Chollas Parkway Needs Your Help

Grantville is a unique and diverse community.  It has much to offer nearby residents with a variety of businesses.  But with any neighborhood that is decades old, there are problems.  Traffic congestion, blighted buildings and poor infrastructure detract from Grantville’s potential.

That is why, with the community support, we created the Grantville Redevelopment Project.  The idea was to help eliminate and even prevent the spread of blight, as well as redevelop areas to better serve the community. 

Specifically the vision for Grantville includes improving traffic flow, enhancing public infrastructure, creating new jobs by attracting new business, revitalizing existing commercial areas and optimizing the environmental assets of the San Diego River.  Efforts are currently underway to realign Alvarado Canyon Road to help ease traffic congestion on Mission Gorge Road but more needs to be done.  Long neglected infrastructure improvements are also on the agenda including improving storm drainage, creating new sidewalks and parking areas, and finding a long-term solution for Alvarado Creek to prevent annual flooding. 

In order to ensure revitalization of the area and attract new businesses, the Project will enhance the commercial and industrial corridors through a number of means including façade improvements.  The vision also includes restoring the San Diego River and providing recreational opportunities along its bank such as walking and bike paths.

The Grantville Redevelopment Project was days away from being finalized after a long, open public process, when the County of San Diego filed a lawsuit to stop the project.  The County is trying to stop the City from using the tax increment money generated in Grantville and putting it right back into community improvements.  It is now up to a judge to decide the fate of the lawsuit which is expected to be completed later this year.

The City expects to win this lawsuit and once it is resolved, a new community group will be formed that will include business and property owners, and nearby residents to review proposed projects.  We want the redevelopment of Grantville to be a community effort that all can be proud of and invite you to join with many others and participate in the effort to make a difference and improve the quality of life and economic vitality of the area.  If you’d like to serve on the Grantville Redevelopment Advisory Committee, send me an email expressing interest.  I’ll add you to our list of interested individuals.

Last month the City released a report with revised cost estimates for building a new Main Library.  The new cost analysis was information our philanthropic partners were very interested in knowing.  For the first time in over three years, we had accurate cost estimates.  With the rising cost of steel and concrete it was no surprise the cost had gone up, but the best news was it hadn’t increased as much as some expected.  Despite the increase in cost and the current situation the City is in, I am committed to building a new Main Library --- and the good news remains that no General Fund money will be used to build the Main Library.  It is further good news that due to the design efficiencies of the new main library over the existing outdated facility, staffing costs should not increase significantly to operate the new library.

The new figures are encouraging because they show that we’re in a better position than expected. Many similar projects throughout the country have seen a 30% increase in the last year alone.  Library supporters are pleased that projected costs for building our Main Library is estimated to be a 24% increase from figures that were three years old instead of a much steeper increase as we’ve seen nationally. 

This information is what the philanthropic community has been asking for in order to know how much funding is needed to begin construction next July.   With this new data available, the San Diego Public Library Foundation now has reliable information as they work toward finalizing the lead gifts from private donors to achieve this important civic goal. 

San Diegans should be proud to know that we’re not giving up on this project but instead are much closer to breaking ground.  Please click on this link to see the report.

The three individuals will be charged with vandalism, defacing public property, and because it was in a storm drain, an environmental charge will be added. All three are juveniles; two from San Carlos and one from Encanto. In a separate incident, the Allied Gardens Recreation Center was tagged also. On behalf of the community I thank all the people who helped stopped this incident and strongly encourage residents to call the police at 619-531-2000 if they see graffiti activity taking place.  To report locations where graffiti has taken place, call the Graffiti Hotline at (619) 525-8522.

The City of San Diego’s Neighborhood Code Compliance Graffiti Control Section is continuing to operate a “Paint Bank” for recycled paint that can be used by resident to paint out graffiti in their neighborhood. Anyone can come in to get the paint by calling the paint bank at (619) 527-3431 to schedule an appointment said Frank Haffner, Administrative Services Deputy Director for Neighborhood Code Compliance. 

Tip of the Hat

From time to time I recognize residents or organizations for their achievements.  In this issue the spotlight is on some deserving organizations that I have worked with, support their mission and know that they are results oriented that will better our City.  In my opinion they merit support and I want to refer you to their web sites for more information.  They are:

Family Health Centers of San Diego – Their mission is to provide comprehensive, accessible, quality health care services to residents and businesses of San Diego and the surrounding region.  They offer affordable services to all income levels, with a special commitment to low income, medially underserved individuals. Their web site is www.fhcsd.org

Unity Tech Fitness Centers  - This is a small non-profit organization that offers karate, self defense for all ages as well as after school tutoring for youths and computer classes for seniors.  For more information, call (619) 287-8182 or send an email to unitytech@cox.net.

