Kearny Mesa, San Diego

Community of San Diego in California

Kearny Mesa, San Diego

Community of San Diego

Kearny Mesa

Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa

Kearny Mesa, San Diego

Location within Northwestern San Diego

Coordinates: 32°49′30″N 117°08′21″W﻿ / ﻿32.825°N 117.139167°W﻿ / 32.825; -117.139167
Country|  United States of America
State|  California
County|  San Diego
City|  San Diego

Kearny Mesa is a community in the central part of San Diego, California. It is bounded by State Route 52 to the north, Interstate 805 to the west, Aero Drive to the south, and Interstate 15 to the east. Adjacent communities include Serra Mesa, Clairemont and Tierrasanta.

Kearny Mesa has a population of 2,837.[1]

## History

[edit]

Defense worker housing under construction at Kearny Mesa in 1941. Photo by Russell Lee.

Kearny Mesa is named for the former Camp Kearny, a U.S. military base which operated in the area from 1917 to 1946 and eventually became Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Camp Kearny in turn was named for Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny, a leader in the Mexican–American War who also served as a military governor of California.[2] While General Kearny's name was pronounced "Car-nee" during his lifetime,[3] San Diegans use the "Cur-nee" pronunciation.[4]

The urbanization of Kearny Mesa began in 1937 with Gibbs Airfield, now the small airfield Montgomery Field named after pioneer glider pilot John J. Montgomery.[5] In 1948, the City of San Diego acquired the airfield and 1,400 acres (6 km2) of surrounding property as a possible replacement site for San Diego International Airport. However, airspace conflicts with MCAS Miramar (at that time NAS Miramar) made the proposed airport infeasible. Montgomery Field was restricted to small aircraft, and the surplus land was converted to an industrial park.

Beginning in 1955 with General Dynamics, numerous aerospace, electronic, and other industrial and office firms located in the area. There was also commercial development, particularly west of State Route 163.

On October 20, 2020, the Convoy District was designated as the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District.

## Geography

[edit]

As implied by the word "mesa" in its name, the area is mostly flat. Kearny Mesa is located between the communities of Clairemont to the west, Tierrasanta to the east, Miramar/Mira Mesa to the north, and Linda Vista/Serra Mesa to the south. The neighborhood is defined by the City of San Diego as the area bounded by State Route 52 (SR 52), Interstate 15 (I-15), Aero Drive, and I-805.[6] The city also includes in its definition a stretch of land extending south of Aero Drive along the west side of I-15 to its junction with Friars Road.[6]

Montgomery Field is a local municipal airport in Kearny Mesa.[7] The community is also adjacent to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.[8]

There are several residential developments in the community, among them Stonecrest, Kearny Lodge, and Royal Highlands.

## Climate

[edit]

Kearny Mesa has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk) with mild winters and warm, almost rainless summers.

