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52-554: Marston Hills is a neighborhood within the Hillcrest community of San Diego, California . It is located above the northwestern corner of Balboa Park , and is generally bounded by Sixth Avenue to the west, Pennsylvania Avenue to the north, and Park Boulevard to the east, although some sources give California State Route 163 as the western boundary. The neighborhood is named after George Marston , an early San Diego businessman and philanthropist, whose house and grounds are located in

104-581: A biodiversity hotspot – a biological community with a large number of different species – that is under threat by human activity. The California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion , of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome , has three sub-ecoregions with ecosystem – plant community subdivisions: For the numerous individual plant and animal species found within the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, see: Some of

156-625: A camp of the San Diego-Imperial Council of Girl Scouts of the USA . The neighborhood also contains urban finger canyons with trails that connect to trails within Balboa Park. 32°44′36″N 117°09′28″W  /  32.7433°N 117.1579°W  / 32.7433; -117.1579 Hillcrest, San Diego 32°45′N 117°10′W  /  32.750°N 117.167°W  / 32.750; -117.167 Hillcrest

208-476: A community parking district, created in 1997. It was initially managed by a local nonprofit organization called the Uptown Partnership, which received a portion of the income from area parking meters, amounting to about $ 700,000 per year. This money was meant to be used to improve parking availability, traffic circulation, transit effectiveness, and pedestrian mobility. After 12 years and $ 2.5 million,

260-499: A distinctly "urban" feel, a high population density (compared to many other neighborhoods in San Diego), and is the city's main " gayborhood ", in addition to the other uptown neighborhoods (surrounding Balboa Park). Hillcrest is an older, historical neighborhood that has experienced growth through gentrification . Most of the streets are lined with trees and abundant plants. There are several lush canyons and hiking paths throughout

312-434: A fire. Plants that are long-lived in the seed bank or serotinous with induced germination after fire include chamise , Ceanothus, and fiddleneck . Some chaparral plant communities may grow so dense and tall that it becomes difficult for large animals and humans to penetrate, but may be teeming with smaller fauna in the understory. The seeds of many chaparral plant species are stimulated to germinate by some fire cue (heat or

364-467: A high ratio of magnesium and iron to calcium and potassium, that are also generally low in essential nutrients such as nitrogen. Another phytogeography system uses two California chaparral and woodlands subdivisions: the cismontane chaparral and the transmontane (desert) chaparral. Cismontane chaparral ("this side of the mountain") refers to the chaparral ecosystem in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome in California, growing on

416-405: A high-intensity crown-fire regime, meaning that fires consume nearly all the above ground growth whenever they burn, with a historical frequency of 30 to 150 years or more. A detailed analysis of historical fire data concluded that fire suppression activities have been ineffective at excluding fire from southern California chaparral, unlike in ponderosa pine forests. In addition, the number of fires

468-439: A native shrubland to non-native annual grassland and drastically reduce species diversity, especially under drought brought about by climate change. There are two older hypotheses relating to California chaparral fire regimes that caused considerable debate in the past within the fields of wildfire ecology and land management. Research over the past two decades have rejected these hypotheses: The perspective that older chaparral

520-563: A weekly farmers market on the grounds of the local Department of Motor Vehicles, a Book Fair and Mardi Gras. San Diego Pride is an annual celebration each July for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It features the Pride Parade on a Saturday morning, preceded by the Hillcrest Block Party on Friday night and followed by a two-day festival in Balboa Park. It is sponsored by San Diego LGBT Pride and

572-520: A year. This makes the chaparral most vulnerable to fire in the late summer and fall. The chaparral ecosystem as a whole is adapted to be able to recover from naturally infrequent, high-intensity fire (fires occurring between 30 and 150 years or more apart); indeed, chaparral regions are known culturally and historically for their impressive fires. (This does create a conflict with human development adjacent to and expanding into chaparral systems.) Additionally, Native Americans burned chaparral near villages on

