North Park Main Street’s Plans for 2011

The North Park Main Street design committee met on January 4 to discuss revitalization plans for 2011.

Amy Colony, assistant director of North Park Main Street, said, “Our main goal is to draw in businesses, retail and office, that operate during the day. Night activity is pretty healthy, so we want more daytime activity to balance it out.”

Colony said even in this economy, most property owners “are pretty well into investing money to improve their properties. They attract customers willing to spend more money.”

The nonprofit North Park Main Street is one of many San Diego business improvement districts (BID), a program of the City, the San Diego BID Council, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Though Colony admits North Park Main Street is “strapped for cash,” they did get a $50,000 government grant to install 25 metal tree grate frames along University Avenue, and construction has started on those.

Concerning movie and TV projects, Colony said it would be a “good opportunity” to work with the San Diego Film Commission. “In the commercial district quarter, we have so many amazing old buildings that we care very much about.”

One such property, the old JCPenney building at 3029 University Avenue, is being renovated for Wang's North Park, an Asian restaurant to be opened by Palm Springs restaurateurs.

Pictured: Amy Colony