Will Hillcrest Get Its Garage?

For years residents of Uptown lobbied the City to reform the Uptown Partnership, the agency responsible for administering the community parking district in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and Banker's Hill. They criticized the agency for ineffectiveness, issues of conflict of interest, and for high administrative costs.
On December 28, the City terminated Uptown Partnership's contract.
Now that the parking agency has been dissolved, residents are concerned that the city isn't moving fast enough to establish a new group to take over. Some residents worry that the absence of a parking district will leave the community barren of new parking projects and strip the cash reserves from Uptown.
"The City indicated it would reform the fiscal administration of the Uptown Community Parking District. At present, Uptown does not have one. Why has this not happened?" asked Leo Wilson, chair of the Uptown Planners, in an email to San Diego City Council.
Wilson is frustrated that Uptown did not have a voice in last week's council decision to approve hiking parking meter fees in Hillcrest. He is also concerned that the community will lose out on any future parking improvement projects.
One of those projects is the lot owned by the Pernicano family on Sixth Avenue between University Avenue and Robinson. Stanley Paul Cook, a representative for the Pernicano family, recently informed community members that the family is marketing the property to developers.
"This was one of the sites identified for a public parking garage in Hillcrest. However, the city bureaucrats are into parking meter management. On this basis, are they going to refuse to fund parking at the Pernicano site? I will be pushing hard to allow use of these funds for additional parking on the property, and I am sure others will as well."
While some residents of Uptown have expressed concern about not having a community parking district, representatives from councilmember Gloria's office say that the city is working to get a new one in place by June. Currently, consultant firm Turpin McLaughlin Communications is developing a concept plan to submit to the City.
Until that plan is submitted, Uptown's parking district will remain dormant. "Identifying future improvements will be on hold until a new group is in place," writes Katie Keach, deputy chief of staff for Todd Gloria's office. "If something urgent comes up, staff will work with the council district on solutions."

Thanks to Dorian Hargrove for the great article!

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Q&A: What to know about homeowners' insurance in San Diego

Q&A: What to know about homeowners' insurance

By Lily Leung

Friday, May 6, 2011 at 6:28 p.m.

Photo by John Gastaldo - Union-Tribune staff

Homes burned during the 2007 Witch Fire. Pictured is Cal Fire firefighter Walker Exstrom protecting homes in Escondido where the Witch Fire came through.

High pressure over the western part of the U.S. created dry, offshore winds that likely caused brushfires to spread this week in certain parts of San Diego County, including Camp Pendleton and Santee.
The Camp Pendleton incident happened in a remote area but the Santee brushfire came close to homes before firefighters were able to put out the blaze, news partner Channel 10 reported, raising the perennial issue of homeowner's insurance.

Ron Reitz

Ron R. Reitz, a licensed public insurance adjuster in San Diego, talked with the Union-Tribune for this week's Five on Friday to give people tips on what kind of property insurance to look for and what key questions to ask while shopping for a policy.
Reitz is the past president of the California Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and is an officer on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters. He's an expert on hazard claims. (Responses have been paraphrased and edited for clarity.)
Q: What do San Diego homeowners need to know to make sure they have the right insurance for their property and possessions?
A: I often tell people they need to take a look at their insurance policy on a regular basis, especially if they've made any changes or improvements, they need to revisit their coverage. People are always surprised they don't have enough coverage.
Also be sure to tell your agent about any antiques, art, jewelry, collectibles, all those types of things, any collections or valuables. They will be added to a schedule. Check to see if you are covered for building-code upgrades.
Q: What's a common pitfall with property insurance?
A: People immediately ask, 'What's the cheapest?' It's something I wouldn't skimp on - and you have to check what the policies offer.
Q: What are some things condo owners need to know?
A: For condos, there are two different types of policies. One is the association's policy that covers all the common areas of the property. The other one is additional policy that covers the unit and everything inside of it, like the cabinets, wall coverings, drapes, etc. A lot of people mistakenly think that if they're covered through the association policy that it covers everything inside the unit.
Q: What are some things that threaten properties in San Diego, specifically natural disasters?
A: San Diego's biggest threats are fires. Floods naturally occur following fires, which can damage properties. Tsunamis are not very likely but it’s possible. Earthquakes are possible; a lot of people don't feel them when they happen here.
Q: How should a homeowner prepare for the next disaster?
A: Make sure you have some type of plan. Let's say we have a big fire in town...you have to decide where you will go. It's important to have more than one location. I recommend that people take inventory of all of their personal property. A good time is the beginning of the year when you typically get new stuff during the holidays.

Poway home destroyed from 1997 fire

Courtesy of Quality Claims Adjuster

Other links:
10 things you need to know about homeowners insurance

It's spring! Are San Diegans buying new homes?

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 5:57 a.m.

