Discover San Diego: University Heights

A Brief History:

Adjacent to Normal Heights, Hillcrest and North Park, University Heights is a neighborhood which boasts some of the best vistas and neighborhoods in Metro San Diego. Founded in 1888 by a group of businessmen attempting to create a "university area" to draw real estate investors and residents alike. Unfortunately real estate in San Diego went into a depreciated trend (sound familiar?) and plans to build a major university and neighborhoods all but halted.

In 1899 the forerunner of SDSU started here (a State Normal School or Teachers Training Annex), but eventually moved east in 1931 to it's location now in what's now know as San Diego's: The College Area (92115); hence the name "University Heights".

In April 1997 the University Heights sign was dedicated to the neighborhood.

The images & photos of ostriches appear throughout the community, on the sign, statues, etc. This is because in 1939 John D. Spreckles invited the the owner of the Coronado Ostrich Farm to open in UH at Mission Cliffs Gardens; a 40 acre garden attraction with incredible Mission Valley views, used to exist here until 1929. It was commissioned by John D. Sprecles who hired John Davidson to design & build this local attraction. Long gone now, the garden is a subdivision of homes in the neighborhood that enjoy fantastic views of Mission Valley & Mission Bay. The original river rock walls that surrounded Mission Cliffs Gardens still exist in the neighborhood today, as well as the original gated entrance and the street name: Mission Cliff Drive.

Local Business Today:

Park Blvd. (one of the main drags, especially near the Adams Ave. intersection area) in University Heights and it's dotted with an eclectic mix of shops, boutiques, and artist's studios, cafe's and “mom & pop”-businesses that add to the old world charm of this great neighborhood.

Rosie Lees British Foods & Teas Shoppe for those that crossed the pond and miss a taste of home.

El Zarape's famous Scallop and Lobster Tacos! Great Mexican Food!

Soltan Banoo Eclectic Persian Cuisine is one of the top Persian Restaurants in town! You can also find hand made middle eastern jewelry there too!

Park Blvd. Artworks building-design and custom fabrication shops like Michael Borrelli Design: furniture, art, cabinetry, hardware,etc.

Barber Shop Barber of Seville with George Figaro who's "old school" trained to cut & shave.

Attractions:

One of the great attractions beyond the shopping & dining in this neighborhood is a local favorite:

Trolley Barn Park located on Adams Avenue, just east of Park Boulevard. Full Mission Valley views are enjoyed from this vantage point and it's a great place to picnic, play with the kids or take in one of the free concerts on most Friday evenings during the summer. The park gets it's name from the fact that University Heights used to have one of the many street car public transit systems and as you guessed, the barn where they were repaired & maintained was orginally located here. “What a view to work by”!

More to come...