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How high can Bankers Hill go?
The agreed upon 150' height limit in Bankers Hill respects sunlight in Balboa Park and the neighborhood in general. It has proven to look and feel right for the community. And that agreement has led to respectful discussions about future projects that focus on minor issues like the size of retail spaces. St Paul's greedy decision to ignore that and use the excuse of providing housing when they are really creating offices for themselves, luxury rentals and a glamorous penthouse party pad for the residents (and I assume St Paul's too) is just plain wrong. Its an insult to the community and Balboa Park forever.— July 18, 2018 10:53 a.m.
Faulconer vacation rentals voted down —UPDATED
So, City Council just legalized the potential for for every residence in the city to be rented as a STVR for half the year, where as before it was technically illegal to rent any residence at all as a STVR. That should satisfy the Coastal Commissions desire to provide accommodations. And regarding Belinda Smith's ridiculous and simplistic comment that this is a loss for property rights, would she feel the same way if the City shut down an auto body shop in the house next to her STVR property: a huge loss for property rights? What the City Council did on Monday was in fact expand the legal uses for residential properties, not limit them. But they also respected and understood the value of zoning to support stable and healthy communities.— July 18, 2018 8:58 a.m.
How high can Bankers Hill go?
Swell suggests in their post that providing 2 new affordable units in the project is shameful. I would agree with that, but add greedy. I would assume Rev. Andrew Rank suggests the building exterior is what the church is providing the city as a benefit because there isn't anything else. Certainly not meaningful affordable housing, not respect for the West Mesa of Balboa Park which will be shaded by the building, not adding any commercial spaces on 5th Ave to add to the vibrancy of Bankers Hill. And the lack of respect for the community by reopening a settled process that led to the scale and setbacks of the original permit is another aspect of their shamefulness. Does St Paul's feel adding 20' to the height of the building for a glamorous private party space and roof top pool for the residents (and maybe their board) benefit the community? If they felt this project was a gift to the community why did they feel they needed to hire the developer lobbyist who berated Hillcrest community members to benefit her Gateway clients? And of course a project would pencil out on that site at the 150' height the rest of Bankers Hill residential towers are respecting. Several other buildings were just built to that height and seemed to work out fine for the developers. And St Paul's can use the increased density to build a greater number of smaller units at the previously agreed upon height, which is what Bankers Hill needs more than expensive large apartments. Come on St Paul's, do right by your community.— July 17, 2018 10:26 p.m.
Nati's history is history
sad.— July 9, 2018 3:20 p.m.
A well-timed contribution of special interest
Don't we now need to find out if Airbnb etc has also contributed to our city council members? They are the ones who will be voting on it in a week. I pretty much have heard Chris Ward parrotting the Mayor's talking points on it so far. Lots of talking point nonsense like needing to find a compromise, that even though there are well over 10,000 STVR in San Diego there are no studies showing that affects housing (even though they now give the moon to developers to a single affordable unit in a project), the need to protect incomes of people who decided to open illegal hotels in residential neighborhoods, STVR help the economy therefore its worth destroying neighborhoods. I actually think Kevin and other developer friendly council members like Ward are allowing STVR to exist and grow (as they would under the proposed plan) to exacerbate the housing crisis to then use that as an excuse for supporting developer giveaways.— July 8, 2018 7:15 a.m.
Why vacancies in Hillcrest?
I haven't read it in a while, but the Secretary of the Interior's description of historic districts is pretty interesting. Its very clear new development should look like its just that, new, but is also respectful to what's around it.— June 1, 2018 5:48 p.m.
Why vacancies in Hillcrest?
