Among many groups opposing plan, Hillcrest Business Association now considers supporting project

By Margie M. Palmer | Reportero SDUN

District Three Councilmember Todd Gloria says his office has added 16 parking spaces to the voter-approved Mid-City Rapid Bus Project, yet members of the Hillcrest Town Council still voted to oppose the project on May 10.

“A couple months ago, I took some time to walk door-to-door along that stretch of Park Boulevard as a process of gathering concerns about parking issues, and we have worked to mitigate those concerns by turning a what was supposed to be a loss of 33 parking spaces into a net gain of 16 parking spaces,” Gloria said.

Loss of parking is a major concern among residents, but because the plan now includes additional spaces, the Hillcrest Business Association is now considering revising its previous opposition to the project.

“Parking on Park Boulevard is really challenging, and those businesses are really struggling because of it. I think it’s great if they’re adding additional parking,” Hillcrest Business Association Executive Director Benjamin Nicholls said.

“Although our organization hasn’t really had an opportunity to change its position, I think that if there is going to be a community gain and those spaces are adjacent to businesses in the business district, I think the group would be enthusiastic about that.”

Other community concerns include the potential blockage of storefronts by bus stations, which could negatively affect sales. University Heights Community Association Treasurer Ernie Bonn believes businesses will lose customers due to the proposed closure of Polk Avenue, at Park Boulevard.

“Small businesses have a narrow margin of success,” Bonn said. “We have a library on Park Boulevard, and we have Henry’s that’s right there as well. Deliveries to those and other businesses that use Polk and access them through the alley may have to begin using Georgia as the residential street. Proposing what they’re proposing on this section of Park just doesn’t make sense to me at all.”

Gloria said while many business owners along the entire route, on both Park Boulevard and El Cajon Boulevard, are concerned about stations blocking their storefronts, the station design has been revised to be “less bulky and will be in the middle of the street so it will be much less likely to block businesses.”

Traffic access from Polk to Park Boulevard will continue, although crossing the street at that intersection will no longer be possible . However, Gloria said additional efforts have also been made to ensure sure drivers would still have access to the gas station on the corner of Park Boulevard, El Cajon Boulevard, and Washington Street. A statement recently released from his office says the closure is necessary for the Rapid Bus to operate in an efficient manner.

Bankers Hill / Park West Planning Group Executive Director Leo Wilson, whose organization is also in opposition to the plan, feels that regardless of modifications the project will nevertheless create visual blight.

“The creation of a bus freeway right down the middle of Park will be unsightly and will interfere with traffic,” Wilson said. “The bus freeway will divide a community in which we’re trying to create a streetscape, storefront look and we think it’s unnecessary.”

Wilson further believes that the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), which is developing the plans and will provide oversight for the engineering and construction of the project, is shortchanging
mid city neighborhoods.

“The main issue I have here is that when you look at the way SANDAG’s board is dominated from people from North County, and you see them spending billions on things like the Interstate 5 corridor and further
spending $6 billion on HOV lanes,” he said. “I feel like we’re really being shortchanged on this. Our preference is to have a streetcar.”

Gloria said implementing a streetcar system is among the city’s long term Rapid Transit Goals. “Many people expressed a preference for a streetcar,” Gloria said, and as a result of championing the reintroduction
of the streetcar system, he has helped ensure its inclusion in the 2050 Rapid Transit Plan.

Treasurer Bonn also expressed concern that the project would cause a loss of 52 trees. Gloria says he is working closely with SANDAG to address this issue.

“Our understanding is that additional landscaping will be put in place once the project is complete and that additional trees will be planted,” he said. “I don’t know if we can get a project that absolutely everyone will support. But I think [when] the project is complete it will be something that people are proud of.”

Voters approved the extension of the Mid-City Bus Rapid Transit’s extension ordinance and expenditure plan in 2004. Its operation maintenance is fully funded for 38 years. Modifying the extension to a streetcar
service is included in the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.