International Rescue Coalition - This organization offers assimilation assistance to refugees in San Diego.  They teach micro-enterprise and offer programs to help refugees establish credit.  For more information, visit their web site at www.TheIRC.org.

Hoover High School/ SDSU Consensus Organizing Center - The center teaches high school students to become social workers in their own neighborhood and assists them in successfully applying to college and master programs.  For more information, send an email to Meichler@mail.sdsu.edu.

STAR/PAL - STAR stands for Sports, Training, Academics and Recreation and PAL stands for Police Athletic League. This organization is dedicated to providing thousands of underserved youth in San Diego with the opportunities they deserve. STAR/PAL offers free youth programs and positive interaction with committed volunteers that include law enforcement officers, firefighters and community business leaders. For more information visit their web site at www.starpal.org.

Pro Kids Golf Academy & Learning Center – This non-profit began in 1994 to provide a safe and fun environment where underserved kids can learn the game of golf and develop values and life skills that will aid them in their future endeavors.  For more information visit their web site at www.prokidsonline.org

CERT – The City of San Diego directed the Fire-Rescue department to organize the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in which citizens become a part of the solution in their own communities. CERT San Diego instructors teach citizens to take life-saving action to help families, neighbors, businesses and communities get through the first few hours or days when emergency services are overwhelmed. For more information, visit the City’s web site at http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/cert/index.shtml

Townspeople - This organization provides opportunities and vital human services for low-income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDs, in need of housing alternatives within San Diego County. For more information, visit their web site at www.townspeople.org

Alpha Project – Their mission is to empower individuals, families and communities by providing work, recovery and support services to people who are motivated to change their lives and achieve self-sufficiency. Alpha Project breaks the cycle of homelessness and provides an alternate direction for its clients – out of hopelessness and despair and into a life of responsibility and dignity. For more information, visit their web site at www.alphaproject.org.

Tierrasanta Logo Wear

The Tierrasanta Community Council is offering a variety of items with the community’s distinctive island in the hills logo.  They include T-shirts ($12), hats ($15-$20), vehicle license plate frames ($5), visors ($12) and decals ($1). All proceeds go back to the community. For more information or to purchase logo items please call Lee Campbell at (858) 560-1213 or email: lee@campbellot.com or Lori Roeder at (619) 987-7633 or email: lori_roeder@yahoo.com.

Hazardous Household Waste

San Diego residents can dispose of their hazardous household wastes by scheduling an appointment at the Household Hazardous Waste Transfer Facility at the Miramar Landfill located on Convoy Street just north of Highway 52. To make an appointment for a Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (except holidays), call (858) 694-7000 Monday through Friday anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You may bring products used in the routine maintenance of your home, yard and vehicle which may include products containing the words Danger, Warning, Caution, Poison, Flammable, or Corrosive on the label. For more information, visit the City’s web site at www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services.
 

Happenings

January 25 – Please join me for a District Seven community meeting titled “Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery: A Partnership between the City of San Diego and our Communities” on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the College-Rolando Library located at 6600 Montezuma Road. For more information, contact my office at (619) 236-6677 or email: lwebb@sandiego.gov

January 31 – The deadline for applications to join the Navajo Girls Softball team for the 2006 program.  For more information, visit their web site at http://www.eteamz.active.com/ or call (619) 667-0444.

February 4 – De Portola Middle School will host its 20th Anniversary Celebration from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Alumni and the community are invited to attend this event which will be held at the school located at 11010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Tierrasanta.  For more information, call (858) 496-8080.

February 16 – The deadline for submissions to the San Diego Friends of the Library Essay Contest.  The annual contest is for grades 4, 8 and 10.  There are three suggested topics. Entry forms and additional information is available at your local library. And don’t forget to support the monthly book sales at your local library.      

I wish I could include every single community event but unfortunately I have to limit it to a few each issue. We welcome submissions. For upcoming events you would like to see in the next eNewsletter, please email information to lwebb@sandiego.gov.
 

Neighborhood E-Watch Keeps You Informed

The City of San Diego's Neighborhood eWatch provides information about crime incidents in the City of San Diego to the public for free via the Internet and is updated every 24 hours. I introduced this popular service last year and encourage you to use it. The web site address is: http://ewatch.sandiego.gov.

Thanks for reading the eNewsletter.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to send me your thoughts on issues by sending email to jmadaffer@sandiego.gov and please forward this email to your friends who might enjoy reading it. They can always visit JimMadaffer.com/email to sign up themselves.

I welcome hearing from you at any time and rely on your opinion.

Regards,

Jim

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