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624-703: Is an uptown neighborhood in San Diego, California . The area is located north-northwest of Balboa Park , south of Interstate 8 / Mission Valley , with Park Boulevard to the east (bordering North Park ) and First Avenue to the west (bordering Mission Hills ). Hillcrest is known for its "tolerance and acceptance", its prevalent LGBT community presence, and its diversity of races, nationalities, genders, and social classes. It is, likewise, popular for its abundant locally owned businesses, stores, restaurants, cafés, bars, nightclubs, trendy thrift-stores, adult novelty shops and other independent specialty stores. Hillcrest has

676-487: Is bounded by Mission Hills to the northwest, Bankers Hill and Balboa Park to the south, University Heights to the north, and North Park to the east. A large ridge overlooking San Diego Bay borders the neighborhood to the west. Hillcrest is part of the Uptown community planning area, which consists of the neighborhoods of Mission Hills, Hillcrest, Bankers Hill, Park West, and University Heights. Initially, Hillcrest

728-572: Is considered to be the largest civic event in the city of San Diego. The large rainbow flag approved in May 2012 was erected in time for the 2012 Pride Festival. Chaparral Many chaparral shrubs have hard sclerophyllous evergreen leaves, as contrasted with the associated soft-leaved, drought-deciduous , scrub community of coastal sage scrub , found often on drier, southern facing slopes. Three other closely related chaparral shrubland systems occur in southern Arizona , western Texas , and along

780-427: Is increasing in step with population growth and exacerbated by climate change. Chaparral stand age does not have a significant correlation to its tendency to burn. Large, infrequent, high-intensity wildfires are part of the natural fire regime for California chaparral. Extreme weather conditions (low humidity, high temperature, high winds), drought, and low fuel moisture are the primary factors in determining how large

832-604: Is noted for its many restaurants. Scripps Mercy Hospital and the UC San Diego Medical Center are located here. Hillcrest is a very walkable neighborhood with cafés, restaurants, and shops near the main residential pockets. The neighborhood is served by the 280 and 290 bus rapid transit lines as well as the 3, 11, 20, 83, 110, and 120 standard bus lines from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System . Hillcrest

884-478: Is often open, with only about 50 percent of the ground covered. Individual shrubs can reach up to 10 feet (3.0 m) in height. Transmontane chaparral or desert chaparral is found on the eastern slopes of major mountain range systems on the western sides of the deserts of California . The mountain systems include the southeastern Transverse Ranges (the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains ) in

936-719: Is part of the San Diego City Council 's Third district; the current councilmember is Stephen Whitburn, who replaced Chris Ward in the 2020 election as Ward moved to the California State Assembly. Ward previously replaced Todd Gloria in the Third District seat when Gloria was elected to the Assembly seat now held by Ward in 2016. This makes Stephen Whitburn the fifth consecutively elected openly LGBT representative of District 3 since

988-624: Is served by State Route 163 at the University Avenue, Washington Street and Robinson Avenue exits. University Avenue and Washington Street are the major east–west thoroughfares in Hillcrest; Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Avenues connect Hillcrest to downtown San Diego through Park West and Bankers Hill. Hillcrest has dozens of public parking structures including garages, lots, and spots along most streets. The uptown neighborhoods of Hillcrest, Mission Hills , and Bankers Hill are managed by

1040-549: Is similar to the observation that fire suppression and other human-caused disturbances in dry, ponderosa pine forests in the Southwest of the United States has unnaturally increased forest density. Historically, mixed-severity fires likely burned through these forests every decade or so, burning understory plants, small trees, and downed logs at low-severity, and patches of trees at high-severity. However, chaparral has

1092-746: Is unhealthy or unproductive may have originated during the 1940s when studies were conducted measuring the amount of forage available to deer populations in chaparral stands. However, according to recent studies, California chaparral is extraordinarily resilient to very long periods without fire and continues to maintain productive growth throughout pre-fire conditions. Seeds of many chaparral plants actually require 30 years or more worth of accumulated leaf litter before they will successfully germinate (e.g., scrub oak, Quercus berberidifolia ; toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia ; and holly-leafed cherry, Prunus ilicifolia ). When intervals between fires drop below 10 to 15 years, many chaparral species are eliminated and

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1144-892: The Mojave Desert north and northeast of the Los Angeles basin and Inland Empire; and the northern Peninsular Ranges (San Jacinto, Santa Rosa , and Laguna Mountains ), which separate the Colorado Desert (western Sonoran Desert ) from lower coastal Southern California . It is distinguished from the cismontane chaparral found on the coastal side of the mountains, which experiences higher winter rainfall. Naturally, desert chaparral experiences less winter rainfall than cismontane chaparral. Plants in this community are characterized by small, hard ( sclerophyllic ) evergreen (non- deciduous ) leaves. Desert chaparral grows above California's desert cactus scrub plant community and below

1196-588: The desert shrubland habitat and chaparral plant community growing in the rainshadow of these ranges. Transmontane chaparral features xeric desert climate, not Mediterranean climate habitats, and is also referred to as desert chaparral . Desert chaparral is a regional ecosystem subset of the deserts and xeric shrublands biome , with some plant species from the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion . Unlike cismontane chaparral, which forms dense, impenetrable stands of plants, desert chaparral

1248-557: The pinyon-juniper woodland . It is further distinguished from the deciduous sub-alpine scrub above the pinyon-juniper woodlands on the same side of the Peninsular ranges. Due to the lower annual rainfall (resulting in slower plant growth rates) when compared to cismontane chaparral, desert chaparral is more vulnerable to biodiversity loss and the invasion of non-native weeds and grasses if disturbed by human activity and frequent fire. Transmontane (desert) chaparral typically grows on

1300-639: The scrub oak ". In its natural state, chaparral is characterized by infrequent fires, with natural fire return intervals ranging between 30 years and over 150 years. Mature chaparral (at least 60 years since time of last fire) is characterized by nearly impenetrable, dense thickets (except the more open desert chaparral). These plants are flammable during the late summer and autumn months when conditions are characteristically hot and dry. They grow as woody shrubs with thick, leathery, and often small leaves, contain green leaves all year (are evergreen ), and are typically drought resistant (with some exceptions ). After

1352-405: The 2000 census, of the ~10% of households headed by unmarried couples in Hillcrest (zip code 92103), 43% were headed by two people of the same sex, an indication that they may be gay or lesbian couples. That indicates that more than 4% of all households in Hillcrest are headed by two unmarried people of the same sex. The neighborhood is governed by the elected officials of the city of San Diego. It

1404-468: The California Academy of Sciences, Mediterranean shrubland contains more than 20 percent of the world's plant diversity. The word chaparral is a loanword from Spanish chaparro , meaning place of the scrub oak , which itself comes from a Basque word, txapar , that has the same meaning. Conservation International and other conservation organizations consider chaparral to be

1456-532: The Hillcrest Women's Association, a group of local female shopkeepers. A similar sign appears in images dated c.1930. After falling into disrepair, it was taken down and rebuilt in 1984. The sign was retrofitted in 2023 from white to color lighting in 16 million hues with pre-programmed shows for various events and holidays. The sign was relit on February 21, 2023, in the purple, gold, and green colors to celebrate Mardi Gras. After World War II , Hillcrest

1508-582: The Partnership had created 50 new parking spaces, leading to criticism from a county Grand Jury and calls from the community to abolish it. The Uptown Partnership withdrew from managing the parking district in 2010. After several years of inactivity, during which revenue was collected but not spent, the Uptown Community Parking District was revived in 2012 with a new board of directors and a new operations manager. In 2013

1560-653: The area, such as Vermont Canyon (at the south end of Vermont Street) and Richmond Canyon, which is accessed via staircase one block south of Pennsylvania Street. Some of these trails have historical ties to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America , Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts ; there is a pedestrian-only bridge crossing highway CA-163 , east–west, from Richmond Street to the neighborhood of Bankers Hill. There are many styles of buildings, including Craftsman homes and Mid-century modern condominium buildings. The neighborhood

1612-487: The area. The Marston Hills area is one of the older neighborhoods in San Diego, and has many large homes amid mature landscaping. The neighborhood has been proposed as a recognized historic district within the city of San Diego. The neighborhood was also the scene of one of San Diego's most infamous crimes: the murder of Dan Broderick by his ex-wife Betty Broderick . Marston Hills directly abuts Balboa Park, and borders

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1664-418: The chaparral biota native to California, all of which tend to regrow quickly after fires, include: The complex ecology of chaparral habitats supports a very large number of animal species. The following is a short list of birds which are an integral part of the cismontane chaparral ecosystems. Transmontane chaparral or desert chaparral — transmontane ("the other side of the mountain") chaparral —refers to

1716-400: The chemicals from smoke or charred wood). During the time shortly after a fire, chaparral communities may contain soft-leaved herbaceous, fire following annual wildflowers and short-lived perennials that dominate the community for the first few years – until the burl resprouts and seedlings of chaparral shrub species create a mature, dense overstory. Seeds of annuals and shrubs lie dormant until

1768-425: The coastal plain to promote plant species for textiles and food. Before a major fire, typical chaparral plant communities are dominated by manzanita , chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum and Ceanothus species, toyon (which can sometimes be interspersed with scrub oaks ), and other drought-resistant shrubs with hard ( sclerophyllous ) leaves; these plants resprout (see resprouter ) from underground burls after

1820-525: The eastern side of central Mexico's mountain chains, all having summer rains in contrast to the Mediterranean climate of other chaparral formations. Chaparral comprises 9% of California's wildland vegetation and contains 20% of its plant species. See US Forest Service map and details of distribution and occurrence The name comes from the Spanish word chaparro , which translates to "place of

1872-412: The election of Chris Kehoe in 1993. The Uptown Planners is an elected planning group composed of residents, property owners, and business people from the Uptown area, which includes Hillcrest; it advises the city on land use and other issues. An ad hoc town council provides a conduit for information from citizens with the government. The Hillcrest Town Council is an organization of local residents that

1924-740: The first rains following a fire, the landscape is dominated by small flowering herbaceous plants, known as fire followers, which die back with the summer dry period. Similar plant communities are found in the four other Mediterranean climate regions around the world, including the Mediterranean Basin (where it is known as maquis ), central Chile (where it is called matorral ), the South African Cape Region (known there as fynbos ), and in Western and Southern Australia (as kwongan ). According to

1976-446: The indicator plants of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion include: Chaparral soils and nutrient composition Chaparral characteristically is found in areas with steep topography and shallow stony soils, while adjacent areas with clay soils, even where steep, tend to be colonized by annual plants and grasses. Some chaparral species are adapted to nutrient-poor soils developed over serpentine and other ultramafic rock, with

2028-630: The interior of the deserts, such as in the upper New York Mountains within the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert. The California transmontane (desert) chaparral is found in the rain shadow deserts of the following: There is overlap of animals with those of the adjacent desert and pinyon-juniper communities. Chaparral is a coastal biome with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The chaparral area receives about 38–100 cm (15–39 in) of precipitation

2080-404: The land that eventually became Hillcrest. In 1871 Arnold and D. Choate, two real estate developers, obtained that property. George Hill, a wealthy railroad tycoon, then purchased the land. Real estate development began in 1910 and the area was built out by 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s Hillcrest was considered a suburban shopping area for downtown San Diego. In the 1910s, Hillcrest became one of

2132-431: The loss of obligate seeding shrub species such as Manzanita spp. This high frequency disallows seeder plants to reach their reproductive size before the next fire and the community shifts to a sprouter-dominance. If high frequency fires continue over time, obligate resprouting shrub species can also be eliminated by exhausting their energy reserves below-ground. Today, frequent accidental ignitions can convert chaparral from

