San Diego Homes Advisor - Christopher Schell

08/28/2026

Great Day in San Diego, Ca 😍🇺🇸❤️

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

KENSINGTON & NORMAL HEIGHTS COULD LOOK VERY DIFFERENT 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

And San Diego residents have an opportunity to weigh in now.

The City has released the first draft of its updated Mid-City Communities Plan, covering Kensington-Talmadge, Normal Heights, City Heights and the Eastern Area.

The plan looks at where San Diego can accommodate additional housing while also addressing:

🏠 Housing
🚶 Walkability
🚌 Transit
🌳 Parks and public spaces
🏛 Historic resources
🏘 Neighborhood design

As a longtime San Diego Realtor, I find the real-estate question particularly interesting:

Can San Diego substantially increase housing supply while preserving the character that makes neighborhoods like Kensington and Normal Heights so desirable in the first place?

That's not a rhetorical question.

I'd really like to know what residents think.

Choose one:

A. We desperately need more housing — build it.
B. Add density, but concentrate it along commercial/transit corridors.
C. Neighborhood preservation should come first.
D. There's a better solution — I'll explain below.

And if you live in one of these neighborhoods, tell me which one.

Local knowledge matters. Local voices matter.



The City's draft is currently open for public feedback through October 2.

https://www.sandiego.gov/planning/mid-city-communities-plan-update?utm

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/draft-mid-city-cpu.pdf?utm

https://webmaps.sandiego.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=c883f3c20c0247d3bf99a02869d12495&utm

https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/draft-mid-city-community-enhancement-overlay-zone.pdf?utm

08/24/2026

Have You Considered University Heights?

One central San Diego neighborhood I think deserves more attention: University Heights.

It's tucked between several neighborhoods that tend to get more attention, but University Heights has an identity all its own.

You'll find older Craftsman and Spanish homes, cottages, condos and small multifamily properties; a walkable business district along Park Boulevard; canyon edges; mature landscaping; and Trolley Barn Park right in the middle of the neighborhood.

There's also some fascinating San Diego history here. The neighborhood was once home to Mission Cliff Gardens and an ostrich farm, and its trolley history is still reflected in Trolley Barn Park.

What I particularly like is the balance: you're very close to Hillcrest, North Park, Normal Heights and Balboa Park without necessarily feeling like you're in the middle of all the activity.

If you were choosing a central San Diego neighborhood, how important would a quieter residential feel within walking distance of restaurants and coffee be to you?