San Diego Central-Inland Communities
San Diego Central-Inland neighborhoods are prized for their convenience to downtown, of course for the ideal weather, and also for their own communities and services. Most of these communities are located along the Interstate-8 corridor which stretches from Ocean Beach to El Cajon and all the way to Arizona. There are a lot of neighborhoods in the Central-Inland category, so it’s not easy to give a quick summary… but this is a start.
Allied Gardens and Del Cerro (92120) – Located North of Interstate 8, along College Avenue, across from San Diego State University, these neighborhoods consist of mainly single-family houses, on clean, charming streets. The schools serving the area (Hearst Elementary and Patrick Henry High) have good reputations in the San Diego Unified district, and it is a pride-of-ownership community.
City Heights / Oak Park (92105) – Northeast of downtown and South of Interstate 8, City Heights is an inner-city neighborhood with rich ethnic diversity and flavor. After many years of decline, the area experienced significant redevelopment in the 1990′s and 2000′s. Oak Park, at the east end of the zip code, been redeveloped to lesser extent.
Golden Hill / Sherman Heights / Grant Hill (92102)– Bordering downtown San Diego to the North, these are older neighborhoods, truly high-class communities in the early 20th century. Golden Hill (sometimes referred to as “South Park” for its proximity to Balboa Park) has experienced significant renewal in the past decade or two, though to a lesser extent than Hillcrest and North Park. Grant Hill to the east has lagged behind and is definitely ripe for an urban revival, as are the Mt. Hope and Chollas View neighborhoods at the end of the zip code.
Hillcrest / Mission Hills (92103) – Just North of downtown, and along the Western border of Balboa Park, Hillcrest was an early participant in San Diego’s urban revival. Here you’ll find an unmistakably artistic flare, clearly reflected in the residents’ tastes and attitudes. Mission Hills at the west end of the zip code is more subdued but very upscale, with hillside homes with views of San Diego Harbor and tree-filled canyons.
Mission Valley (92108) – In addition to a variety of new and older condos and townhomes in the area, this is the retail shopping district of Central San Diego, home to Fashion Valley Mall, the Mission Valley Shopping Center, and a host of smaller establishments. The Charger’s football stadium is at the east end of Mission Valley.
North Park (92104) – Both east and north of Balboa Park, this neighborhood has substantially improved over the past twenty years, closely on the heels of the revival of its western-neighbor, Hillcrest.
Serra Mesa (92123) – North of Mission Valley and East of Linda Vista and Clairemont, this is a low-to-middle income neighborhood of houses, condominiums, and townhomes. Some of the homes are perched along very beautiful canyons. Children’s Hospital is in the area, alongside I-805, making homes here quite popular with nurses and medical technicians.
Talmadge / College Grove / College Area (92115) – East of Kensington and North of City Heights, the Talmadge and the College Area are mostly residential neighborhoods that are convenient to San Diego State University. The proximity to the SDSU campus gives great rental potential.
Tierrasanta (92124) – This is a large suburban zip code which stretches from Mission Valley/Allied Gardens/Kensington at the south up to Scripps Ranch at the north. It is primarily a bedroom community of single-family houses as well as town homes, condos, and apartments.
University Heights / Normal Heights / Kensington (92116) –South of I-8 and East of Hillcrest, these neighborhoods have a classic mid-19th century suburban feel. The craftsman-style houses and Spanish bungalows have retained their charm to this day. Along Adams Avenue there has been significant redevelopment, with a variety of shops and restaurants opening and re-opening to serve the area.
