hillcrest glow up: new plan passed! 🌈🏙️

your voice mattered - now let's build a vibrant, inclusive future

tl;dr: city council approved major updates for hillcrest and university city. more housing, better transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian spaces coming our way! i made a mistake on the numbers before, but the real figures are still impressive.

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The vote on Plan Hillcrest yesterday at the City Council. Source: YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County; Twitter.

y'all, we did it!

the san diego city council just gave the green light to new plans for hillcrest and university city, and i'm buzzing with excitement. this is a huge win for our community, for affordable housing, and for a more sustainable future.

i made a mistake yesterday

first things first, i need to own up to a mistake. in my previous post, i said that 47,000 new housing units were coming to hillcrest. that was wrong, and i apologize for the misinformation.

the correct numbers are actually 17,200 potential new homes for hillcrest and 30,000 for university city. still pretty damn impressive, right?

🚨URGENT: 47,000 new homes in san diego at risk - act now!🏘️

what the vote means for you

what does the new approved plan mean for our beloved hillcrest?

1. 🏘️ up to 17,200 new homes near transit (a major improvement for our housing crisis!)

2. 🚌 bus lanes on university avenue and washington street (hello, efficient public transit!)

3. 🚲 more bike lanes (time to dust off that fixie)

4. 🌳 wider sidewalks and new parks (strolling in style, anyone?)

5. 🏳️‍🌈 an lgbtq+ cultural district (yasss queen!)

this plan is like a love letter to urban planning nerds (hi, it's me). it's all about creating a more vibrant, walkable, and inclusive neighborhood. imagine stepping out of your new apartment, grabbing a coffee at your favorite queer-owned café, and hopping on a bus or bike to work. that's the future we're building, mi gente.

now, i know change can be scary. some folks are worried about traffic and density. but here's the tea: we're in a housing crisis, and we need to act boldly. this plan isn't just about adding homes; it's about reimagining how we live, work, and play in our city.

A neighborhood ally and friend, Gail Friedt, christens this victory as having made the “Summer of Hillcrest”. Source: Gail Friedt, Twitter.

protecting the gayborhood

and let's talk about that lgbtq+ cultural district for a hot second. hillcrest has always been our queer haven, and this plan cements that legacy. it's like the city is saying, "we see you, we celebrate you, and we're making space for you." as a queer puerto rican who's found a home in this neighborhood, that means the world to me.

on preserving hillcrest’s queer culture

so, what's next? well, my loves, now comes the fun part - watching our neighborhood transform. it won't happen overnight, but every new bike lane, every new apartment building, every new rainbow crosswalk will be a step towards the hillcrest of our dreams.

thank you!

to everyone who submitted comments, showed up to meetings, or just sent good vibes our way - thank you. your voices mattered. we're building this future together, one fabulous brick at a time.

now, if you'll excuse me, i'm off to celebrate with a victory lap around the neighborhood - on my bike, of course. who's joining me?

con mucho amor y orgullo,

edgard 🌈✊🏽💖

p.s. remember, change starts with us. let's keep showing up, speaking out, and dreaming big for our community.

from boríken to hillcrest: finding my queer familia away from la isla