SAN DIEGO -- On March 20, the North Park Planning Committee (NPPC) elected a new board of directors. Elected to the board were of Robert Barry, Cheryl Dye, Brandon Hilpert, Lucky Morrison, Omar Passons, Rene Vidales, Vicki Granowitz and Steven Williamson.

The NPPC deals with land use and development issues and is an advisory body to the Planning Commission and San Diego City Council on issues of urban design, public facilities and transportation.

SAN DIEGO -- The cement barrier that previously deferred cars from the SR-163 off-ramp onto Robinson Avenue in Hillcrest, called a K-rail, has been removed to help alleviate the bottleneck common to the intersection of Robinson and Tenth avenues in Hillcrest.

Luke Terpstra, Chair of the Hillcrest Town Council (HTC), said the previous situation “brought all the lanes down to one [lane] with one stop.”

SAN DIEGO -- Originally proposed to be part of a boutique hotel, the vacant building at 301 University Ave. in Hillcrest will become a Walgreens before the end of 2012.

Bruce Leidenberger, one of the three co-owners of the property, proposed the space be made into a hotel in late 2007, but had difficulty getting the proper financing. At the time, Leidenberger’s business partner explained the proposal to the Uptown Planners, which was approved with all 13 board members in favor.