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Winter Was the Worst

University Avenue's last unpaved alley recently joined the 21st Century. For more than 80 years, two sections of an alley in the 3900 block between 33rd and Wabash Streets remained unimproved and unpaved until late February.

Subcontractor Burtech Pipeline, Inc., had just finished replacing the cast-iron water line in the alley and was poised to pave it. Funds had been dedicated to repave the middle portion of the alley, but the chances of paving the two neglected dirt sections with concrete looked bleak, given the City’s financial straits.

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Residents have complained to city officials about these unpaved sections for decades. To underscore the history of this neighborhood, a renovated livery stable at the corner of Lincoln and the alley still retained its original dirt entry to a double-door stable (recently renovated as a garage).

Winter was the worst time of year for residents. Any rain caused rivers of water to flow down the alley and erode the southern unpaved section at University Avenue. The erosion created a four-wheel driving experience but made it impassable for most other cars. For the rest of the year, the unpaved sections created a dust bowl that coated cars and buildings.

At the last minute, the Third District council office’s policy advisor, Stephen Hill, got involved and found some general fund money to use for the repaving. The neighborhood's character transformed overnight, and residents are dancing in the alley with gratitude.

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University Avenue's last unpaved alley recently joined the 21st Century. For more than 80 years, two sections of an alley in the 3900 block between 33rd and Wabash Streets remained unimproved and unpaved until late February.

Subcontractor Burtech Pipeline, Inc., had just finished replacing the cast-iron water line in the alley and was poised to pave it. Funds had been dedicated to repave the middle portion of the alley, but the chances of paving the two neglected dirt sections with concrete looked bleak, given the City’s financial straits.

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Residents have complained to city officials about these unpaved sections for decades. To underscore the history of this neighborhood, a renovated livery stable at the corner of Lincoln and the alley still retained its original dirt entry to a double-door stable (recently renovated as a garage).

Winter was the worst time of year for residents. Any rain caused rivers of water to flow down the alley and erode the southern unpaved section at University Avenue. The erosion created a four-wheel driving experience but made it impassable for most other cars. For the rest of the year, the unpaved sections created a dust bowl that coated cars and buildings.

At the last minute, the Third District council office’s policy advisor, Stephen Hill, got involved and found some general fund money to use for the repaving. The neighborhood's character transformed overnight, and residents are dancing in the alley with gratitude.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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