Hillcrest

hillcrestsign2Where: Bound by Washington and Laurel and by Park Boulevard and First Avenue, Hillcrest is just north of downtown located in the uptown district. As San Diego’s first suburb, erected by residents of bankers and bureaucrats, Hillcrest’s flavor changed as it was transformed into a bohemian alternative venue and has since grown increasingly upscale. It is especially known for its tolerance, youthfulness, “alternative” culture, diversity of age and income.

kemosabeWhat: Hillcrest’s streets are lined with award-winning restaurants, trendy cafes, and a diverse population of bookstores, antique shops, boutiques, galleries, and over-the-top markets. Some of the more notable attractions include Whole Foods, Bronx Pizza, Farmer’s Market, Uncle Biff’s, Bread & Cie, Kemo Sabe, Trader Joe’s and a great Ace Hardware. Pedestrian activity is high relative to the rest of San Diego.

university-avenue-and-sixth-street-in-hillcrest-1928-2History: Initially, Hillcrest was a chaparral-covered mesa. Kumeyaay Indians inhabited numerous villages scattered throughout the San Diego region. Spanish colonization brought the first of twenty-nine California missions with the founding of the nearby San Diego Mission. Presidio Park in Mission Hills, and Old Town just down the hill, are a treasure trove of San Diego history. The photo on the left was taken in 1928 on the corner of University & Sixth. More photos of old San Diego can be found at The San Diego Historical Society website.

During the early 1900s, few walks of life inhabited this area so close to downtown San Diego. Folks needed a horse-drawn carriage to make it up a steep grade not reachable by streetcars. But late in the summer of 1906, William Wesley Whitson received a juicy business tip from his sister-in-law, Laura Anderson. Secretary at a law firm, Anderson heard that the George Hill estate-a 40-acre hilly tract just north of downtown-could be bought for a mere $115,000. The price was a bargain; an adjoining land parcel had recently sold for half a million dollars.

Whitson rounded up money from friends and relatives, sold shares in his proposed “Hillcrest Company” and raised $100,000 from banks. A deed to the Hillcrest Company was recorded August 2, 1907, and Whitson was in business.
At first, the neighborhood was sparsely settled. St. Joseph’s Hospital was at Sixth Avenue and University. A couple of one-story houses were a few blocks away. About half-dozen businesses were scattered to the east. Whitson’s real estate office was at Fifth and University; the Union Bank is there now. He set about selling blocks of land, in lot sizes averaging 50 by 135 feet. Prices ranged from a $2,500 tract on Second Avenue to $10,000 for the lot on Fifth where the Corvette Diner is located.

By 1920, Hillcrest had become San Diego’s first suburb. The Hillcrest Association was founded in 1921. Beginning with only a handful of retailers, the association’s membership grew to 160 by 1957. In 1984, with city council approval, the association formed a Business Improvement District. Membership rocketed to 1,000, and a new era of business expansion began.

At least 43 houses were built by the Hillcrest Company within the original subdivision. Of that number, 17 still exist, and eight-most in the 3900 and 4000 blocks of Third Avenue-have survived with virtually no alterations.
In 1940 the “HILLCREST” lighted sign at the intersection of University and Fifth Avenue was first erected. It was a gift from the Women’s Business Association of Hillcrest. It was then later restored in 1977 and rebuilt in 1987. After World War II, Hillcrest was left with an aging infrastructure and population, but by the 1970s gays and lesbians began to settle in Hillcrest and revitalize the community.

hillcrestvillageArchitecture: There is one word to sum up the architecture of Hillcrest: eclectic. It Includes a wide range of styles from older Victorians mixed in with newer apartments and condominiums. Part of the newer construction includes the Uptown District, a 14-acre complex with mixed retail and residential completed in 1989, the Cable Lofts and the 80 unit Egyptian on Park Blvd. Village Hillcrest, a shopping plaza with under 800 underground parking places allows not only a neighborhood retail outlets but new living spaces as well. The area has gone through several economic peaks and valley’s including a period where larger anchor stores were being opened such as THE GAP.

hillcrestpeople2Who: Approximately 36,000 people live within a 1-mile radius of University and Highway 163. The 1990 Census figures show that within Hillcrest’s central business area-a tract between Front Street and Park Boulevard stretching from University to Upas Street-the median age is 39; roughly 37 percent have college degrees; and nearly 10 times as many residents rent as own homes.