Gaslamp Quarter Update

At the first luncheon of 2023 Michael Trimble, Executive Director of the Gaslamp Quarter Association® shared the Gaslamp Quarter’s past and future

Historic Highlights

The Beginning

The Gaslamp Quarter is 150 years old. See the full timeline.

Alonzo Horton is considered to be the Father of the Gaslamp Quarter. This bearded, grumpy guy had a vision to create a new city near San Diego Bay to be closer to ships and commerce than the Old Town. He purchased 960 acres of land on San Diego Bay (for just 27½ cents an acre) in what is currently downtown San Diego. Read more about Alonzo Horton and the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (GQHF).

In the late 1800s downtown populated with famous and infamous, including Wyatt Earp. It was during this time period that the nation’s first public transportation network - trolleys developed by John Spreckles - was built. In fact, tracks still exist from the Convention Center to Hillcrest, and some hope that these can be revived and utilized again at some point in the future.

Post World War II

After WWII new wave of residents (pawn shops, adult businesses, rooming houses, etc.) moved into downtown and a period of decline began.

In 1974 property owners got together to revitalize Gaslamp, with support from the San Diego City Council. Gaslamp Quarter Urban Design and Development Manual was developed and adopted by the City Council and the area was placed on the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1980. Frye Block, first black nightclub in nation, was first part of the Quarter to be redesigned.

A Business District named Gaslamp Quarter Association (GQA), was formed in 1982 to manage the redesign of the area. The Quarter is is made up of 16 Blocks within the official boundaries of Broadway and Market Street on 4th and 5th Avenues and Broadway and L Street on 6th Avenue. During this time the Quarter was a venue for top artists, and events were bigger than Coachella.

In 1991 Gaslamp Quarter Archway officially completed and dedicated. The sign was significant in that it uses neon, incandescent, and fluorescent light fixtures to present. It is the most photographed icon in San Diego.

Creating a Destination

In 2017 a Master Plan was developed and the GQA was working to execute the redesign strategy. However, everything changed during and post-Covid. At the onset of the Pandemic the GQA quickly applied for special permits for curbside dining and street closures, allowing businesses to remain open. The Master Plan was jump-started and changed due to the pandemic, and is being executed in conjunction with the Downtown SD Partnership.

The Updated Promenade Project

The Promenade Project is designed to be Respects the historic nature of the Quarter, provide accessibility for businesses and visitors, provide a safe, innovation and enticing environment, promote vibrant pedestrian experiences and accomodate the operations, maintenance, and servicing of the district. The plan was developed in an inclusive fashion with all stakeholders and will be put into place using a phased approach.

Phase I (Broadway - K Street)

  • Permits will be extended so that outdoor dining on 5th Avenue may continue. 5th Avenue has been reclassified so it can be closed to traffic noon-midnight permanently.

  • Bollards (fixtures that stop traffic) will be installed on 5th Avenue in Q1 2023. These fixtures will be managed by the GQA and funded by parking revenue.

  • Intersections E - K Street (cross streets) will not be closed, especially L Street due to Convention Center access.

  • Parking in the Gaslamp District will be redesigned in coordination with the City of San Diego. This plan will redesign the parking spaces on side streets as well as drop off zones.

  • Gaslamp Sign is being upgraded to LED technology by the end of 2023. An additional sign is planned for the intersection of 5th Avenue and Broadway to ‘bookend’ the district.

  • Options for future phases will be completed by an external engineering firm in 2024. Moving forward the San Diego City Council will have to enact legislation to allow for permanent street closures and GQA will be responsible for the gates.

Prior to pandemic there were fundraisers for specific projects, as the City was not supportive of other options. Under Mayor Gloria’s leadership the City is fully committed to Phased 1 as well as the longer-term redesign of the Gaslamp Quarter, including supporting state grants for funding large projects. In the meantime, parking revenue is being used, and new private initiatives will be held.

Overcoming Issues

Like other parts of downtown, the Quarter is plagued by homeless and other issues. This is a complex problem, especially as the Quarter is gateway to the city (via Convention Center). There are 16 officers that work the area each night to ensure safety.

Illegal vendors, particularly hot dog sellers, have now been banned from the Quarter, after three years of lobbying the City Council has banned illegal vending in the Quarter. The GQA is now working with the City Council on a permanent for Buskers, who can be problematic to businesses, once the bollards are installed).

About our Speaker

Michael Trimble has been serving as Executive Director for the Gaslamp Quarter Association since 2015.

He is an energetic, forward-thinking executive with an extensive record of community involvement and leadership roles with the Gaslamp Quarter Association since1994 as an Executive Board Vice Chairman, Board of Directors Member, Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Marketing Chair and Special Events Chair. He is a results driven individual who has a proven track record of sales and marketing success with fortune 500 companies.

Friends of Downtown