The University Heights sign isn’t just an icon – it’s a beacon that draws people into the community.
“All of our businesses around here encourage their customers to find them this way. It’s also a place marker,” said Marc Johnson, president of the University Heights Community Association.
But after being the face of University Heights for 30 years, the sign is in need of a facelift. Due to the nighttime neon light outage, one side now reads “Unive Heights.”
Other repairs are also needed, such as painting and repairing rusted metal.
“It’s disturbing. It’s heartbreaking that it’s not working,” said Ross Lopez of the University Heights Community Development Corporation.
Even more troubling, two neighborhood associations said, is that there isn’t enough money for repairs because of the city’s “fiscal irresponsibility.”
A quick repair would cost $27,000.
The total repair cost would be approximately $174,000.
“Everyone I talk to is frustrated because we’re paying extra taxes,” Johnson said.
These additional taxes, paid by neighborhood businesses and residents, help fund the University Heights Maintenance Assessment District.
It is managed by the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department.
The University Heights Community Association said in 2024 that there was a healthy reserve of $65,000 in its account, but city spending since then would reduce the funds to less than $9,000 through September 2027.
“There’s a lot of money spent on electricity. And we know that the sign – the neon light – uses some electricity, but then when we look around we have street lights that are on 24 hours a day and the city hasn’t fixed that. So there’s a lot of waste there too,” Johnson said.
Some of this waste appeared to be on display in broad daylight on Wednesday with the streetlights on.
The association added that there are $6,000 worth of twinkling lights that no longer work after being cut up by tree trimmers.
They’re also worried about a $30,000-a-year budget for landscaping in an area with little bushes, trellises covering tree trunks and beds full of dirt.
While maintenance is the city’s responsibility, there is some community control over what happens.
When asked about this, Johnson said, “If you look at how the reports are prepared, how frequently the meetings take place and when the park managers actually show up, it’s a problem.”
Johnson said in addition to the taxes they pay, they will take on even more responsibility by starting a fundraiser to replenish reserves to restore the sign to its former glory.
A spokesperson for the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department sent a statement that read:
“City staff is working with vendors to repair the University Heights neighborhood sign as quickly as possible. For now, the lights will remain partially on until full repairs can be made. The Parks and Recreation Department will ensure repairs are completed and will continue to work with the University Heights community.”
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/university-heights-sign-need-repairs-city-blamed-mismanaging-money-repairs/4043953/
