South Park: not cut by high-volume road

30th Street, Rebecca's Coffeehouse, Switzer Canyon, Grape Street dog park, Target Express, meth house, South Park's odd people

Author

Matthew Alice, Dryw Keltz, Ian Anderson, The Canyoneers, DJ Stevens, Julie Stalmer

Publish Date

From city's bikeway improvement evaluation, April 16

North Park and South Park – say goodbye to 30th Street as it is
The main roadway connecting North and South Park may be on the eve of a massive transformation. Councilmember Chris Ward is spearheading an ambitious plan to improve the bikeways on 30th Street that run from Howard Avenue in North Park to Juniper Street in South Park.
By Dryw Keltz, April 30, 2019

South Park land rush to X out Rebecca’s Coffeehouse?
Rebecca's Coffeehouse is being ousted. The South Park staple has been on the corner of Juniper and Fern streets for more than 20 years, offering up more than just a cup of joe — it has a long history of hosting open mics, jazz trios, and poetry readings.
By Julie Stalmer, Nov. 17, 2017

Rebecca's Coffeehouse, corner of Juniper and Fern streets

Look low in Switzer Canyon for the dusky-footed woodrat
The western end of Switzer Canyon is at the corner of 28th Street and Maple, near the eastern edge of Balboa Park Golf Course. Proceed easterly for about a half mile. This is an out-and-back hike from here with the turnaround at 30th Street. This side of the canyon has benefitted from some restoration by the members of San Diego Canyonlands.
By The Canyoneers, Oct. 4, 2017

Original trestle bridge over Switzer Canyon, circa 1930s

Homeowners group aims to buy land from developer
The canyon runs from Fir to Elm Street, between Granada Avenue and the Grape Street dog park. Portions of it are popular among joggers, hikers, and dog-walkers. Kipperman pointed out the eucalyptus-lined canyon is home to owls (among other bird species).
By Ian Anderson, Dec. 22, 2015

Big bust at the Grape Street dog park
A failed plea to city officials to install a new fence to enclose the Grape Street off-leash dog park in South Park led to a crackdown that resulted in more than two dozen dog-owners receiving tickets from San Diego police and park rangers in late April and early May.
By Ian Anderson, July 1, 2015

“If you don’t like it, you should just move.”

Hip-ocrisy or versatility?
Some hipsters reside in South Park, but not every South Park resident is a hipster, so there can’t be a sweeping deduction about all of hipsterkind based solely on observations of the South Park residents opposed to the installation of a Target Express at the corner of Fern and Grape.
By DJ Stevens, May 6, 2015

RIP, Gala Foods. You were mostly acceptable.

South Park meth market shut down?
the yellow house at 1505 Fern Street in South Park was raided by law-enforcement officers and its occupants arrested. At 5 a.m. on the morning of June 11, an San Diego police SWAT team surrounded and forcefully entered the home to serve a narcotics warrant. Reportedly breaking windows with flash grenades, the team was supported by dozens of narcotics and patrol officers, armored vehicles, and a helicopter.
By Ian Anderson, June 14, 2014

Windows were reportedly broken by flash grenades.

South Park's crooked 30th Street
Why in the world does 30th Street morph into Fern Street between Juniper and Ash streets? Not only that, 30th doesn’t disappear during its run as Fern but actually continues as an entirely separate and parallel street one block to the west of Fern. I can understand that it would be a huge hassle to fix it, i.e. rename Fern as 30th and then rename the western section of 30th as Fern, but why did this happen in the first place?
By Matthew Alice, Nov. 7, 2012

Potential canyon development in South Park
On January 9, the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department issued a notice of site development at the corner of Granada Avenue and Fir Street in South Park. Within days, dozens of nearby residents formed the Protect the 28th Street Canyon Coalition to formally object to the developer's proposals on the basis it would disrupt a sensitive canyon habitat and impede a popular hiking trail.
By Ian Anderson, Jan. 28, 2014

The Neighbor
Ours was a normal little enclave affectionately referred to as our South Park “Hood”. It was really like any other small community, an up and coming neighborhood, home to all sorts of folks, of all ages and backgrounds. There were older seniors, those of every persuasion, including young hipsters with or without kids, young professionals, many who liked to party down, and even those who owned breathtaking historic homes, which surrounded our little complex.
By greseldaone, July 23, 2012

Displacement of South Park’s odd people
Not very long ago this neighborhood was a secret refuge for odd people. The cheap apartments were rented by hardworking families busy raising more kids than they could afford. The run-down houses were rented by gangs of dyed-hair, malcontent, creative misfits busy making good music, bad paintings, or brash claims of writing their generation's On the Road. But that South Park is disappearing.
By David Boyne, Dec. 30, 2004