Little
Italy, San Diego
A stable ethnic business and residential
community since the 1920's, Little Italy San Diego 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. With the decline of the tuna industry on the West Coast
and the destruction of 35% of Little Italy due to the construction
of Interstate 5, Little Italy suffered nearly thirty years of decline.
In the early 1990's, established property owners and family run
business owners decided to take their fate into their own hands.
Today San Diego's Little Italy is rebuilding its greatness. New
Italian American and non-Italian business owners alike are 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 dollars in street improvements
on the main commercial corridor, India street. The Little Italy
Association has aggressive plans to bring the story of Little Italy
to its visitors through public art displays. Little Italy San Diego
is serving as a model for the handful of Little Italy neighborhoods
remaining throughout the country.