City Council approves new housing plans for Hillcrest, University City
City Council approves new housing plans for Hillcrest, University City | FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved two plans that allow for more housing to be added in Hillcrest and University City.
The pair of plans are designed to guide how the neighborhoods will be developed over the next two to three decades.
The Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment, also known as Plan Hillcrest, allows for up to 17,200 additional homes. The plan amends the Uptown Community Plan, which was adopted in 2016.
The University Community Plan Update, which replaces a plan from 1987, allows for up to 29,000 new homes and adds up to 72,000 jobs, from health care and tech to retail and scientific research, according to the city.
“While the actual home and job growth will occur based on demand and the actions of property owners in the future, the plans provide a strategic framework to ensure that the growth meets the City’s needs to best improve the lives of the surrounding communities,” the city said in a Tuesday news release.
Both plans also pave the way for street and park improvements. Hillcrest’s history and culture will also have a place in that neighborhood’s plan, which designates a LGBTQ+ cultural district. The new MTS Blue Line Trolley Extension will be capitalized upon by the University Community Plan.
“These plan updates are critical steps forward in creating jobs, strengthening our economy, addressing our housing crisis and honoring the unique cultures and contributions of our communities,” Mayor Todd Gloria is quoted as saying in the release.
“We are creating vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods that support job growth, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and improve the quality of life for all San Diegans. Hillcrest and University City will remain thriving, inclusive areas for decades to come under these innovative, strategic frameworks.”
High-density housing plans approved for Hillcrest, University City
SAN DIEGO — Mayor Todd Gloria is expected to sign the Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment into law Wednesday afternoon.
On Tuesday, The San Diego City Council approved neighborhood plans that pave the way for tens of thousands of housing units to be built in Hillcrest and University City.
"Hillcrest is a fabulous neighborhood accepting of people as who they are and more people should get to live in Hillcrest," said a Hillcrest resident.
The Hillcrest plan paves the way for 17,000 new housing units. It could more than double Hillcrest's population from 40,000 now to 100,000 people by the year 2050.
"I don't want to continue to see my colleagues and neighbors forced to live in closets of full bedrooms they split four ways because of the housing shortage," said another Hillcrest resident.
Although the plan opens the door for more housing, some say it doesn't go far enough.
"We need to guarantee affordability and accessibility and in it's current form I'm afraid this plan unfortunately falls short of those goals," said another speaker.
There were also concerns over traffic, parking and infrastructure. Similar concerns were shared by residents in University City.
"When you're taking away lanes it's going to increase wait times for people and traffic going by those areas. When you're talking about bringing in homes the affordable housing aspect is quite vague," said University City resident.
Council approved the University City plan as well. It allows for 30,000 new housing units which could double the population there.
"I have had to brave the University City rental market twice now and it's a warzone," said a University City resident. "Put San Diego on a path to a more affordable and sustainable future."
Tuesday's votes essentially changes zoning regulations so builders can start moving on future projects.
San Diego upzones Hillcrest, University
axios.comSan Diego adopts new housing plans in Hillcrest, University City
The Hillcrest sign in the heart of the neighborhood. Photo: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
The San Diego City Council on Tuesday adopted new growth plans for Hillcrest and University City, allowing developers to build many more homes in both communities.
Why it matters: Updating community plans to make way for denser development in urban neighborhoods has been a central piece of the city's strategy to combat high housing costs, although the changes they would allow could take many years.
- Last year, the city issued more housing permits than it had in decades, potentially indicating that years of deregulatory actions were beginning to translate into new homes.
Driving the news: The council approved new blueprints for both Hillcrest and University City, loosening zoning restrictions to make it easier for developers to build apartments.
- In Hillcrest, the changes make way for up to 17,200 new homes in the coming decades.
- In the university area, up to 30,000 new homes could be built.
Reality check: The goal of both plans is to increase development, but community plans are not mandates.
- The new zoning restrictions will increase how much development can occur, but actual results don't always reach that new capacity, even over 20-30 years.
The other side: The community planning group for Uptown, which includes Hillcrest, voted to reject the city's plan, citing concerns over traffic and density.
- The University City planning group, rather than giving an up or down vote on the city's plan, sent the city a 75-page letter of proposed changes, including a scaled-down option that would add 22,000 homes.
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