Road Closures and Redirecting Vehicular Traffic
The Impact To Mission Hills and Hillcrest Businesses and Residents
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Some business owners who I reached out to have said they heard of the plan, but “never in their wildest dreams did they think this would happen. It doesn’t make sense.”
One of the major bike corridor elements being proposed is to close off a section of University Avenue, and redirecting traffic to Washington Street. Residents south of Washington Street and University Avenue have been meeting to discuss how this came about and what they can do to change this plan.
Recently, I attended a meeting that included Janet O’Dea of Powers Plumbing (Mission Hills resident and business owner), Kimberly Edwards and Carol Wilson (South Mission Hills residents), Uptown Planners board members: Bob Daniel (Mission Hills resident) and Jennifer Pesqueira (Mission Hills business owner). Also present was Andy Pendoley, project manager with MIG, a consulting firm for SANDAG.
During the meeting, Andy Pendoley announced that he is a community outreach consultant for the project and was present to explain the bike corridor plan. After showing very detailed renderings and a formal presentation, the individuals identified above asked about modifying the plan based on community input. Pendoley said that the communities impacted had been notified and that organizations representing said communities had offered their input and support.
Both Bob Daniel and Jennifer Pesqueira stated that the Uptown Planners had not endorsed the plan and had asked for further studies.
The other organizations Pendoley referred to were the Mission Hills BID, Mission Hills Heritage and Mission Hills Town Council. All of us present at this meeting said we were not aware of any endorsement by these organizations.
Previously I spoke to Barry Hager, board chair for Mission Hills Heritage (MHH), regarding the bike corridor. He informed me that the MHH had asked for more studies and had not given their endorsement.
In a conversation with Trish Watlington, president of the Mission Hills BID, she said that the board proposed a bike path on Washington Street and to not close University Avenue. They were also interested in a further study.
In a conversation with Leo Wilson, administrator for the Metro San Diego Community Development Corporation, they are opposed to numerous elements of the bike corridor proposal and are preparing an alternative plan to be presented to SANDAG, Councilman Todd Gloria, Mayor Faulconer and the City Council.
At this time, the only organization to endorse the plan is the Mission Hills Town Council (MHTC). We have learned that only ten people were present at the time the vote took place and they appear to support the “engineering aspect” of the plan. However, on its website, there is a statement in support of the plan: Work with SANDAG/City of San Diego to encourage early implementation of the proposed University Avenue Uptown Bike Corridor.
What seriously concerns me about the message by the MHTC is that the residents in Mission Hills weren’t polled for their input. And, I ask, why didn’t this occur? Ten votes at a meeting doesn’t represent the “voice of Mission Hills.”
When I was a trustee for the MHTC we polled the community about street lights before we moved forward to install them. This is much more impactful and can seriously affect the quality of life in Mission Hills (north and south).
With the exception of the Mission Hills Town Council, all of the other organizations have stated, “It’s time to step back and do some very important studies to determine the impact to the communities (business and residential) that the proposed bike corridor plan proposes.”
SANDAG is planning a community meeting on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Time and location is still being confirmed. I encourage you to attend this meeting and provide your feedback.
To learn more and offer your comments, visit www.presidiosentinel.com.
Category: Local News
I am very much in favor of the sandag proposal and businesses in the area should be too. It’s a little too far for me to walk to Hillcrest frequently and just try parking there at dinner time. Businesses I love and would visit about six times more often if biking were safer along University include Arrivederci, Bread & Cie, Khyber Pass, and many others nearby. Now sadly I end up driving down to Sports Arena/Midway instead.
Sadly, I think you’ll still be driving to Sports Arena/Midway. Current projections are that University will lose 90 parking spaces to make way for the bike lanes. 4th and 5th Ave will lose another 50 spaces. By the time you ride your bike to Hillcrest, I suspect most of those restaurants will have gone out of business.
No, you don’t get it. I’ll go to Hillcrest more, not less. Your suspicions about urban businesses depending on car parking are common but not supported by experience from cities where similar projects have boosted small businesses and improved quality of life.
Bob, the 90 spaces was an initial estimate, without any mitigation. A new plan (the “Jim Frost” plan, or “Transform Hillcrest”) that preserved parking was agreed upon by all community groups in Hillcrest last year.
There have been over 100 free evening spaces added in Hillcrest at the DMV.
Not one space has been removed, yet many Hillcrest businesses have gone out of business recently. Meanwhile other neighborhoods thrive without adding parking. Why drive to Hillcrest when you can enjoy great amenities in your own neighborhoods?
My suggestion is to promote new housing in Hillcrest so there’s more (young) locals to support the businesses. This is what North Park and Little Italy are doing. Instead, many existing residents in Hillcrest oppose any new housing because of parking and traffic concerns – when these are actually signs of a thriving neighborhood.
Planning for the SANDAG bike corridor began in December 2012, and Leo Wilson sent Uptown Planners representatives to the community advisory group meetings (https://www.keepsandiegomoving.com/RegionalBikeProjects/uptown_CAG.aspx). Now, 2+ years later, the person suing the city to remove bike lanes is presenting an alternative plan?
Where is the community input on this plan?
You object to the public process that created the SANDAG bike corridor, yet endorse Leo Wilson working behind the scenes with Mission Hills representatives for some mysterious alternative plan. I’m sorry, but a select group of wealthy, powerful and connected people don’t get to decide for everyone else.
