University Heights, San Diego
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| University Heights | |
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| — Community of San Diego, California — | |
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 University Heights
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| Coordinates: 32°46′N 117°08′W / 32.76°N 117.14°WCoordinates: 32°46′N 117°08′W / 32.76°N 117.14°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Diego County |
| Zip Code | 92116 |
| Area Code | 619 |
University Heights is a neighborhood in Central San Diego, California centered around Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. The area is filled with a number of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and artist's studios primarily on Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. Live entertainment can be found most nights. Adjacent to Hillcrest and Normal Heights, additional restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and night clubs are within easy reach.
The neighborhood sits in a central San Diego location with a broad spectrum of housing options, from cottages, apartments and condominiums, to million-dollar homes. Downtown, Balboa Park, San Diego Airport, Mission Valley, San Diego State University (SDSU, or "state"), are only a few minutes away.
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[edit] History
The name "University" (both for the neighborhood and nearby University Avenue) derives from a plan, originally boosted during the land boom of the 1880s, to build a university in the area, to be located on a tract of land later used for the State Normal School (predecessor to San Diego State College). The headquarters of San Diego Unified School district currently occupies the site near the corner of El Cajon and Park Boulevards.
On the far northern edge of this mesa, at the scenic rim of Mission Valley, an ostrich farm and public garden spot was constructed near what is now the corner of Adams Avenue and Park Boulevard. The little neighborhood of homes subsequently built on the site is still called Mission Cliff Gardens and still sports the original garden boundary wall of rounded stones. The gardens were a popular tourist site.
In the 1910s, University Heights became one of the many San Diego neighborhoods connected by the Class 1 streetcars and an extensive San Diego public transit system that was spurred by the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 and built by John D. Spreckels. Built in part to exclusively serve Mission Cliff Gardens, these streetcars became a fixture of this neighborhood until their retirement in 1939.[1][unreliable source?]
[edit] Architecture and Historic Districts
Shirley Ann Place between Madison Ave. and Monroe Ave., has been designated a historic district by the City of San Diego for its 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival bungalows.[2][3]
[edit] Parks
Trolley Barn Park on Adams Avenue, just east of Park Boulevard, is popular with young families and hosts free concerts on Friday evenings during the summer. This park, as noted by its name, was the site of the "trolley barn" where trolley cars went for repairs and down time until the system was replaced by busses in the 1950s. Sidewalks around the playground in the park are laid out in a pattern mimicking the local street plan, a design also echoed on the carved stone plaque. The majority of the streets in the area are named after states and past Presidents.
[edit] Street Sign
In 1994 community development funds were allocated to construct a street overhead sign. In 1995 a contest was held calling for entries from local artists for the street sign design. Kevin Whaley's winning concept design was unveiled at the University Heights Community Association meeting. The design incorpoarted historical elemnts from the past and present within the community.
In 1996 the City of San Diego awarded the construction project to Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO). On April 3, 2007 the sign was unveiled and illuminated for the first time during a community celebration. The ribbon was cut by then Mayor Susan Golding and several dignitaries were on hand. The sign serves to day as a local landmark and identity for the University Heights community.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ The Home of the San Diego Historic Class 1Streetcars
- ^ University Heights Historical Society, "Once Upon A Time in North Park: Shirley Ann Place"
- ^ Save Our Heritage Organisation
- ^ Ernestine, Bonn. "Universtity Heights Street Sign". University Heights Historical Society. http://uhcdc.org/documents/UHStreetSign.pdf.
[edit] External links
- University Heights Community Association
- University Heights Community Development Corporation
- University Heights Arts Association
- GayCities San Diego: University Heights Guide to Gay Bars & Clubs in University Heights
- Between Heights Community
- New To San Diego University Heights Map
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