An interesting article in the latest edition of the San Diego Uptown News:

North Park residents angry with bar and restaurant expansion

By David Harvey
SDUN Reporter

A North Park resident has created an organization to fight what he believes is a flood of bars coming into the 30th Street and University Avenue business district.

Don Leichtling said he established the North Park Residential Improvement District (NP-RID) in January because he is concerned about the potential for more alcohol licenses to be granted in the area….

…

…Leichtling, who lives a few blocks from the district, said drunken bar patrons have vandalized his car and home, vomited on his porch, had sex in his yard and attacked his neighbor. He said other residents have experienced similar disturbances, which have increased in frequency in the last few years…”

You can read the whole article here…I must say, I live smack dab in the middle of the all the Hillcrest nightlife (10th and University) but I have yet to experience someone having sex in my yard. That I know of.

Vomit IS an issue, however, but these puddles are limited to the sidewalks, and not on my porch. I have found drunk people sleeping on my porch in the morning, however.

And as far as vandalism of homes and cars go, yes there’s that. But it’s my impression the problem is mainly due not to club goers but to transients (who especially like to break into cars)…a problem which would likely become WORSE without the economic stimulus brought to the neighborhood by nightlife.

So, as a resident of a nightlife-y area myself, I am still of the belief that benefits of the vibrancy outweigh the inconveniences. And it seems to me, North Park has many vacant properties (ie, the old Big Lots store) that could really shine and bring prosperity to the neighborhood if clubs were let in.

And speaking of local nightlife, look for me and my camera at Bourbon Street tonight (Thursday) for the House Boi Fashion Show and Wet Contest; at Baja Betty’s and Gossip Grill on Friday; at Spin Nightclub for DJ Phil B on Saturday; and finally, at Circuit Sundays at Sidebar for “Pink Paddy Day.” For that last event, don’t forget that everyone can catch a FREE ride on the SD PIX party bus that leaves from the Ralphs parking lot in Hillcrest and runs all night long! It’s a great way to travel to and fro the Gaslamp, hassle free.

Jim Winsor (jim@sdpix.com)
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