Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

San Diego's Uptown Planners challenged by renters from Vibrant Uptown

Two La Jolla planning groups fight for predominance

Uptown is a constellation of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex.
Uptown is a constellation of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex.

Many uptown inhabitants feel left out of community planning, which is now represented by Uptown Planners, a group whose voting members are mostly homeowners. 

The San Diego City Council’s land use and housing committee last week voted 4-0 to recognize the application of a new group, Vibrant Uptown, also known as the Uptown Community Planning Group, a majority of whose members are renters. 

Mission Hills


"I think having a balance between renters and homeowners is good. That's how the uptown community is configured," said Zach Farrell, a long-term renter in University Heights.

"In addition, I've seen the Uptown Planners group sort of arbitrarily delay a lot of housing projects."

Uptown, located just north of downtown, is a constellation of some of the city's most diverse neighborhoods — Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex — but diversity in both planning groups is still lacking.

University Heights


Both are majority white, and exceed the percentage of white residents for the overall community, city staff said. Uptown Planners don't report a single black voting member while Vibrant Uptown had only one when the application was submitted. Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and American Indian racial and ethnic groups make up about 31 percent of the uptown population — yet neither planning group reports any representation among them.

Only one member with two or more racial backgrounds sits on the Uptown board; Vibrant Uptown does not have any.

"We have to build the structures in our planning groups to make sure diversity thrives," said Ben Nichols of the Hillcrest Business Association, which supports Vibrant Uptown. "Hillcrest businesses are seeking clear representation for the neighborhoods of uptown," with residential and business seats that reflect each one's population. "Hillcrest makes up the largest part of uptown yet is consistently under-represented on the Uptown Planners."

Bankers Hill


Neighborhoods should vote for their own seats, he said, but often Hillcrest candidates "get swamped by a large voting bloc from another neighborhood."

Sponsored
Sponsored

Council policy states that planning groups should "to the greatest extent possible represent the entire community." Seats are open to eligible residents, nonprofits, business owners, homeowners, and renters. 

Uptown Planners have 15 undesignated seats and one appointed youth seat. Vibrant Uptown has 18 voting members with two non-voting seats representing large employers. The 18 voting member seats are designated — one property owner seat from each of the six neighborhoods; six renter seats; five business seats  and one non-profit.

When it comes to age, uptown's majority is 40-49 years — better represented by Vibrant Uptown whose members are mostly 30-39, while Uptown Planners fall into the 70-79 year age range, and have higher incomes. A small percentage of Vibrant Uptown members are in the low income category of $15,000-$20,000.

Middletown


The new group aims to build its outreach to be inclusive of the entire community, while the existing one is trying to revamp its image to combat low voter turnout.

Despite the 50,000 residents uptown, recent Uptown Planners  voter counts show a steep decline, from less than 500 in March 2023 to 235 in March 2024.

Mark Johnson, University Heights, a member of Uptown Planners, called the "proposed takeover of our community's  voice" undemocratic. Vibrant Uptown's ideas, based on numerous surveys and planning meetings, "are very contentious and unpopular."

La Jolla


In all, the city recognized 39 planning group applications, including the La Jolla Community Planners, an upstart group hoping to oust the existing La Jolla Community Planning Association. The rival proposal would increase the diversity of members, shorten board term limits, and focus on outreach and growing attendance. The city council in May will choose between the two rival and existing groups.

La Jolla district 1 councilman Joe LaCava helped jumpstart planning group reform in 2021.

Councilmember Whitburn, who made the motion to recognize Vibrant Uptown, said it would help ensure a voice for each neighborhood.

"The two proposed structures in front of us to represent uptown take a very different approach," he said. While the existing group calls for members to be elected at large, its rival calls for them to be elected by neighborhood — and guarantees each neighborhood two seats.

"One for a property owner and one for a renter."

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Change is constant in our fisheries

Yellowfin still biting well
Next Article

Economical freezer-filling rockfish trips

Long-range season begins with a bang
Uptown is a constellation of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex.
Uptown is a constellation of Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex.

