For this week’s 92101 News & Notes roundup, The Sun reconnected with downtown resident groups holding onto hope that the city’s wheels of action might budge forward. And we sat in on the monthly Downtown Community Planning Council meeting held in City Hall, to observe one organization where engaged locals attempt to play by city rules to enact change.
GALLAGHER SQUARE LAWSUIT: A group of downtown residents has been pleading with the San Diego Padres to turn down the volume at Gallagher Square Park concerts for years. It’s finally come to a lawsuit.
A Writ of Mandate has been filed by the Residents Concerned About Gallagher Square Noise. It alleges that the Sycuan Stage concerts at the public green space outside Petco Park (managed by the Padres) are violating Municipal Code for noise levels. And that the city–which profits from concert revenue–is ignoring complaints.
You can read about The Sun’s coverage of the dispute here. The city’s review process that greenlighted a $20-million Gallagher Square renovation without considering the noise complaints is in the running for an “Onion” award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation. That story is here.
The issue was on the agenda at the September 20 Downtown Community Planning Council meeting. The DCCP is considering filing a letter in support of the Concerned Residents.
FAULT AT FAULT LINE PARK: Also on the agenda at the recent DCPC meeting: The ongoing complaint by another downtown group about the lack of oversight of Fault Line Park in East Village.
Spearheaded by the East Village Doers community group, it’s alleged that the developers of the two onsite Pinnacle high rises there are putting forth little if any effort to maintain the park grounds.
The EV Doers regularly file complaints about drug usage, trash and litter (including drug paraphernalia) and general neglect of the property. A new fenced-in dog run in the park is made of gravel (and considered substandard and dangerous to dogs’ paws). The dog-run fence itself is regularly pulled down and trash cans are usually overflowing.
DCCP board members noted that this long-running issue–which dates back to a public bathrooms dispute–could actually see city action in the coming months. Reclamation of the park from Pinnacle was discussed as a legal option.
DIRTY DOGS: Brooklyn Dogs owner Letty Soto, whose licensed food cart near City Hall (Third Avenue & B Street) is longtime community fixture, wrote to The Sun about the wave of illegal food vendors operating downtown.
‘Your entire story about illegal food vendors needs to be republished,” Soto writes. “If they keep selling food and folks keep buying it, it will never stop! They only come out at night. They have stolen money from folks for years now. Help!”
The Sun does plan to look deeper into inaction from the city’s Code Enforcement division. For now, here’s a link to the story: Buy Hot Dogs From Unlicensed Street Vendors & They’ll Keep Selling Them.
CONDOS COMING? Bosa’s long-stalled construction site at Eighth Avenue and B Street continues to attempt to become more than a massive hole in the ground. The project had originally been approved as a 480-apartment project. It got the green light to convert to a 389-condo building. Efforts are inching along, with Bosa currently trying to put plans together for a public park space that will be sited on the north side of the block along C Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues.
TWO IF BY SEA: The latest winner in our “Downtown Dining Reader’s Poll” is Brian Hayes. Each week, we randomly pick one person who’s voted for their favorite downtown restaurants to receive two tickets on a San Diego Bay cruise on Triton Charters’ 95-foot catamaran. There are just two more chances left to win, with ballots closing on October 1. Don’t be left landlocked. Vote today!
BAKER’S QUARTERS: After the recent DCPC meeting, board executive chair Manny Rodriquez playfully noted that our Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll doesn’t have a Best Bakery category. Rodriquez serves as business director for Izola Bakery in East Village. He’s got a good point. It’s a growing niche, with Blackmarket and Asa bakeries recently opening in East Village. “Maybe you could do a ‘Yeast Village’ category,” Rodriquez quipped.
The Sun aims to never loaf on these kinds of action items. SDSun
☀️Click here & vote now in The Sun’s Downtown Dining Readers’ Poll. Win an SD Bay cruise!☀️