Photo by Charlie Neuman - Union-Tribune staff

Jaimin, left, and Nivedita Bhise tour a model home at Pulte Homes' The Pines, a 4S Ranch development, on a recent Saturday.

More would-be buyers in San Diego County are out looking for new homes this season, but many aren’t yet ready to buy in the absence of federal tax incentives and amid the ongoing struggle to secure financing, industry experts say.
“It’s improved, but not great,” said Peter Dennehy, a vice president of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “The housing market is still very challenged.”
Sales of newly built homes, which lately have made up about 6 percent of total sales, have stayed mainly flat over the last three years, figures from DataQuick Information Systems show.
The county recorded 184 in March, a 26 percent jump from what builders called a dismal February, and a 0.5 percent increase from a year ago. A little more than 200 new homes were sold in March 2009.
Despite sales apparently leveling out, they’re still far from the boom-era peak of 1,640 in September 2004, a consequence of little building in the region, competition from the market’s distressed properties and tight lending standards.
San Diego County's median price for new homes in March was $528,750, up 15.5 percent from February and up 25.1 percent one year ago. The peak was $553,500 in February 2008, DataQuick data shows.
Nationwide, March sales of new homes were up 11.1 percent from February, the worst year on record for such transactions, according to Monday’s report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Still, new-home sales in March were down 21.9 percent from a year ago, when a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 homes were sold. March’s median price was $213,800, up 2.9 percent in February but down 4.8 percent from a year ago.

Photo by Charlie Neuman - Union-Tribune staff

George and Jade Shen sign the purchase-agreement papers for the home they're buying at Pulte Homes' The Pines, a 4S Ranch development. At right is sales consultant Leah Sidhu. They are upgrading from a nearby condo.

Dennehy, of John Burns Real Estate Consulting, says the folks who appear most serious about buying new homes are first-timers in the $300,000 price range (seen mostly in South County) and those moving up to the $600,000 to $700,000 bracket (mostly in North County.)
Michelle Chang and her husband, Marc Takenaga, 35, are among the upgraders.
They’re about to close on a $630,000 home in Shea’s Madeira project in Del Sur that’s about 800 square feet bigger than their current home, also in the Del Sur area.
“We wanted more entertaining space and a bigger backyard,” said the 32-year-old attorney, who’s been on a waiting list for the new home since last year.
Some job growth in the biotech and healthcare sectors also have attracted potential buyers toward the Interstate 15 corridor, where most of those jobs and new homebuilding are found.
A large share of new homes on the market in 2011 are in the North, including Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe and Del Sur, mainly ranging from the $600,000s to $800,000s.
Steve Doyle, president of Brookfield Homes San Diego/Riverside division, acknowledges the year started slow, but he says it picked up some in March because of people relocating to San Diego County for well-paying jobs.
“They’re coming from the Midwest, the East Coast and North County,” Doyle said.
Dennehy, of the real estate consulting company, predicts another flat year for new homes, especially with no federal tax credit motivating consumers to buy.
He expects an increase in new home sales in 2012 and beyond.

New homes in San Diego County, 2011

Community	Opening	Unit Count	City	Price Range
Solaire of ColRich Residential	Aug.	140	San Marcos	mid $200,000s
Hampton Lane at Pardee Homes	May	114	Carmel Valley	Low 700's
Monterey at Otay Ranch at KB Home	Feb.	95	Chula Vista	Starts at $340,990
Indigo at McMillin Lomas Verdes	May	85	Chula Vista	$400,000s
Amberly by Pulte Homes at La Costa Oaks	April	83	Carlsbad	High $500s
The Pines by Pulte Homs at 4S Ranch	April	81	Rancho Santa Fe	High $680s
Westcott at La Costa Oaks	April	80	Carlsbad	$652,900
Toll Brothers at Arrowood - Fairways	Feb	79	Oceanside	$549,995-$609,995
Verona at Rolling Hills Ranch	Sept.	78	Chula Vista	High $600,000s
Brightwater at Pardee	Oct./Nov.	75	Carmel Valley	TBD
Toll Brothers at StoneBridge	May	71	San Diego	TBD
Carleton, Standard Pacific	March	70	Del Sur	$625,900
Arbor Ranch by Centex	April	57	San Marcos	$350s
Valencia, California West Communities	March	54	Del Sur	High $600,000s
Presidio, Standard Pacific	March	52	Del Sur	$716,900
The Willows by Pulte Homes	April	50	4S Ranch	$740s
Aria at Bella Lago, Shea Homes San Diego	June	46	Chula Vista	$600,000s
Sentinels, Davidson Communities	Jan.	17	Del Sur	$700,000s

Please note: This is only a sampling of new homes for San Diego County in 2011. The information, ordered by total units either already built or expected, is from individual builders.

Thanks to Lily Leung of the UT for providing article

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