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While other Little Italy
neighborhoods across the nation are
in decline, San Diego's Little Italy
is on the brink of rebuilding its
greatness. A stable ethnic business
and residential community since the
1920's, Little Italy today
represents Downtown San Diego’s
oldest continuous neighborhood
business district. At one time, more
than 6,000 Italian families lived in
Little Italy and toiled to build San
Diego into the center of the world
tuna industry.
After nearly 30 years of
decline, due to the decline
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the tuna industry on the
West Coast and the
destruction of 35% of the
neighborhood, established
property owners and family
run business owners decided
to take their fate into
their own hands. New Italian
American and non-Italian
business owners alike are
now seeking retail and
professional space. Creative
builders and architects are
building beautiful new
developments and the local
redevelopment agency is
funding more than three
million in street
improvements on the main
commercial corridor, India
street, where one can find excellent
boutique shopping and
authentic Italian Cuisine.
Aggressive plans are in the
works to bring the story of
Little Italy to its visitors
through public art displays.
No matter how you look at
it, Little Italy, San Diego is
serving as a model for the
handful of Little Italy's
remaining throughout the
country.
For additional information
about the Little Italy
neighborhood,
visit
www.littleitalysd.com.
Photo courtesy of the Little
Italy Association. |
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