Dear St. Paul’s family,
St Paul’s has a distinguished history of speaking up for causes important to our community. In the “summer of love” in 2008, same-sex couples from our congregation and all over California were able to join in legal marriage for the first time in our state’s history. When opponents introduced a proposition to disallow same-sex marriage, our church family mobilized against Prop 8 to work for love to win.
In 2011, we had applied for development permits in order to build housing and Cathedral program space on our land, and the St. Paul’s family turned out in force to show the San Diego Planning Commission and City Council the strength of our support. Our application earned unanimous approval and development has been partly completed (on the Nutmeg Parcel south of the Cathedral). Although development of the Olive Parcel was delayed due to economic forces beyond our control, we never gave up on our hope to create an additional source of security for the future through its redevelopment.
Today St. Paul’s continues to nurture the community. Our campus hosts more than 4,000 events every year, including events for our neighbors in the park, twelve step programs, and neighborhood associations in Banker’s Hill. We are at full capacity, and our current redevelopment project in partnership with Greystar will replace our 5,000 square feet of office and program space with 12,500 square feet of new, energy-efficient, purpose-built space where we can develop more meaningful ministries and programs for our community.
This 6th & Olive project – which has been redesigned and enlarged since it was originally approved — is now at a critical point. The Planning Commission will vote on the amended permit application on November 8 at 9:00 am. We need your support! You made a difference in 2008 and in 2011. You can make a difference again. I hope you will come and make your voice heard on the value of the new building to the Banker’s Hill community and to San Diego.
- In addition to enabling us to offer more community meeting space, the new building will:
- Add much needed rental housing in Banker’s Hill, including 18 designated affordable apartments for residents with restricted income.
- Bring new customers to support our neighborhood’s small businesses.
- Maintain sightlines to and from Balboa Park and Banker’s Hill with the building’s slim east-west design.
- Relieve parking challenges in the neighborhood as generous parking for Cathedral and residents is added underground.
The Cathedral is a cornerstone of Banker’s Hill. Come and be the voice of the Cathedral at City Hall on November 8 at 9:00 am. If you’d like to carpool from the Cathedral, please call the Cathedral to add your name to the list.
Your sister in Christ,
Penny