Many uptown inhabitants feel left out of community planning, which is now represented by Uptown Planners, a group whose voting members are mostly homeowners. 

The San Diego City Council’s land use and housing committee last week voted 4-0 to recognize the application of a new group, Vibrant Uptown, also known as the Uptown Community Planning Group, a majority of whose members are renters. 

Mission Hills


"I think having a balance between renters and homeowners is good. That's how the uptown community is configured," said Zach Farrell, a long-term renter in University Heights.

"In addition, I've seen the Uptown Planners group sort of arbitrarily delay a lot of housing projects."

Uptown, located just north of downtown, is a constellation of some of the city's most diverse neighborhoods — Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex — but diversity in both planning groups is still lacking.

University Heights


Both are majority white, and exceed the percentage of white residents for the overall community, city staff said. Uptown Planners don't report a single black voting member while Vibrant Uptown had only one when the application was submitted. Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and American Indian racial and ethnic groups make up about 31 percent of the uptown population — yet neither planning group reports any representation among them.

Only one member with two or more racial backgrounds sits on the Uptown board; Vibrant Uptown does not have any.

"We have to build the structures in our planning groups to make sure diversity thrives," said Ben Nichols of the Hillcrest Business Association, which supports Vibrant Uptown. "Hillcrest businesses are seeking clear representation for the neighborhoods of uptown," with residential and business seats that reflect each one's population. "Hillcrest makes up the largest part of uptown yet is consistently under-represented on the Uptown Planners."

Bankers Hill


Neighborhoods should vote for their own seats, he said, but often Hillcrest candidates "get swamped by a large voting bloc from another neighborhood."

Sponsored
Sponsored

Council policy states that planning groups should "to the greatest extent possible represent the entire community." Seats are open to eligible residents, nonprofits, business owners, homeowners, and renters. 

Uptown Planners have 15 undesignated seats and one appointed youth seat. Vibrant Uptown has 18 voting members with two non-voting seats representing large employers. The 18 voting member seats are designated — one property owner seat from each of the six neighborhoods; six renter seats; five business seats  and one non-profit.

When it comes to age, uptown's majority is 40-49 years — better represented by Vibrant Uptown whose members are mostly 30-39, while Uptown Planners fall into the 70-79 year age range, and have higher incomes. A small percentage of Vibrant Uptown members are in the low income category of $15,000-$20,000.

Middletown


The new group aims to build its outreach to be inclusive of the entire community, while the existing one is trying to revamp its image to combat low voter turnout.

Despite the 50,000 residents uptown, recent Uptown Planners  voter counts show a steep decline, from less than 500 in March 2023 to 235 in March 2024.

Mark Johnson, University Heights, a member of Uptown Planners, called the "proposed takeover of our community's  voice" undemocratic. Vibrant Uptown's ideas, based on numerous surveys and planning meetings, "are very contentious and unpopular."

La Jolla


In all, the city recognized 39 planning group applications, including the La Jolla Community Planners, an upstart group hoping to oust the existing La Jolla Community Planning Association. The rival proposal would increase the diversity of members, shorten board term limits, and focus on outreach and growing attendance. The city council in May will choose between the two rival and existing groups.

La Jolla district 1 councilman Joe LaCava helped jumpstart planning group reform in 2021.

Councilmember Whitburn, who made the motion to recognize Vibrant Uptown, said it would help ensure a voice for each neighborhood.

"The two proposed structures in front of us to represent uptown take a very different approach," he said. While the existing group calls for members to be elected at large, its rival calls for them to be elected by neighborhood — and guarantees each neighborhood two seats.

"One for a property owner and one for a renter."

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

World Naan Festival, Central Valley Reptile Expo

Events November 16-November 20, 2024
Next Article

How a Childhood Car Crash Created San Diego's Most Tenacious Personal Injury Lawyer

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader