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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 25


Dec. 9–Dec. 22, 2011 Old Town • Mission Hills • Bankers Hill ➤➤ NEWS P. 4 Hillcrest • University Heights • Normal Heights • North Park • South Park • Golden Hill • Kensington • Talmadge


Uptown Community Parking District aims to alleviate parking issues


in Uptown


Kensington residents self-propose tax hike


➤➤ THEATER P. 14


For more of the Gingerbread City 2011, see our Holday Guide on page 9 (Photo courtesy of The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County)


You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch


➤➤ DINING P. 16


Upgrade Planned for busy Hillcrest Fire Station #5


By Ryan Ginard SDUN Reporter


The 60-year-old Hillcrest fi re sta- tion #5 will be receiving a renovation thanks to nearly $500,000 in funding recently allocated by the San Diego City Council. The fi re station, located on the


Snooze eatery ➤➤ FEATURE P. 21


corner of University Avenue and Ninth Street, has been in operation since 1951 and has suffered a number of ongoing structural issues over time including roof leaks and problems with the air conditioning. Michelle Abella-Shon, Facili- ties Manager for the Fire-Rescue Department, said the plan for the station renovations also include the devel- opment of three bays with exhaust emis- sion systems on the existing property. The current station has two and a half bays with exhaust emission systems.


Abella-Shon also explained the plan calls Wrap Ya Wrist Index


Calendar………………6 Briefs……………………8 What’s Up………………14 Dr. Ink……………………17 Slow Lane……….……17 Feature…………...…20


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offers local shopping– and sipping– opportunities this holiday season


By Ashley Mackin SDUN Editor


For those who want to shop locally this holiday season, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) is host- ing its third annual Taste ‘N’ Tinis, an opportunity to explore Hillcrest shops and sample dishes from local restau- rants and enjoy holiday martinis.


This self-guided tour will take place on Dec.15 from 5 – 9 p.m., and feature over 30 local restaurants and 13 boutiques. Each boutique will offer a surprise holiday-inspired martini and samples from local restaurants such as Ami Su- shi, Babycakes, Fig Tree Cafe Hillcrest,


see Tinis, page 5


1010 University Ave. Ste. C109 San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 955-5369 • theunoptical.com


for 11 crew parking spaces that would be on the existing property. There are currently fi ve people housed at that station, a four-person fi re crew and a battalion chief. The plan looks at the next 50 years for the station and accom- modates future expansion to house two crews


Fire Station #5, located at 3902 Ninth Ave., will be receiving some much-needed upgrades. (Photo by Ryan Ginard)


of four people. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Spokes- person Lee Swanson said he welcomed the new funding, especially considering fi re station #5 is the second busiest engine company in San Di- ego in terms of number of total calls received. Swanson explained that in the 2011 fi scal


year, station #5 responded to 3,685 calls. Of those, 2,933 were medical or rescue calls, 272 were fi re calls and 480 were listed as other.


see Station, page 3


Walter Chambers of Great Streets San Diego offers his parking suggestions (Photo by Daniel Solomon)


By Ashley Mackin SDUN Editor


In an effort to relieve some of the parking issues in Uptown, the Hillcrest Business As- sociation (HBA) focused their quarterly Open House on the issue. Additionally, efforts to reassemble the Uptown Community Parking District, which would represent Hillcrest, Mis- sion Hills and Bankers Hill, are underway. At the Open House, held on Nov. 30, com- munity members discussed the problems and suggestions for improving Uptown parking. Some of the issues mentioned were over- priced parking meters, clearer street signs and bicycle safety on University Avenue. Ideas for improvements ranged from a parking app for smart phones to construct- ing a “lid” over SR-163 and building a parking structure on it.


HBA Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls hosted the Open House and said he was happy about the suggestions. He further explained that one of the problems they have had in the past is a lack of funds to implement the suggestions. Nicholls said reassembling the Uptown Community Parking District would help solve that. The Parking District, a group of elected community members, will be responsible for distributing the money allocated by the City that comes from Uptown parking meters.


Nicholls explained that of the money that goes into Uptown meters, 55 percent goes to the City and 45 percent goes to the Parking District to allocate for various projects. In 2010, the 45 percent for Uptown was over $3.8 million. Nicholls anticipates the coming fiscal years will yield higher


see Parking, page 3


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