Pacific Heights: A Welcome Addition to LV
Plus, Is Gentrification a Threat to LV?
Out with the old, and in with the new!
Linda Vista just saw the old Bank of America building on Ulric Street torn down, but the neighborhood also got to see the opening of a brand new, impressive-looking apartment complex. Pacific Heights Apartment Homes, located at 2301 Ulric Street, right next to the old Bank of America lot, opened its doors for new tenants on December 15.
This new apartment complex is a welcome addition to the community, offering much needed housing opportunities, as well as contributing an attractive touch to the aesthetics of the Ulric Street scenery.
Pacific Heights is a 70-unit, tri-level, gated apartment complex that offers one, two and three bedroom apartments. Rents range from $1,900 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment, to $3,100 for a three-bedroom.
Apartments include washers and dryers, central air conditioning, hardwood floors, granite kitchen counters, and patios or balconies.
Amenities include a fitness center, a pool, and underground parking (with elevator access).
While walking through the complex I was impressed by the attractive interiors of the apartments, especially the sleek looking kitchens, the color combination of the building facades, and the bright, cheerful ambience of the courtyards. I also thought of how convenient it would be to live in the heart of Linda Vista, right next to the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center.
The complex’s proximity to so many San Diego locales, to include the University of San Diego campus, Mission and Pacific beaches, and downtown San Diego, as well as its easy access to freeways, should make Pacific Heights a very popular site.
Pacific Heights is operated by MC Properties, which is owned by Linda Vista native Mike Contreras.
Pacific Heights will eventually include an additional structure located on the site of the old Bank of America building.
Pacific Heights Apartment Homes
858-565-6400 Ext.11
858-333-7412 (text)
Jessicamcproperties@gmail.com
Is Gentrification a Threat to Linda Vista?
Though the opening of the new Pacific Heights apartment complex in Linda Vista appears to be a big plus for the community, some residents might use the occasion to start voicing the dreaded “g” word. In case you haven’t heard, the “g” does not stand for “good” or “granola” or “giraffe.” No, my fellow citizens, we’re talking about “gentrification.”
According to Wikipedia, “gentrification” is defined as the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. It is considered a common and controversial topic in politics and in urban planning. Gentrification results in the introduction of vital new businesses into a neighborhood, but also results in the displacement of longtime residents. Gentrification means people are now attracted to visit and live in the neighborhood, but it also means higher housing prices which some people cannot afford.
Mention the word gentrification to longtime Linda Vista residents and you’ll get a variety of responses, to include the following:
--We don’t want it.
--It’s inevitable.
--There are advantages and disadvantages.
--No one wants Linda Vista to change.
--It’s one way to get rid of graffiti.
--It will destroy the character of our neighborhood.
--But we’ll get a Whole Foods grocery store out of it.
Is gentrification already occurring in Linda Vista? Should the new Pacific Heights apartment complex be interpreted as a sure indicator of gentrification?
Expensive condos and/or apartments, along with a rise in rental rates are generally considered common indicators of gentrification. But there are also more subtle indicators we should be looking for if we want to detect gentrification’s onset.
To help me design what amounts to an early warning system for gentrification, I did a little internet research. In the process, I discovered there are 6 additional indicators that signal the possible onset of a gentrifying neighborhood. Read below and see if you agree with my appraisal of possible gentrification in Linda Vista. Appraisals for each of the 6 indicators include a brief summary of observations, along with a ranking on my highly scientific Gentrification Likelihood Spectrum, as in “The likelihood of gentrification based on this indicator is…Great, Probable, Possible, Weak, Very Weak, or Extremely Weak”:
1. The neighborhood is now being referred to by a new name.
So far, so good on this one. I haven’t heard anyone refer to Linda Vista as anything but Linda Vista, but I’ll be especially attentive to people substituting Linda Vista with a hip name like LiVi, LinTa, the Vis, or even Pacific Heights. Very Weak
2. Influx of hipster bars, quirky restaurants, and “real coffee” shops.
Starbucks remains no closer than Mission Valley. The new Panda Café on Ulric Street could possibly be defined as quirky. The Ballast Point Tasting Room on Linda Vista Road is as close to a bar as we have in Linda Vista, but the beer drinking clientele at this establishment is not limited to just hipsters. Weak
3. An Influx of tourists.
Back in January, prior to the pandemic, I was walking by the Linda Vista Post Office when a bus full of tourists from Minnesota pulled up next to me. The driver opened the door and asked me for directions to Balboa Park. Several tourists got out of the bus to stretch their legs. I asked if they were enjoying San Diego, and they all replied in unison, “Yah, sher, ya betcha we do.” Though these tourists were charming in a Midwest sort of way, I don’t think this one bus encounter qualifies as a tourist influx. Extremely Weak
4. The opening of health food stores.
Still no health food stores in sight, and the last time I looked, Yum Yum Donuts does not sell Kale or Quinoa Fritters. Very Weak
5. The opening of yoga studios.
A few days ago I thought I saw a group of people stretching yoga style on the grass at John Baca Park. However, when I went over to investigate, I discovered they were a unit from the city’s pest control department. Instead of stretching, it turns out they were actually crawling on the ground to set up rat traps. Extremely Weak
6. More hipsters frequenting the neighborhood.
I did recently run into a twenty-something year-old guy while walking around the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center. He was wearing pink pants, had a beard and a handlebar mustache, and he mentioned he was listening to Radiohead on his Air Pods. During our conversation, he randomly said, “Did you know that cauliflower is the new mashed potatoes?” Possible
****
Based on the above appraisal, I think it is safe to say that the threat of LV gentrification remains distant. However, I will continue to monitor this early warning system in the coming months, hoping to give readers a heads-up regarding any indicators of possible gentrification before it becomes too late.
Soon Available for Adoption
We are currently fostering two fantastic kittens for the SD Humane Society. They are both two and a half months old. They should be available for adoption beginning the afternoon of January 6. These two are very playful and very friendly. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting a kitten, please call the SD Humane Society and refer to these two ID numbers to see about adopting them: (lynx point kitten # 709958 and grey tabby kitten # 709957).
LATEST UPDATE (Dec 30): Good news. Looks like we have found prospective adoptees for these kittens!
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I want the white blue eye