Not going downtown anymore (San Diego: sales, 2014, homes)

[Electrician4you]

My wife and I went to Gaslamp. Everyone was raving about it. Had lunch (food at the restaurant we picked was horrible). I guess you don't go to a restaurant that's empty right at lunch time. Big red flag.
As time went on the scene changed. Lots more young people a undertone with a bad vibe. Driving home as soon as you left the main Gaslamp district it was a ****hole. Homeless and drunks. Never went back since. Have no interest to do so either. If SD wants my visitor money they need to clean the place up.

[elchevere]

part of the problem, outside of lawyers--most of whom work downtown but live elsewhere, what professionals are based downtown?......you need something that will attract professionals that actually have and spend money to patronize the Gaslamp and surrounding areas--rather than an area that attracts homeless, out of town conventioneers, and locals aged 25 still working on their GED degree. God forbid the City offer businesses incentives to move downtown rather than giving out another liquor license to a Bubs or Dick's Last resort type of establishment....seriously, downtown is really not much different than Garnett Avenue in PB. Little Italy is nicer, but it's no UES in NYC or Marina District SF--if the city wants to gentrify downtown, it starts with more downtown businesses that attracts more professionals.

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

My wife and I went to Gaslamp. Everyone was raving about it. Had lunch (food at the restaurant we picked was horrible). I guess you don't go to a restaurant that's empty right at lunch time. Big red flag.
As time went on the scene changed. Lots more young people a undertone with a bad vibe. Driving home as soon as you left the main Gaslamp district it was a ****hole. Homeless and drunks. Never went back since. Have no interest to do so either. If SD wants my visitor money they need to clean the place up.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by elchevere

part of the problem, outside of lawyers--most of whom work downtown but live elsewhere, what professionals are based downtown?......you need something that will attract professionals that actually have and spend money to patronize the Gaslamp and surrounding areas--rather than an area that attracts homeless, out of town conventioneers, and locals aged 25 still working on their GED degree. God forbid the City offer businesses incentives to move downtown rather than giving out another liquor license to a Bubs or Dick's Last resort type of establishment....seriously, downtown is really not much different than Garnett Avenue in PB. Little Italy is nicer, but it's no UES in NYC or Marina District SF--if the city wants to gentrify downtown, it starts with more downtown businesses that attracts more professionals.

All I can ay is I was not impressed. I guess if you're a 25 year old looking for **** or a fight it's the place to be. Or like to see humans in a wild habitat

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

My wife and I went to Gaslamp. Everyone was raving about it. Had lunch (food at the restaurant we picked was horrible). I guess you don't go to a restaurant that's empty right at lunch time. Big red flag.
As time went on the scene changed. Lots more young people a undertone with a bad vibe. Driving home as soon as you left the main Gaslamp district it was a ****hole. Homeless and drunks. Never went back since. Have no interest to do so either. If SD wants my visitor money they need to clean the place up.

They clearly don't want our money. They think TJ has plenty to share with them. They won't even widen the 5 even when it is a ridiculous congested cluster which is starting to scare away everyone. In the next few short years, OC's section of the 5 will be widened substantially (from the Y all the way down to the end of San Clemente) only to lead to a San Diego county bottleneck ALL the way down.

And yes, DTSD is not much to see. They do have some shows though, but they almost always come up north anyway (or precede the SD show).

[LuvSouthOC]

Originally Posted by elchevere

part of the problem, outside of lawyers--most of whom work downtown but live elsewhere, what professionals are based downtown?......you need something that will attract professionals that actually have and spend money to patronize the Gaslamp and surrounding areas--rather than an area that attracts homeless, out of town conventioneers, and locals aged 25 still working on their GED degree. God forbid the City offer businesses incentives to move downtown rather than giving out another liquor license to a Bubs or Dick's Last resort type of establishment....seriously, downtown is really not much different than Garnett Avenue in PB. Little Italy is nicer, but it's no UES in NYC or Marina District SF--if the city wants to gentrify downtown, it starts with more downtown businesses that attracts more professionals.

This.

We nearly controlled the restaurants at lunch and in the evening when I worked there. I agree on the subsidies. It is needed.

[LamarOdomsDealer]

In fairness to the mix of professionals, homeless people, and drunks in DT, I would really pay attention to the time of day. During the day it will be a mix of all different types of people. At night, most of the professionals get replaced by younger people.

