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 programs and services that contribute to a clean, safe, and prosperous commercial environment within the City Heights Business Improvement District and City Heights Maintenance Assessment District.
Our Response to Homelessness in the Community
Over the last several years, we have seen an increase in homelessness within the City Heights community and across San Diego. While we cannot solve this challenge on our own, we are working to reduce homelessness in City Heights through our participation in the Mid-City Homeless Coalition. The coalition’s mission is to reduce the negative impacts of homelessness through a neighborhood-based outreach program that connects homeless persons to housing and other support services. The coalition has contracted with PATH, a California organization dedicated to ending homelessness, to provide outreach and support services to our homeless residents since 2018.
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. 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 5.4 tons of trash
- Submitted over 900 reports to the “Get It Done" app
Co-sponsored Events
Events returned to full-swing in 2022! We celebrated by co-sponsoring many community events and hosting two business mixers throughout the year. This year we also added a new Community Events Calendar feature to our website to help promote all of the amazing cultural and business events that happen in City Heights.
City Heights Business Expo
The City Heights Business Expo provided local entrepreneurs with first-hand information about starting or expanding their businesses. Attendees received in-person assistance from local business service providers that included everything from how to create a business plan to HR resources.
Cambodian, Thai, and Lao New Year Celebration
City Heights residents and visitors celebrated the Cambodian, Thai, and Lao New Year with live music, dancing, and local food vendors!
National Night Out
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.
CHBA Business Mixers
2022 saw the return of CHBA Business Mixers! We hosted two events - one in September at Ryan Bros. Coffee, and one in December at Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant. It was wonderful to be back in person gathering with business owners in the community.
City Heights Day of the Dead Celebration
This year's Day of the Dead Celebration brought together City Heights residents and visitors for a day of entertainment, food, altars, raffle prizes, and more.
Mid-City Holiday Bridge Lighting Ceremony
We celebrated the season with City Heights residents, community leaders, and Santa during the holiday lighting ceremony for the El Cajon Boulevard Transit Plaza bridge.
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
Work has continued throughout 2022 on the Teralta Neighborhood Park "Unity in the Community" Mural. While the project has hit some road bumps over the last few years - mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain shortages - the end is in sight and we are looking forward to a finished mural sometime in 2023. You can read more about the mural project and see additional photos of the stunning artwork here.
City Heights Community Sign
Work has continued on the City Heights Community Sign project throughout 2022. Fundraising for the project is underway, and we are continuing to work with the City of San Diego to finalize design and construction plans.
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 2022 Light Our Way scholarship program. This year, scholarships were awarded to 15 outstanding City Heights high school graduates. In addition to the scholarship award, students were recognized through a streetlight banner campaign that featured their names and senior photos on banners along University and Fairmont Avenues.
I-15 Bridge Deck
We've continued our collaboration with the City of San Diego to support maintenance and safety on the bridge deck. This year we also began preliminary work with Cal Trans to develop architectural enhancements for the bridge, including installing and showcasing art work. We hope to implement these enhancements in 2023.
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
Financials
2022 fiscal year total income: $541,731
Maintenance Assessment District
$368,042
Business Improvement District
$37,908
Small Business Enhancement Program
$22,313
Grants & Other Income
$113,468
2022 fiscal year expenses: $533,321
Personnel
$334,089
Maintenance
$89,064
Operating
Total: $110,168
- Insurance: $38,266
- Marketing: $15,579
- Rent: $17,395
- Accounting: $13,419
- Communications: $9,676
- Audit: $5,000
- Meetings/Training: $5,854
- Supplies: $3,007
- Other: $1,972