing projects include transit plaza improvements adjacent to the Interstate 15 corridor. Proposed upgrades will add pedestrian friendly amenities and community beautification improvements such as, community identification signage and public art, patio tables and shading, and public restrooms to the bridge decks over I-15 at University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard.

El Cajon Boulevard in North Park

Since the installation of "The Boulevard" sign at Park and El Cajon in 1988, the City has been collaborating with the El Cajon Business Improvement Association and the North Park Lighting and Landscape District to improve the medians and sidewalks on El Cajon Boulevard. All of the medians except those from Texas to 30th Street have been enhanced with jacaranda theme trees, birds of paradise and purple flowering lantana and surrounded with sandy colored stamped concrete maintenance walks. Many of the older eucalyptus trees in the sidewalks have been replaced and a number of double-globed antique pedestrian lights have been installed. Sidewalks have been replaced intermittently where needed. The median improvements between Texas and 30th have been designed and an application has been submitted for funding to construct these 7 blocks of enhancements, which will match the surrounding medians.

Golden Hill

Golden Hill is one of the City's oldest neighborhoods. What was once a deteriorating community is now being brought to life with a variety of revitalization projects. The 10 blocks of Fern Street between A and Juniper streets were upgraded with the installation of 80 ornamental streetlights and irrigated street trees. Sidewalk improvements have been completed on several streets. The 2002 Walkable Community grant will bring new improvements to 25th Street and CalTrans over Highway 94 and will be complete by June 2003.

Hillcrest

Revitalization in Hillcrest has focused on three main thoroughfares: Washington Street, Fifth Avenue between University and Robinson avenues, and University Avenue between Vermont and Normal streets. Sidewalk improvements from 10th Avenue to the Corner of Normal Street will commence in May of this year. Improvements will include diagonal parking and two new "pop-outs" along the sidewalk to allow for greater pedestrian usage.

Kensington/Normal Heights

Adams Avenue has been the site of major revitalization projects including storefront improvements, new sidewalks, decorative streetlights, street fair facilities, public art banners, and landscaping. A small sidewalk improvement project will begin in early 2003 on the south side of Adams Avenue, from 32nd Street to Bancroft Street.

Linda Vista

A coordinated hardscape and landscaping project has been completed in front of Mark Twain High School on Linda Vista Road. Also, the road's median was landscaped with irrigated trees and scrubs to enhance the entrance into the center of the community. The Southside of Genesee Avenue has had street landscaping and pedestrian lights installed. The City has also purchased the southeast corner lot at Comstock and Ulric for future beautification.

Mission Hills

Efforts to assure the continuation of streetscape embellishments and public improvements have beautified, Washington Street, the neighborhood's main thoroughfare and adjacent streets with the addition of over 100 jacaranda trees. Median improvements between Dove and Albatross have added fern pines, fan palms, colorful ground covers, rose colored stamped concrete borders and a grouping of bird shaped art pieces called "Flight/Alight".

Currently under design are improvements in the intersection of Washington and Goldfinch, which will enhance the area's walkability in the small retail business district. The intersection will see new pedestrian-friendly pop outs, enhanced crosswalks and theme street trees to call attention to the commercial entryway.

North Park

Focusing on University Avenue, numerous innovative and unique design features have been made, such as the North Park community sign, irrigated landscaping; new sidewalks, curbs and gutters with inlaid tiles; pedestrian plaza "pop-out" areas; lighted umbrella canopies; tiled bus stop seating; and multicolored sidewalk art panels displaying photos and historical information. Other improvements in the works along University Avenue include reconstructed decorative sidewalks between 30th and Ohio streets, and a major art and landscaping project at University and Boundary streets. Two grants have been received by North Park Main Street for revitalization improvements on University Avenue between Park Boulevard and Highway 805. The completed plan will be the basis for construction documents on an additional CalTrans grant.

North Ocean Beach

Since the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) adopted its North Ocean Beach Master Plan in 1999, the City has installed over 200 street trees on Voltaire, Sunset Cliffs and Bacon streets, all of which are being maintained by volunteers and a paid gardener in the community. In order to further enhance the lower Voltaire Street business corridor, a community paint-out was held and existing drab gray pedestrian light poles were colored with theme hues of blue, sand and lavender. Additionally, bike racks and trash receptacles were installed on Voltaire and a small triangular median island on Bacon and West Point Loma received a dark sandy colored "street print" treatment.

