Hillcrest (San Diego, California)

USA / California / San Diego / San Diego, California
 draw only border, gay neighborhood

Affluent, older district that is also the city's gay and lesbian neighborhood. Technically it, together with Mission Hills to the west, is part of Uptown, San Diego.
www.hillquest.com
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.
In 1870, Mary Kearney obtained a deed from the city for the land that eventually became Hillcrest. In 1871 C. D. Arnold and D. Choate, two real estate developers, obtained that property. George Hill, a wealthy railroad tycoon, then purchased the land. Real estate development began in 1910 and the area was built out by 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s Hillcrest was considered a suburban shopping area for downtown San Diego.
In 1940 the "HILLCREST" lighted sign at the intersection of University and Fifth Avenue was first erected, 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.
The Hillcrest Town Council (www.hillcresttowncouncil.com) is an organization of local residents that was formed in 2007. The group of renters and owners meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Joyce Beers Community Center in the Uptown District. Their mission statement is “To provide a voice & enhance the quality of life for Hillcrest renters & homeowners while supporting actions that benefit our neighborhood.”
www.sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/uptown/ind...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   32°44'54"N   117°9'23"W

Comments

  • Great, fun little neighborhood. Lots of nightlife, and tons of fantastic restaurants.
  • Happening Neighborhood, full of restaurants, awesome location for food lovers
This article was last modified 8 years ago