May is here, and we can start to see that hint of summer that peaks out this time of year. This means that preparations for the excitement Hillcrest experiences at this time of year are in full swing.

Before we know it, San Diego Pride will be here, followed by CityFest and all the other fun activities we enjoy when it’s extra warm out.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – plenty is going on in Hillcrest before summer officially hits, so let’s get into it:

Normal Street Promenade

After decades of planning and wrangling with local government, ground broke on the Normal Street Promenade in February, and construction is moving along full-steam ahead.

If you’ve been near Normal Street lately, you’ve likely noticed that the northbound lanes (the side of the street adjacent to 7-Eleven) has been completely shut down from University to Washington Street. The other side of the street (adjacent to the DMV), has been shut down completely from Washington to Lincoln, and from Lincoln to University, there is just one single lane of traffic in the former parking lane, delineated by cones. These closures are facilitating the first part of the project, which is repairing and reconfiguring the stormwater infrastructure on the block.

Once complete, the half of Normal Street adjacent to the DMV will be a linear plaza, complete with playground equipment, outdoor exercise equipment, seating areas, trees, a walking path, a bike path, a performance area, and even a concession stand in a renovated street car.

This will be an absolute game-changer for Hillcrest, a neighborhood that has absolutely no decent public gathering spaces outside of bars and churches, and will provide a place for the growing neighborhood to get outdoors and come together.

If all goes as planned, it will be complete sometime in 2026. I can’t wait!

Pavers

To raise funds for cultural programming and maintenance at our new promenade, the Hillcrest Community Foundation is selling paver bricks, and you can be part of the historic plaza and have your name engraved in stone in perpetuity. Donor pavers are available for purchase with several options including paver size, location, and sponsorship for a community leader.

Pavers range from $250 to $1,000, depending on size and placement. You can purchase your paver and get more information at hillcrestbia.org/paver-mainpage.

I’m part of the Paver Booster team, and if you do purchase one, please input my booster code at checkout so they know that I sent you: BC1001. Thank you for your support!

Construction disruptions

You might wonder how many of our beloved annual events that regularly start from or occur along Normal Street will work while the area is fenced off for construction.

Since the project’s early days, officials have worked diligently with the various organizations and entities that host these events to develop contingency plans and ensure that the final product will be a workable space for these events to continue.

The Hillcrest Farmers Market, held every Sunday, has already temporarily moved to University Avenue, between Herbert and Park Blvd. Personally, I like this new configuration better as it feels like it activates the center of the neighborhood and the space is much wider to navigate with the thousands of people who attend each Sunday. The Farmers Market will ultimately return to Normal Street and be a regular Sunday fixture along the Promenade, but I’m glad this alternative is working well for now.

As for events like the San Diego Pride Parade, the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, Nightmare on Normal Street and other events, organizers are in the process of working out the details for alternative (but nearby) locations to hold these events, and there shouldn’t be any interruption in events this year – some will just look a little different! These changes and community sacrifices will ultimately benefit us when the Promenade is all done!

Gayborhood Watch

I wrote in a previous column that after months of planning, a new community volunteer patrol has formed, called the Gayborhood Watch.

After the dissolution of the Stonewall Citizens Patrol, while we’ve seen an uptick in incidents in Hillcrest, many community members called for some sort of citizens’ initiative to help protect each other. Rick Cervantes and I were proud to put the call out in summer 2024 and connected with numerous community members who shared input on what this patrol could look like.

During the planning process, we were lucky to meet Gossip Grill security guards Bea Bautista and Andrea Luke, who ultimately stepped up to take on the leadership of the Gayborhood Watch. They did a great job organizing the framework for the organization and getting it started. While Andrea has moved on to another city due to a job change, Bea continues to lead the group, and after some trial and error in the first few weeks, they have come up with a new format that will allow more people to get involved.

Instead of assigning individual shifts to volunteers, the Gayborhood Watch is organizing group walks through the neighborhood to show that the community has lots of people who care about it and spreading the message that we take of each other here. Everyone is welcome to join in the patrol walks and learn more about the future of the Gayborhood Watch – which looks bright to me!

Contact Bea at [email protected] if you’d like more information or to find out when the next group walk will be.

Hillcrest Neighborhood Association

For a neighborhood as vibrant as Hillcrest, it’s a shame that no official residents’ association or group exists.

As I reported several months ago, the group of us who comprised the board of the Hillcrest Town Council voted to dissolve the organization after months of trying to resolve the group’s ongoing tax issues. The group had also struggled with participation since the COVID pandemic, and it never really picked up steam again. It seemed like it was time to call it quits on that chapter of the neighborhood’s history.

Many neighbors believe, however, that a residents’ group is essential, and can be a place for community members to air grievances, connect with elected representatives, and advocate for a better Hillcrest. There is an effort to launch a rebranded, refreshed neighborhood council, as the Hillcrest Neighborhood Association (HNA).

While plans are in their infancy, organizers are looking for community members interested in helping build the new HNA and identifying leadership. This is a great opportunity to help build a new organization from the ground up, and band together as Hillcrest residents to advocate for the things we want.

If you are interested in learning more or participating in the formation of the HNA, please send me a message at [email protected], and I’ll connect you with the organizers.

Hillcrest Cleanup & Cocktails

The ever-popular Hillcrest Cleanup & Cocktails returns on Saturday, June 7, and you’re invited to this day of tidying up the neighborhood and building community! Hosted by @HillcrestSanDiego, Hillcrest Cleanup & Cocktails has turned into a highly anticipated neighborhood event, with a record 104 volunteers signing in at the March cleanup!

The premise is simple: Volunteers gather in the morning (starting at 8:30 a.m.) and tidy up the neighborhood for an hour and a half. After cleaning up, all volunteers receive a wristband to an “after party” at Urban Mo’s – which sponsors everyone’s first round of drinks and appetizers. Volunteers come from all over the county to help clean and build community in this beloved neighborhood and everyone is welcome!

All supplies are provided, including morning sweets and treats provided by Sunnyboy Biscuit Co. This is a genuine community effort, and we’d love to see you at the next one!

Visit bit.ly/C-CJune2025 for more information and to RSVP.

Photo caption: Volunteers of the new Gayborhood Watch out doing a patrol walk. Photo credit: Miah Earn.