Before Meade’s Traffic Circles

I continue to review past photos of San Diego’s University Heights neighborhood for their personal, nostalgic value. Many were edited around the time captured—like the Featured Image, using Leica M10 and Summarit-M 1:2.4/50 lens—but not published. Until now. Vitals, aperture unknown: ISO 100, 1/2000 sec, 50mm; 5:08 p.m. PDT, May 26, 2018.

The view is from cross-street Georgia; Florida is at the bottom of the hill. Beyond is Alabama, where currently there is a so-called “traffic calming measure” (e.g. circle), supporting the forthcoming regional bikeway. Mississippi follows, then Louisiana (where three years later there is another calming measure). At the stoplight is Texas, where across starts North Park, which name is rudely etched into the two circles on the UH side. That’s but one of the obstructions’ unintended consequences.

My memory is blank regarding why I stopped to make this moment on that particular day. But with so much changing in the neighborhood, particularly the amount of tearing down rustic residences to construct tasteless multi-dwelling apartments and condominiums, simple street shots like this one unintentionally become historical records. Whenever the city completes the bikeway, I will try to shoot a current view, showing the changes—that is if the Wilcox family hasn’t fled California.