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2184-586: The lower (3,500–4,500 feet (1,100–1,400 m) elevation) northern slopes of the southern Transverse Ranges (running east to west in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties) and on the lower (2,500–3,500 feet (760–1,070 m)) eastern slopes of the Peninsular Ranges (running south to north from lower Baja California to Riverside and Orange counties and the Transverse Ranges). It can also be found in higher-elevation sky islands in

2236-547: The many San Diego neighborhoods connected by the Class 1 streetcars and an extensive San Diego public transit system that was spurred by the Panama–California Exposition of 1915 and built by John D. Spreckels . These streetcars became a fixture of this neighborhood until their retirement in 1939. In 1940 the "HILLCREST" lighted sign at the intersection of University and Fifth Avenue was first erected, donated by

2288-636: The neighborhood, stewards the iconic Hillcrest sign, organizes street festivals, runs the Hillcrest Farmers Market , and it sponsors the annual "Taste of Hillcrest," which offers food and drink samples from over 50 local bars and restaurants. In 2012 the Hillcrest Business Association, with the support of many business people, created the Hillcrest Pride Flag. The commercial area of Hillcrest

2340-549: The next fire creates the conditions needed for germination. Several shrub species such as Ceanothus fix nitrogen, increasing the availability of nitrogen compounds in the soil. Because of the hot, dry conditions that exist in the California summer and fall, chaparral is one of the most fire-prone plant communities in North America. Some fires are caused by lightning, but these are usually during periods of high humidity and low winds and are easily controlled. Nearly all of

2392-402: The parking district introduced a free trolley that runs along main streets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. There is also a website, AccessHillcrest, which helps people find parking spaces, share rides, or bicycle. Hillcrest "CityFest" is an annual street festival which features food, live entertainment, a beer garden and street vendors. Other regular events in Hillcrest include

2444-465: The system is typically replaced by non-native, invasive, weedy grassland. The idea that older chaparral is responsible for causing large fires was originally proposed in the 1980s by comparing wildfires in Baja California and southern California. It was suggested that fire suppression activities in southern California allowed more fuel to accumulate, which in turn led to larger fires. This

2496-425: The very large wildfires are caused by human activity during periods of hot, dry easterly Santa Ana winds . These human-caused fires are commonly ignited by power line failures, vehicle fires and collisions, sparks from machinery, arson, or campfires. Though adapted to infrequent fires, chaparral plant communities can be eliminated by frequent fires. A high frequency of fire (less than 10-15 years apart) will result in

2548-747: The western (and coastal) sides of large mountain range systems, such as the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the San Joaquin Valley foothills, western slopes of the Peninsular Ranges and California Coast Ranges , and south-southwest slopes of the Transverse Ranges in the Central Coast and Southern California regions. In Central and Southern California chaparral forms a dominant habitat. Members of

2600-469: Was a chaparral -covered mesa. Kumeyaay Indians inhabited numerous villages scattered throughout the San Diego region. Spanish colonization brought the first of twenty-nine California missions with the founding of the nearby San Diego Mission . Presidio Park in Mission Hills and Old Town just down the hill are a part of San Diego history. In 1870, Mary Kearney obtained a deed from the city for

2652-399: Was formed in 2007. It meets monthly. Its mission statement is "To provide a voice & enhance the quality of life for Hillcrest renters & homeowners while supporting actions that benefit our neighborhood." The Hillcrest Business Association has existed since 1921; in 1984 it became a city-approved Business Improvement District . The association supports most beautification projects in

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2704-473: Was left with an aging infrastructure and population. During the 1970s, gays and lesbians began to establish residences, businesses, and organizations in Hillcrest. The 2000 Census showed that the neighborhood's residents had a median age of 39 and that 49.3% had college degrees. The 2000 Census indicates median family income in 1999 was $ 61,741 ($ 80,011 in 2010 inflation adjusted dollars). The US Census did not record sexual orientation until 2020, but in

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