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Proposed Paseo de Mission Hills Project Supported by Community and Planning Commission |
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01/01/2005 |
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Original Story Published in Hillcrest News - Vol. 4, Issue 3
The City of San Diegos Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Mission Hills Shopping Center "Paseo de Mission Hills" on January 27, 2005 and voted 4-1 to support the project. The project was appealed by a small group of Mission Hills residents and will go to City Council in the spring.
The design plan for Paseo de Mission Hills is a direct result of Mission Hills neighbors and community planning groups input during 12 noticed community charettes, workshops and meetings held over the past 20 months. The most recent project in the neighborhood, Mission Hills Commons, brought new vitality to the community and the promise of further re-development only adds to that potential.
Residents of both Mission Hills and neighboring communities now come to Washington Street because, quite frankly, there is someplace to go! Customers drive to the Venissimo Cheese Shop from North County and enjoy coffee all day long with a parade of customers. The restaurants and shops in the Goldfinch/Washington street core have benefited significantly. All of this translates to greater revenues for local business, enhanced vitality, and of course, greater revenues to local government from both sales tax apportionment and the increase in real property assessment base.
The continued revitalization of the Washington/Goldfinch retail environment, the increase in both the availability and diversity of housing, and the further enhancing of the visual appeal of the Washington Street corridor are alone compelling reasons for approval. The thoughtful planning vision of the Paseo redevelopment started with the decision to NOT demolish all the existing buildings, but to restore those with potential historic significance as part of the new project. The Planning Commission supported this delicate balance between restoring elements of historical significance of the 20th century and the economic and development realities of the 21st.
The redevelopment of the Mission Hills Shopping Center will:
* Restore delapidated buildings of the Center to their original architectural styles of the early 1900s
* Beautify the portal to Mission Hills with an exciting entrance, widened and safer sidewalks, and a new passageway "Paseo" allowing for public open space and cafes with sunny exposures
Paseo de Mission Hills will:
* Maintain the height, elegance and grace of the neighborhood - instead of a 150 ft. high rise or 15 stories allowed by zoning, the buildings on Washington Street will remain two stories and the balance of this mixed-use plan will be 55 ft to 65 ft high.
* Dedicated 3 feet of property on Fort Stockton so that a substandard four-foot sidewalk can be replaced by a generous 10-foot parkway for pedestrian benefit.
* Funding for new sidewalks surrounding entire block (even property not currently owned by the developer) and donate funding enhanced median on Washington Street.
* Create more public parking than is currently provided on site while maintaining on street parking.
Paseo de Mission Hills has been overwhelmingly approved by the neighborhood planning groups including, the Mission Hills Resident\\\\\\s Committee, The Uptown Planners Community Planning Group, and the Mission Hills Business Improvement District. In addition, SOHO (Save Our Heritage Organization) supports the restoration plans. The Planning Commission\\\\\\s approval was endorsed by many Mission Hills and Hillcrest neighbors who look forward to reviving the entrance to their charming Mission Hills neighborhood. |
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