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David Batterson

David has written hundreds of articles for various magazines, newspapers and websites over the years. He was formerly Associate Editor of Palm Springs Life magazine. He lives in North Park, and covers that hood regularly.

Articles by David Batterson

Resurrection of El Cajon Blvd.

North Park vibe spreads northWhile the renovated Lafayette Hotel on El Cajon Boulevard in University Heights has raised the bar, commercial properties nearby haven’t been so successful. Going west on El Cajon Boulevard from Louisiana …

September 4, 2023
North Park gets denser

Apartment construction in North Park sometimes pops up in unexpected places. Since there are no vacant lots, developers must buy an existing building. Then the building is demolished, and construction is scheduled. One example is …

March 14, 2022
Sherman Heights homes are selling, some for Airbnbs

As South Park/North Park and Mission Hills historic homes have become unaffordable, other areas are looking like a possible neighborhood. One such district is Sherman Heights, founded by rich businessman and former Mayor Matthew Sherman. …

Cathedral City, an artsy desert town you shouldn’t ignore

This is not another getaway to Palm Springs article. The Coachella Valley actually consists of nine cities, and Palm Springs is the best-known one. Indian Wells is where the very rich have second homes, including …

Will North Park Woolworth's ever be renovated?

Renovations of historic buildings often move at a snail’s pace. An example is the former Woolworth’s store in North Park, standing vacant for many years. Located at 3067-3075 University Avenue, its last tenant was a …

December 6, 2021
The revolving door of El Cajon Blvd.

New construction in North Park/University Heights has been expected for years now, and it’s now in full swing. Along central El Cajon Boulevard, from near 30th Street and beyond, the changes are beginning to reshape …

November 29, 2021
Pernicano's Hillcrest property goes to San Francisco group

Pernicano’s in Hillcrest was a popular eatery for years, especially for sports celebs. Colorful owner George Pernicano owned three percent of the San Diego Chargers (seven percent originally). His restaurant closed in 1985, and has …

November 1, 2021
San Diego's thrift stores teeter

Major nonprofit thrift stores in San Diego have been around for decades. Then along came Covid and took its toll. Two longtime San Diego Rescue Mission thrift stores (North Park and City Heights) closed down. …

Property astir on El Cajon Blvd.

Legendary El Cajon Boulevard has had a checkered past since its early days, when it was once the major East-West highway (CA 80) into San Diego. It consisted of car dealerships, motels, shops, and eateries …

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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
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