By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
The mid-city communities which encompass the City Heights, Eastern Area, Kensington-Talmadge and Normal Heights neighborhoods, are slated to receive an update to their community plan for the first time in twenty-five years—targeting opportunities for homes and mixed use development connected to residential areas, public spaces and transit.
The updated plan, which will begin soliciting public input in 2024, is expected to bring new homes, businesses, and infrastructure to the region in order to sustain long term residential and economic growth for the community. In addition the updated plan also intends to provide funding for needed investments into the communities parks, public spaces, and walk and bike areas.
Back in October the city was awarded $4.8 million by SANDAG to help create more homes and infrastructure for San Diegans. $650,000 of those funds will be put into the Mid-City community plan update to support the cities 30-year vision for history and place, sustainability and climate resilience, land use, design, mobility, and parks, public facilities and open space.
During the plan update process, the City Planning Department will consult Mid-City community members to identify and consider important questions, issues and opportunities.
“This is the area’s first community plan update in 25 years, and we are counting on the public to share with us how we can best achieve this to ensure the plan benefits current and future San Diegans in Mid-City,” said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum.
Input the City’s Planning Department is looking for from community members include:
- How can people of all backgrounds and incomes be able to live and work in Mid-City?
- How can we make it easier for people to walk/roll, bike and use transit?
- Where are the special places in Mid-City that we can celebrate and invest in?
- How do we make Mid-City more adaptable, equitable and resilient?
“As communities grow and change, it’s important to have an updated plan that is aligned with present-day needs and opportunities to create more homes, jobs and new infrastructure,” said Vonblum, in a recent press release.
The Mid-City community of San Diego has about 176k residents and has had a 12% population growth since 2000, according to census data. The median household income in the region is $57,398, while the median individual income is $30,180. In addition the region’s racial demographics include: 42% Hispanic, 29% white, and 10% Black residents.