[DaCounselor]

LuvOC, the 5 is also being widened in SD, they are starting with an additional lane in each direction from Manchester to Oceanside (phase 1) and then they will be adding another additional lane in each direction (later phase) End result is going to be 6 lanes in each direction, with the center 4 lanes for HOV/toll. Also adding another rail line for the Coaster. The project has already started with a massive new interchange at Genesee.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

My wife and I went to Gaslamp. Everyone was raving about it. Had lunch (food at the restaurant we picked was horrible). I guess you don't go to a restaurant that's empty right at lunch time. Big red flag.
As time went on the scene changed. Lots more young people a undertone with a bad vibe. Driving home as soon as you left the main Gaslamp district it was a ****hole. Homeless and drunks. Never went back since. Have no interest to do so either. If SD wants my visitor money they need to clean the place up.

Maybe You should better research your visits (including right here on cd) and where your visitor money will go to. The gaslamp is more touristy with mostly mediocre overpriced restaurants but there are some gems in that neighborhood both culinarily and culturally etc. if you spend time looking into Ahead of your trip. Also, SD is not defined by the gaslamp as there are a variety of interesting and unique neighborhoods and things to do throughout. SD is a reasonable middle-sized city with one of the best climates, though challenging to live here economically.
Where are you from, Electrican4you, and where have you enjoyed spending your visitor money??

[eastcoastbias]

Originally Posted by echo42

The wife and I went downtown this evening for the Padre game. We parked in a pay lot on 8th and walked down towards the stadium. I got hit up for spare change several times, not a big deal, I just said no and kept walking. At the corner of 8th and Market a transient woman started screaming at my wife, for no other reason than waiting for the light to turn green. As we walked away, the woman started screaming at the family, (with little kids)walking behind us. Not even sure what she was saying, sounded like gibberish. Obviously she was mentally ill. We also walked past the old post office which is now an encampment that smells like urine.

We made it to the game and watched our minor league team battle the D-backs for last place. We lost. As usual. Whole other thread here.

As we left the stadium we walked past Bubs, a sports bar that was showing the UFC fight. We watched it from the street with about a hundred other people, until this chick that was s-faced drunk vomit right in front of us. On the way back to the car, the same crazy woman that was yelling at my wife earlier had her pants down and peeing between cars on 8th and G. Walk back past the encampment and then to the car.

Downtown San Diego was a cesspool before the revitalization of the Gaslamp and Horton Plaza mall. Broadway was littered with prostitutes, porno shops, tattoo parlors and ways for sailors to get into trouble. Then it got nice, big money came in, condos, stadiums, high end nightlife and dinning. Now, to me at least it is becoming what it once was...a place that people avoided at night and only come in the day to do business. Now, with that being said, i don't think downtown will miss me much, there still seems to be a lot of people lining up at bars and restaurants. But if it stays on the same path, more and more will take the stance I'm taking. I often wonder what it's like to own a million dollar condo and have guy sleeping on your front door to the building.

I've worked in law enforcement for the better part of my adult life and before that the military, so nothing really shocks me and I have had my fair share of dealing with mentally ill people. But why the hell would I want to take my family into this.

Not an evening/night place for a family. Having said that I work downtown and walk around there frequently during the day and it is more touristy. East village and especially east of the stadium is what you desribe above all the time morning day and night- yet people will fork over 2200-2800 dollars a month for 700 sq. feet. Odd to me.

Little Italy is nice and appropriate for families and IMO has better eating establishments

Having said all this, I find Downtown San Diego nicer and cleaner than most downtown areas.

[eastcoastbias]

Originally Posted by elchevere

part of the problem, outside of lawyers--most of whom work downtown but live elsewhere, what professionals are based downtown?......you need something that will attract professionals that actually have and spend money to patronize the Gaslamp and surrounding areas--rather than an area that attracts homeless, out of town conventioneers, and locals aged 25 still working on their GED degree. God forbid the City offer businesses incentives to move downtown rather than giving out another liquor license to a Bubs or Dick's Last resort type of establishment....seriously, downtown is really not much different than Garnett Avenue in PB. Little Italy is nicer, but it's no UES in NYC or Marina District SF--if the city wants to gentrify downtown, it starts with more downtown businesses that attracts more professionals.

Also mainly made up of City, County, Federal Employees and Some Financial and smaller Corps.