What is the LGBTQ+ Cultural District?

We propose an LGBTQ+ Cultural District with the following elements:

  • Preservation of the historical uses of our neighborhood rather than simply historical buildings. Use zoning and other planning tools to create protections for a diversity of housing options and make recommendations for how diverse income and lifestyle populations can be encouraged to move to the neighborhood.

  • Abandon plans for the contiguous “historic district” as currently proposed and instead state which buildings will be included on the multi property listing and how they relate to the history of the LGBT community.

  • Ensure that history is described beyond a cisgender and patriarchal narative by creating guidelines for future interpretive devices.

  • Create a comprehensive plan for an LGBTQ+ Hillcrest historical interpretive program including highlighting important locations, buildings, and social events. Describe how the interpretive program will tell stories from multiple voices and describe important events such as the AIDS epidemic, DADT, Marriage and Prop 8, the evolution of Pride celebrations.

  • Create protections for business types that have been an integral part of the community and implement the Hillcrest Entertainment District. This district would include:

    • Permissive sidewalk cafe rules that provide for standardized and permissive guidelines

      for sidewalk patios including four feet of clearance for pedestrians and virtual patio

      barriers for businesses who serve alcohol.

    • Permissive entertainment license allowances that allow Hillcrest restaurants to apply for entertainment licenses regardless of proximity to other licenses for indoor or outdoor

      performance.

    • Extended patio hours that allow the Spaces as Places program and private patios to be

      used until close of business rather than the arbitrary 10pm time that is currently allowed.

    • A disclosure statement for new residents that highlights that they’re moving into an

      Entertainment District.

    • Permissive rules and fees for Special Events that encourage and protect special events such as festivals, street fairs, and parades.

Progress: LGBTQ+ Cultural District included in Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment

The City of San Diego Planning Department have incorporated many of our recommendations into the Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment of the Uptown Community Plan. If these elements remain in the plan, the Cultural District will be created when the plan is ratified at City Council.

Check out the summary below to see what’s included.

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