 The
sloping landscape at the northern shore of San Diego Bay
was once home to a thriving tuna fishing industry and
the Italian-Americans who derived their livelihood from
it. As the tuna industry declined and a significant
portion of the neighborhood was disrupted by the
construction of Interstate 5,
Little Italy
suffered decades of depreciation. When local business
owners and residents teamed up with the Centre City
Development Corporation in the early 1990s, things
started looking up. They envisioned revitalization of
the commercial district and preservation of the small
scale and cultural dynamic of the community.
Little Italy
today represents some of the finest of San Diego living:
bay views, fine food, art and cultural festivities, and
affordable residences. Its lovely vistas now offer an
urban neighborhood with single-family homes,
condominiums and apartments. A recently revitalized
India Street is alive with restaurants, small cafes,
galleries and specialty shops.
 Our
Lady of the Rosary Church
,
Monarch School
and
Washington Elementary School
remain important institutions of the area.
Amici Park
serves both as a playground for the school and a park,
including a bocce ball court, for the community. There
is the
Firehouse Museum
(located on Columbia St). Little Italy hosts over
half-a-dozen annual festivals in celebration of
holidays, music and art, including Festa, "Chalk La
Strada," a Bocce Ball Tournament, ArtWalk, a jazz
festival and Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day, and
Easter celebrations. The
Little Italy Association
(LIA) brings the story of Little Italy to its visitors
through public art displays.
The
Little Italy Residents Association
(LIRA) is dedicated to helping residents of the downtown
San Diego neighborhood of Little Italy. With many new
families relocating to downtown, we offer the
opportunity through our organization for residents to
get involved with local events, give input on new civic
projects, and best of all, to meet their neighbors.
Little Italy in San Diego is a designated "Preserve
America Community"
More
on Little Italy.
Back to Top |