Amen to that Paul Jamason and John Saunders! You understand what can and would make our community a more quality, quaint community.
Congratulations to those that selfishly continue to delay any bike/ped lanes as well as impede a reduction of ugly traffic, congestion and mountains of cars in our community. You really should be ashamed. Maybe when my kids have children, and all those “self-serving, entitled Mission Hills residents and certain “big mouth” power hungry attorneys will be gone and can no longer delay something as lovely as bike/ped lanes!!
The Sentinel is nothing but a “mouth piece” from a select group of Mission Hills residents (ie, the editor) who dwell in their nice mansions and somehow think that they, “the elite” are entitled to all that is Mission Hills and Hillcrest….and that they soley can decide for all…when was the last time any of you who are grossly delaying bike/ped lanes, climbed on a bike or taken a stroll down Washington or University….of course…how silly of me…why should you when you can drive your fancy car and expect that a parking spot will be waiting there just for you….!
Open your eyes and look around…this community is suffering from too many cars…no bike or pedestrian lanes… and a critical lack of safety for bikers and pedestrians and just plain ugliness. It lacks a sense of quaintness that comes from being a bike/walking, pedestrian friendly commmunity.
Furthermore, suing the city over bike lanes makes me sick….but it does confirm why attorney’s have a shoddy reputation of being manipulative, selfish blood-suckers.
To the editor: your “anti bike lane group” is “guilty by association” (recall one of your so called “members” is this attorney I speak of).
Additionally, to Ms. Editor of The Sentinel..I found your recent article disingenuous…with regard to the last two issues of the sentinel: your first article complained about “not knowing anything about the bike lane plans??”…yet your second article raged about how proud you are to be a “member of the keep university open” group and how against you are to plans for bike lanes and traffic reduction of certain streets. How exactly are you “taking the high road”? Hmmmm….? Reading both your articles side by side…well a bit duplicitous..don’t you think. Walter Chambers also noticed this “hypocrisy” is your articles.
There are many communities that have managed to create bike/ped lanes for their residents, and as a result are lovely communities..examples: Davis, CA, Palo Alto, CA.. even San Francisco beats out San Diego. As a matter of fact, sadly, San Diego doesn’t even make lists! Thanks to self-serving interest groups like yourself…I hope you are proud of yourselves….how troubling this all is!
As for business owners that are apparently enraged over bike lanes and convinced that their business would suffer from lack of off-street parking….this is absurd!!…the minimal parking off street would hardly effect the parking! Besides they are talking of putting more spaces in! I would think that business would improve…communities that are walking/biking inspired have buinesses that flourish…what do you think is going to happen?…we give people a nice place to ride and walk, reduce traffic congestion, and suddenly your business will suffer? How do you figure?
I personally refuse to drive or walk down University or Washington (an ugly street by any standard…in it’s current state) for pleasure or business!!…if both were a more pleasant/safe/enjoyable/esthetically pleasing place to ride/walk…you bet I would, and I would take my whole family…and how lovely it would be…we would actually go there to eat at one of the many restaurants…where now…you won’t find us anywhere near there…ever!…it’s too dangerous to bike…too ugly to walk… and too congested to drive!
As long as both our main streets: (Washington and University) remain as they are; Mission Hills and Hillcrest will remain the mediocre community that it is…
I would like to point out that we’re not opposed to bike lanes or bicyclists. I used to represent Bell Helmets because I logged upward of 200 miles a week and was a very accomplished bicyclist. You also don’t know me personally nor professionally. So please don’t make assumptions that you can’t qualify or confirm. I would love to have a conversation with you face-to-face so that you learn who I am and what I represent. Your anger is unhealthy and damaging to your cause. We’re attempting to find a logical and rational process to this effort. Your bully tactics are very unbecoming.
Patty
With all due respect….just because I do not agree with your “groups” approach or delay tactics for bike lanes, does not qualify me as angry. Nor am I unhealthy.
As far as the “bully thing” and “unbecoming”…very funny…I guess anyone that disagrees with you and states their opinion is an “unbecoming bully”?
If you are not opposed to bike lanes or bicyclist why in heavens name are you “so proactively” delaying ANY PROGRESS on bike lanes? Why are you cohorts with an attorney who is currently suing the city over bike lanes? I don’t get it.
I’ll tell you what’s unbecoming…that attorney suing the city…over bike lanes!
There is an old saying…If you are going to dish it, then you should be able to take it.”
Listen, how long do you and your “groups” want to delay what would be a great thing for our community? Meetings and more meetings…suing the city….etc…etc…None of us are getting any younger…since 2012 this has been in the works…it is now 2015…and as long as there are groups and individuals like yourself that continue to delay any progress…neither of us will be around to enjoy the improved community.
Congrats on being an accomplished bicyclist…but that does not disallow my opinion…or make you a “better” person than anyone else… by golly, I am even more surprised that you are a part of “groups” “digging your heals in” to delay bike lanes.
One would have to have been living in a cave not to have known about the Uptown Bike Corridor project. The public vetting process has been going on for 3 years. It has been discussed at the Uptown Planners, Mission Hills Town Council, Mission Hills BID, Hillcrest BID, Hillcrest Town Council, as well as numerous articles in local newspapers and Voice of San Diego. If you have managed not to participate in any of these community meetings, or read a newspaper, your sudden “interest” in the community is highly suspect. Ignorance does not now give you the right to cry foul.