My understanding has always been that historic buildings are different than historic districts. Of course historic districts have historic buildings, but its more an issue of a character unique to that location, usually having to do with a vernacular quality. What being a historic district would do is require development to acknowledge Hillcrest is both a typical and a unique example of how San Diego was built a hundred years ago, and eventually became the center of the LGBT community. That wouldn't mean everything should or would be preserved, and density shouldn't be added, but the quality that is already there would be used as a template for moving forward. Quite frankly this is how mature and wise cities allow their built world to evolve and expand. And yes, both buildings that were Pernicano's long ago have some value that is worth having a respectful and intelligent discussion about, which again doesn't mean they should be preserved as museum pieces. The eclecticism and variation that buildings (and parts of buildings) from different eras add to the built world is invigorating, psychologically healthy and intellectually meaningful. The best way to make sure this happens is through reasonable historic preservation. I quite frankly think if the developers worked with the community to create Hillcrest historic district they would find an easier pathway to add new developments and density, and we would all end up with a better Hillcrest.— June 1, 2018 5:05 p.m.
Sara Jacobs, 29, runs for Congress
Ms Jacobs could well be an intelligent and well intentioned young woman. But there is just no replacement for experience. It seems that instead of "paying her dues" in politics by running for, and getting elected to, some sort of local office she seems to feel she can buy her way into not having pay her dues. I understand we live in a world where you can pay for people to wait in line for you, or pay to go back stage at a concert. I'm sure that Ms Jacobs has grew up accustomed to the access financial privilege allows you, and therefore feels like reality to her. But I am concerned there are just things you can only learn by being in the trenches and the fights of politics for a while. I would much prefer work to elect a Democrat to take over Issa's seat who isn't learning as much as she will need to learn about life and politics on the campaign and the job, at our expense. I hope she comes to understand this soon enough to not damage the Democrats chances of taking this seat.— March 1, 2018 6:29 p.m.
Proposed AIDS memorial for Olive Street
Secrecy seems to be the central theme of this tale. But given the idea of a community park and an AIDS memorial shouldn't be that controversial, its curious both city officials and the memorial task force are so secretive about everything associated with this situation. I think its important to realize the secrecy goes back to the city's initial attempt to sell the Truax house property quietly, even first listing it without the address, and stating the house had no historical value. It was only after the community found out about it did Todd Gloria acknowledge the importance of the house as LGBT landmark, even though he had been in it prior to listing it for sale. Furthermore, why did Gloria's office send a representative to the Bankers Hill community prior to the Truax house situation to announce the funding for the Olive Street Park was in place and the design would start soon, only to have the Mayor's office say, after the Aids Memorial plan was cooked up for Olive Street Park, that there was no funding for Olive Street Park until 2028, unless the community agreed to the Aids Memorial being there. This whole situation stinks in a petty political way like so many things in this city. Many of us in the community assume there was a well connected developer buyer in place for the very attractive parcel the Truax house sits on. But when Gloria was busted for again being willing to allow another LGBT landmark to be demolished (the Michels-Carey house was destroyed under his watch) he was facing another LGBT public relations disaster. So as Marty's article indicates, Gloria wanted to do more than avoid the problem he wanted to do something that could be perceived as a PR win. Even though at the time the community wanted to have input regarding the sale of the Truax property, Gloria instead denied that and rushed the process. Which is weird given it seems pretty clear none of the proceeds of the sale could be used by the City. And therein lies the the problem, at the core of this process is not respect for the community, whether the Bankers Hill community or those who correctly want an AIDS memorial for very serious and profound reasons. At the core of this process is a public relations stunt for Gloria and Faulconer. Until all those so intent on keeping the process a secret (and yes that includes the AIDS Memorial Task Force and why are they so concerned about the Brown Act?) this will be a dark situation.— October 24, 2017 9:17 p.m.
Albatross Street in Hillcrest loses its canyon
CaptainObvious: Invasive and criminal developers are also non-native. If only it was so easy to get rid of them as trees. Your simplistic and snarky comment seems to ignore the bullying and illegal tactics of a developer who is just doing creepy and harmful stuff to make money. Eucalyptus trees have been living in San Diego since the 19th century and provide perches for the hawks in the canyon and provide other beneficial qualities, like shade and carbon storage. They belong here as much as you do.— August 31, 2017 10:09 p.m.