Greater Hillcrest MAD Documents

 
 

The Greater Hillcrest Community Benefit District (often called a Maintenance Assessment District) is a property-based assessment district that will fund special benefit services over and above what the City of San Diego provides in the public right of way. 

A Clean and Safe Program funded in this way has worked in Little Italy, La Jolla, and North Park.

All property owners in the district will contribute their fair share to the Greater Hillcrest Community Benefit District and it will fund many neighborhood improvements.

What are the steps to forming a district?

  • Step one: Conduct a community survey. Completed in January 2020. In late 2019 and early 2020 Civitas Advisors completed a community survey of Hillcrest commercial property owners and the results of their findings were used to create the management plan. Complete.

  • Step two: Form a management plan. In early 2021 the HBA hired New City America to create the management plan for the new district. This is your opportunity to review their work. Review the complete plan and maps below and submit your comments through this form. Complete.

  • Step three: Mayoral Review. The Mayor and his team at the Office of Economic Development (along with the City Attorney) must review the proposal developed by New City America. Complete.

  • Step four: Public review. The plan will be reviewed by the public at a series of noticed public meetings. These meetings and the petition will occur in December of 2021 and January of 2021. Complete.

  • Step five: Property owner petition. Supportive owners will sign a petition to ask the City Council to authorize the vote. 30% of all property owners must sign the petition. Complete.

  • Step six: Public hearing at City Council. Upcoming.

  • Step seven: Property owner vote. Property owners will be able to vote on the district through an election managed by the City of San Diego. Upcoming.

What Services will I get?

The services are based on where your property is within the district. The plan details the specific services however generally the services are:

  • Private security or case workers to respond to homeless issues, aggressive panhandling and mentally ill people behaving poorly in the public rights of way, including possible hiring of SDPD Bike patrols and/or a community camera system installed on private properties

  • Regular sidewalk and gutter sweeping

  • Regular sidewalk steam cleaning

  • Enhanced trash emptying (over and above city services)

  • Tree and vegetation maintenance (over and above city services)

  • Maintenance of existing and new public spaces

  • Installation of and maintenance of hanging plants, planting flowers throughout the district

  • Appropriate personnel to manage the maintenance and security teams.

Community Meetings.

Community meetings to discuss the GHCBD occurred on January 11th, 2022, at 6:30pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center, 3900 Cleveland (by Trader Joe’s), December 2nd, 2021 at 5pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center, 3900 Cleveland (by Trader Joe’s).

If you’d like a presentation tailored to your property, group of properties, or condo board, please email benjamin@hillcrestbia.org to schedule a meeting.

Proposed Benefit Maps

The proposed district includes several benefit zones across the neighborhood. Select on one of the two maps to find if your property is in the proposed district.

Maps may not reflect final versions.

 

How much my assessments will be?

The plan has full details concerning what services you’ll receive and a formula for figuring out how much you’ll be assessed. Final assessments are currently included in the plan. You can find your APN number in the plan and it describes how much you’ll be assessed. Below is the process for figuring out your assessment.

First, figure out what benefit zone you’re in. There are four planned benefit zones in the Greater Hillcrest CBD. Take a look at the map to find your parcels. If you’re in Zones 3 or 4, please refer to the plan for more detail.

Second, based on the zone you’re in, apply the fees on the tables below to the specific measurements of your lot. Remember the fees are cumulative so use the formula below:

Total Linear Frontage X Amount
+
Total Building Square footage X Amount +
Total Lot size square cost x Amount
=
TOTAL PARCEL ASSESSMENT

Important Documents

As this process moves forward, a number of public documents will be posted so folks can stay in the loop as to how the project is evolving. The HBA has posted a series of public notices concerning the district as required by policy.

January 2020/ December 2021 community survey: View the results of the survey.
Uptown Planners vote of support 10/5/21
Public notices: Posted to SDBJ on 11/22/21 // Posted in the community on 11/21/21 (see below).
Community letters: Sent to property owners on July 10, 2021, Postcard sent on July 27, 2021, Letter sent on November 22, 2021, Letter sent to business and property owners on December 3rd, 2022. Letter from Council-member Whitburn January 19, 2022 & August 9, 2023. Letter of support from Uptown Community Parking District April 13, 2022.
Media: Fox 5 on 3/20/24, ”These San Diego neighborhoods had the most crimes…” /News report via ABC10 News on January 14, 2022 // SDUT on January 28, 2022 // NBC San Diego on January 29, 2022 / “…business owner says issues with homeless could put him out of business” NBC June 6, 2023
Other documents: Powerpoint from 3/21/24 meeting / Powerpoint from 12/2/21 meeting.

Proposed Management Plan & Engineers Report

The first draft of the management plan was developed by New City America in the spring and summer of 2021. It includes budget, proposed services, benefit districts, and assessments.