Yes, UCGal, I myself lived on Banker’s Hill just one mi north of SD’s dtn core from the mid-70’s until Fall ’82. For ten years, I was a member of Balboa Park running club. We ran 55 miles per week (4 days a week) day and night, rain or shine. Once a week, we ran up Laurel St (yes, up!), down 6th avenue and around the waterfront on gangplanks in what are now the Embarcadero Marina Park, Seaport Village and the now concreted-in “Embarcadero” at the foot of Bdwy. We alternated running every single trail in Balboa Park. It has much to offer everyone! For many years after I moved a few miles away, my sun still rose on the view of the Balboa Park fountain from the promenade.
We used to frequent the Starlight Bowl and Old Globe in Balboa Park. You could easily bring a picnic dinner, eat it on the grass and then pack it away and go into the show.
I worked full-time in dtn SD for over 30 years. Remember San Diego Hardware?? It was the biggest hardware store I’ve EVER seen, all on hardwood floors! It had a huge basement with little bins of absolutely everything and VERY knowledgeable salespeople who could get you in and out quick. That’s if you didn’t finding yourself “browsing,” lol!. I spent many an awesome Friday night at the Crossroads Jazz Bar on Market St, just west of Third Ave. And have more memories of parties at the Old Spaghetti factory (which is still there)!
[quote=sdr]The longtime residents had no interest in developing a proper downtown over the last century.[/quote]
[quote=sdr]All the cities you referenced are real cities with downtown employment centers, entertainment and nice living areas. Our downtown seems to have been built as an afterthought without much planning. To this day, there is no hospital downtown. Name another big city without a hospital in the middle of its downtown? Supermarket downtown? We got one??? Parks downtown?[/quote]
sdr, the core of dtn SD is <2 sq miles. It is bound by hills and water. The northern portion of 92102 and 92103 (east of Goldfinch St) could be considered part of “dtn SD.” There was a longtime hospital “Harbor View” at 1st and Elm Sts. In the late nineties, it closed down and about five years ago became the “SD Rescue Mission.”
On 26th St (just south of Market and about 1 mi east of Petco Park) was “Physician and Surgeons” Hospital, which closed in the late eighties.
The first Sharp Rees Stealy Medical Clinic still stands and operates out of two city blocks bounded by 4th and 5th Aves and Grape and Juniper Sts in 92101. It was the first comprehensive outpatient clinic in SD and has been in operation for 60 years. There are many, many more clinics and low rise medical buildings, all full (many controlled by physician-owned REITs), located in 92101 and 92103. There is a large standalone surgicenter on the north side of Washington St in 92103.
There are actually MORE medical facilities in 92103 (beginning 1.1 mi. no. of SD’s dtn “core”) than any other SD County zip code.
Scripps-Mercy (formerly “Mercy”) and UCSD Medical Center are two VERY large hospitals in 92103 which have both been operating for more than 40 years.
[quote=sdrealtor]Nowhere did I say there was NO business, NO entertainment or NO anything downtown. I said it was sorely lacking in those areas with what one expects of a major city in the US.
Cmon UCGal you’ve lived in a real city and know better. Banking, a couple theatres and a mall (btw, that has never been truly embraced by the local populace)do not make a city. People living and working there, a diverse employment center, universities,the ability to walk out your door and walk to everything easily including healthcare and schools make a real city.
SD is one of the largest cities in our country but as a well planned and developed downtown it was not even in the top 20 and probably not even a top 50 downtown city. You can look at 2nd and 3rd tier cities on the east coast and find more vibrant, well planned cities. I love downtown SD. It has made great strides but much work remains. I beleive it will eventually get there.[/quote]
sdr, thousands of people who live downtown moved there for the sole purpose of walking to work!
I find Horton Plaza very difficult to find a parking space in their (5-tier, 2 blk long) garage, so someone must be going there! Dtn workers often shop there at lunch. There is a movie theatre there and tourists flock to it as well.
If you live dtn, there are plenty of stores and restaurants and two supermarkets within walking distance. You can also walk to Cal-Western Law School (most of these students live within walking distance), SD City College and Washington Elementary.
Several more elementary schools, Roosevelt Middle School and SD High are a short bus ride away. There are at least a dozen churches to walk to in 92101, as well.
Dtn SD has everything I would expect a “real city” to have, plus has the added bonus of great weather year round! I think there is A LOT more for a tourist to do in or near dtn SD than other cities, as well (excepting DC). I’ve been to a few other cities too, and you can’t confuse SD’s unique topography with other large cities which have endlessly flat terrain. You need to include parts of 92102 and 92103 into the mix when you consider what dtn SD has to offer. This would make it about 3 x 3 miles if you did this. This is STILL a small geographical dtn (as dtns go).
I think the trolley, the convention center and the waterfront area development has been done very well. There are already plans for a modern mixed used development for several acres on the waterfront known as Navy Public Works. It should blend well with the (circa 1935) County Administration Bldg just north of there. When the balance of the empty condo units become filled (whether sold or leased) and massive sidewalk/storm drain repairs are finally undertaken by the City, SD will have a really “top shelf” dtn :=)