In 2002, the City purchased the Anthony's Pizza site at the northwest corner of Sunset Cliffs and West Point Loma boulevards in collaboration with the OBCDC. The site is being turned over to the Parks and Recreation Department for development of the parcel as a community gateway plaza after the now vacant building is demolished. Additionally, the adjacent Sunset Cliffs Boulevard will be widened for improved traffic circulation and safety under the direction of the Engineering and Capitol Projects Department.

Ocean Beach

Neighborhood Revitalization has coordinated with community groups to enhance the Newport Avenue business area by painting the planters and installing 61 guardrails, installing 57 new concrete trash and ash receptacles, and planting 30 Mexican fan palms on Bacon and Cable streets and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Four storefront improvements projects are underway. Plans have been developed for pedestrian enhancements and improvements to the surface drainage. Previous projects include the Veterans Memorial Project and other improvements at Newport Avenue and Abbot Street. The project includes infrastructure repair and installation of decorative concrete, flagpoles, a boulder with a plaque, and accented lighting. Festive, sculptural signs have also been installed in several community locations.

Otay Mesa/Nestor

Over the past two years the City and Caltrans have coordinated efforts to improve Palm Avenue between the I-5 Freeway and the Imperial Beach city limit with a series of safety, infrastructure and aesthetic improvements. The center medians have been improved by lengthening turn lanes and installing trees, flowering shrubs and groundcover, an automatic irrigation system and vinyl-coated security fencing. In addition new curbs, sidewalks, bus stops and pedestrian ramps have been installed. Although the street is a State designated highway (State Route 75) the City of San Diego has agreed to take on ongoing maintenance of the median improvements through its Park and Recreation Department Open Space Program.

Pacific Beach

An "ocean life" themed streetscape improvement plan was developed in collaboration with design consultants and Discover Pacific Beach (the area's business improvement association) in 1998. Since then, enhancements have included: 250 street trees installed on the main commercial corridors, a colorful "street print" crosswalk at the intersection of Cass Street and Garnet Avenue, blue benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and metal icons in the shapes of tuna fish and star fish mounted on light poles. Two monuments shaped like ocean waves furnish Pacific Beach's entryway at Bluffside and Mission Bay Drive and at Grand and Figueroa. Dolphin-shaped light pole icons line Mission Bay Drive.

Median improvements to the southern entryway of Pacific Beach on Grand Avenue will sparkle between Mission Bay Drive and Figueroa with mica enhanced concrete surfacing, salt and wind resistant multi trunk trees, and undulating rows of colorful ground covers. Additionally, transit riders will benefit from a new pedestrian activated traffic signal and crosswalk to make a safe crossing across Grand at Figueroa.

San Ysidro

The Sidewalk Improvement Project will add new sidewalks, curb and gutters, streetlights, street furniture and street trees on West San Ysidro Boulevard, between Cottonwood and Via de San Ysidro. The Property Based Assessment District Project is forming a Commercial Revitalization District to help beautify the streetscape along East and West San Ysidro Boulevard including improved sidewalk and gutter cleaning, enhanced trash collection, landscape maintenance and additional street lighting. Recently, decorative walkways, fencing, driveways, landscaping, street paving, and public art were installed along Sellsway Street and Cypress Way improving the appearance of the area.

Talmadge

After a Maintenance Assessment District was formed in the Talmadge community in 2000 and property owners were assessed for capital projects, three projects have begun construction or are in construction document preparation. Improvements to the intersection of Adams Avenue and 49th Streets have brought an irrigation system and landscaping to the traffic circle. Additionally, eight historic entry gates have begun restoration and engineering documents are in preparation outlining upgrades to existing streetlights and the addition of single globe pedestrian streetlights. The Talmadge Beautification Committee, by City Council action, has taken on active construction oversight responsibilities for these projects.

University Heights

The Neon University Heights community sign spanning Park Boulevard and the numerous stone community markers have improved University Heights' identity and instills community pride among residents and business owners. The University Heights sign received a 1998 Orchid award from the Architects Institute of America, San Diego chapter. Continuing improvements include an enhanced entrance to Alice Birney Elementary School on Park Boulevard, and additional sidewalk repairs, streetlight installation, and tree plantings.

For more information on the City's Neighborhood Revitalization efforts through the Community and Economic Development Department, contact (619) 533-4233 or email sdbusiness@sandiego.gov.