In 2007, which coincidentally was the centennial of the founding of Hillcrest, the American Planning Association designated Hillcrest as one of the top ten great neighborhoods in America. That is an incredible honor when you consider the size and scope of our nation and ponder how many neighborhoods are contained within it. That got me to thinking about what qualities make a neighborhood great.
Hillcrest is a fairly old city, and it has a vivid history. Digging into the history I found many interesting facts. In the 1700s it is recorded that the land was inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians. In 1870 a woman by the name of Mary Kearney obtained a deed for the land that would become Hillcrest and a year later, George Hill, a railroad tycoon, became the owner. About 20 years later the legendary Wyatt Earp invested in land on the southwest corner of Fifth and University and purportedly operated a brothel on this site. The area continued to grow and by 1910 was connected to San Diego via the Class 1 streetcars that were a fixture until they were retired in 1939.
History is certainly one of the qualities that give flavor and context to a neighborhood. The trees and home styles that predominated over several time periods co-exist and offer variety and charm. With changes come new residents who add their personalities to the mix. After many ups and naturally a few downs, Hillcrest enjoyed a resurgence in the 1970s when the LGBT community established residences, businesses and community organizations. The LGBT community has helped Hillcrest to blossom and become a neighborhood that is known for its diversity, openness and friendly welcoming aura.
So after history, diversity is surely one of the qualities that make a neighborhood great. And a natural outgrowth is an imaginary welcome mat which makes people want to visit and reside in this historical place of diverse people. Hillcrest is now known for its array of restaurants, trendy stores and great community events such as the annual CityFest street fair, Toast to Hillcrest and the famed LGBT Pride Parade and Festival. It’s rumored that the “block party” is a concept that has found root in the happy folks who get to live in Hillcrest.
It’s a place many of us are proud to call home, myself included. I was born in this wonderful neighborhood, and I am still here, enjoying the history, diversity and community that spell a great neighborhood. I am not alone in this, and encourage you to become acquainted with our little corner of the universe. Visit the virtual museum founded by the Hillcrest History Guild where you will find tidbits of Hillcrest’s history in tale and photo.
And visit Hillcrest itself, savor its unique flavor, and find out yourself what makes this a top ten neighborhood. You can taste the history when you sit under our beautiful old trees, and scour the leafy streets featuring the housing of many periods including early Craftsman and Spanish homes. Enjoy our eclectic shops and restaurants, and most of all, see the smiles on our residents’ faces. Probably, those smiles say neighborhood more clearly than anything else. Welcome!
Del Phillips is a California Licensed Real Estate agent. He is a member of the National, California and San Diego Association of Realtors. You can reach Del at Ascent Real Estate at 619-298-6666 or at Del@DelPhillips.com DRE LIC #01267333.
