About the City Heights Business Association
The City Heights Business Association is a nonprofit organization created in 2003 to enhance the growth and improvement of City Heights. Our mission is to provide services that contribute to a clean, safe, and prosperous commercial environment within the City Heights Maintenance Assessment District.
*As of July 2023, the City Heights Business Association no longer oversees the City Heights Business Improvement District contract.
Meet our Staff
Enrique Gandarilla
Executive Director
Jose Cervantes
Clean & Safe Ambassador
Andres Madrigal
Maintenance Crew
Gaspar Dominguez
Maintenance Crew
Manuel Sanchez
Maintenance Crew
Johnathan Vital
Maintenance Crew
Guillermo Bermudez
Maintenance Crew
Clean & Safe Program
The Clean & Safe Program is a service provided by the City Heights Business Association within the City Heights Maintenance Assessment District. The program provides maintenance and security services along University Avenue from Interstate 805 to 50th Street and segments of 37th Street, Central Avenue, 43rd Street, and Fairmount Avenue.
In 2023, the Clean & Safe program received additional funding from the City of San Diego to hire a fifth crew member. This additional crew member made a significant impact on our ability to provide service to the community by helping us to address the impact of transients within the MAD and improve the district's cleanliness. Our Clean & Safe maintenance crew performed the following services this year:
- Daily sidewalk sweeping
- Monthly pressure washing of 37 bus stops
- Graffiti removal done within 48 hours of being seen or reported
- Bi-monthly landscaping and weed abatement
- Bulky item pick up and removal twice per week
- Emptying of more than 50 trash cans twice per week
- Bi-weekly restocking of 15 pet waste bag stations installed by CHBA
- Bi-monthly emptying of ash trays
- Pressure-washed entire district (33 blocks)
- Collected an estimated 7 tons of trash
- Submitted over 1000+ reports to the “Get It Done" app
Co-sponsored Events
We co-sponsored many community events in 2023 and hosted a business mixer in the spring. We continue to use our event calendar and website to highlight events happening throughout City Heights. All past events can be viewed on our Community Events Calendar.
City Heights Multi-Cultural Festival of Love
The City Heights Multi-Cultural Festival of love promotes diversity, solidarity and love throughout the community. The 2023 festival featured arts & crafts, cultural performances, and a community resource fair.
Fern Street Circus Neighborhood Tour
This free, multi-generational show made several stops in City Heights, and featured great pro-circus artists, dedicated circus students, a bilingual ringmaster, and live music.
CHBA Spring Mixer
The 2023 Spring Business Mixer was held at Lotus Garden. It was a great opportunity for community members to network and make deeper connections with the people and businesses in our City Heights community. The spring mixer featured special guest Sandra Cancinos, Economic Development Specialist and Public Information Officer for the San Diego region of the Small Business Administration.
National Night Out 2023
As we have done in previous years, we were excited to co-sponsor this year's National Night Out. This year's event included an outdoor movie screening, games, and most importantly, an opportunity for residents and law enforcement officials to connect and strengthen community relationships.
City Heights Day of the Dead Celebration
This year's Day of the Dead Celebration brought together City Heights residents and visitors for a fun-filled day of altars, raffles, entertainment, food, and art.
Mid-City Holiday Bridge Lighting Ceremony
We welcomed in the holiday season by co-sponsoring the holiday bridge lights initiative. This year's holiday bridge lighting ceremony celebrated 35 years of this wonderful community tradition.
Community Initiatives
We collaborate with local agencies on initiatives that support the needs and well-being of the businesses, property owners, customers, and residents in the community. Our goal through these collaborations is to continue making City Heights a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming place for residents and visitors.
Teralta Park Mural
The Teralta Neighborhood Park "Unity in the Community" Mural was completed in early 2023. The finished mural spans a 270 foot wall along the south end of Teralta Park in City Heights and took over 5 years to complete. You can read more about the mural project and see additional photos of the stunning artwork here.
City Heights Community Sign
Work on the City Heights Community Sign is ongoing. We are looking forward to the sign installation at the intersection of Highland Avenue and University Avenue once the City of San Diego completes the current street modification project.
Light Our Way Scholarships and Street Light Banners
We partnered with SAY San Diego, the City Heights Clean and Safe Coalition, and other local organizations to help sponsor the 2023 Light Our Way scholarship program. Students who received scholarship awards were recognized through a streetlight banner campaign that featured their names and senior photos on banners along University and Fairmont Avenues.
Financials
2023 fiscal year total income: $645,014
Maintenance Assessment District
$427,036
Business Improvement District
$39,113
Small Business Enhancement Program
$28,131
Grants & Other Income
$150,734
2023 fiscal year expenses: $638,062
Personnel
$398,983
Maintenance
$100,400
Operating
Total: $138,679