Climate data for Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (normals 1998–2020, extremes 1998–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 88
(31)  | 91
(33)  | 93
(34)  | 100
(38)  | 102
(39)  | 100
(38)  | 106
(41)  | 105
(41)  | 107
(42)  | 105
(41)  | 99
(37)  | 86
(30)  | 107
(42)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 81.5
(27.5)  | 81.4
(27.4)  | 83.5
(28.6)  | 86.7
(30.4)  | 85.7
(29.8)  | 86.4
(30.2)  | 91.4
(33.0)  | 92.9
(33.8)  | 98.4
(36.9)  | 93.4
(34.1)  | 88.3
(31.3)  | 80.1
(26.7)  | 101.7
(38.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 67.3
(19.6)  | 67.3
(19.6)  | 68.5
(20.3)  | 70.7
(21.5)  | 72.1
(22.3)  | 74.7
(23.7)  | 79.8
(26.6)  | 82.0
(27.8)  | 81.4
(27.4)  | 77.8
(25.4)  | 72.7
(22.6)  | 67.3
(19.6)  | 73.5
(23.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 56.6
(13.7)  | 57.1
(13.9)  | 59.1
(15.1)  | 61.5
(16.4)  | 64.4
(18.0)  | 67.3
(19.6)  | 71.9
(22.2)  | 73.7
(23.2)  | 72.5
(22.5)  | 67.8
(19.9)  | 61.4
(16.3)  | 56.3
(13.5)  | 64.1
(17.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 46.0
(7.8)  | 46.9
(8.3)  | 49.6
(9.8)  | 52.4
(11.3)  | 56.6
(13.7)  | 60.0
(15.6)  | 64.0
(17.8)  | 65.3
(18.5)  | 63.6
(17.6)  | 57.8
(14.3)  | 50.1
(10.1)  | 45.3
(7.4)  | 54.8
(12.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | 37.6
(3.1)  | 38.2
(3.4)  | 42.0
(5.6)  | 45.0
(7.2)  | 50.4
(10.2)  | 55.2
(12.9)  | 60.4
(15.8)  | 61.5
(16.4)  | 57.1
(13.9)  | 50.3
(10.2)  | 42.0
(5.6)  | 36.6
(2.6)  | 35.0
(1.7)
Record low °F (°C)  | 30
(−1)  | 33
(1)  | 39
(4)  | 37
(3)  | 44
(7)  | 48
(9)  | 57
(14)  | 55
(13)  | 52
(11)  | 43
(6)  | 34
(1)  | 32
(0)  | 30
(−1)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 2.32
(59)  | 2.65
(67)  | 1.63
(41)  | 0.77
(20)  | 0.28
(7.1)  | 0.06
(1.5)  | 0.07
(1.8)  | 0.01
(0.25)  | 0.17
(4.3)  | 0.54
(14)  | 0.91
(23)  | 1.61
(41)  | 11.02
(280)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.8  | 7.9  | 6.5  | 5.1  | 2.8  | 1.0  | 0.6  | 0.3  | 1.3  | 3.6  | 6.1  | 7.1  | 49.1
Source: NOAA[9]

## Economy

[edit]

The majority of the Kearny Mesa area is commercial and industrial. Local businesses include auto sales, restaurants (primarily American and Asian), supermarkets (American and Asian), national chain stores, and small businesses. The former General Dynamics site is now a mixed-use development known as Spectrum.[10]

### Convoy District (Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District)

[edit]

Chinese shops in Kearny Mesa

The Convoy District is distinguished by its diverse collection of businesses owned and representative of different Asian cultures such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai shopping and eating establishments. Some of these extend to the east/central areas (near Balboa Avenue, along State Route 163).

The presence of Asian businesses in the Convoy District area is said to have started with the establishment of a Woo Chee Chong grocery store on Convoy Street in 1979.[11] The Korean market chain Zion opened its first store in the Convoy District, also in 1979.[11] A few years later, in 1986, Nijiya Market (a Japanese market located in the southwestern portion of the Convoy District), opened its very first store; it later expanded to more than ten locations in California and Hawaii.[12] These early establishments served as small anchors, and additional Asian shops and restaurants opened nearby. As the area's reputation for its Asian cuisine and merchandise grew, more widely established Asian chain stores such as 99 Ranch Market, Mitsuwa, and H Mart also began setting up sites in the Convoy District.[11]

On October 20, 2020 Convoy District was designated as the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District after local businesses, tenants, storeowners, and non profit organizations pushed for the name change.[13] Their efforts were brought to San Diego City Council Member, Chris Cate, and Assembly member Todd Gloria, whom they worked with to put the name change into effect.[14]

Many different community-based organizations and fundraisers support and push for the promotion of local businesses within the Convoy Pan Asian Cultural & Business Innovation District. Convoy District Partnership, one of these organizations, helped fundraise over $30,000 to help create 6 different highway signs that help in the promotion of this district.[15]

## Government

[edit]

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters

The area is split between City Council District 6, represented by Councilman Kent Lee,[16] and District 7, represented by Councilman Raul Campillo.[17]

The original 1977 Serra Mesa Community Plan included Kearny Mesa. It was replaced by the 1992 Kearny Mesa Community Plan which applies just to Kearny Mesa. The Montgomery Field Master Plan also contains land use policies for areas adjacent to the airport.

The County of San Diego maintains a large complex, housing several county offices and services, in the northeastern corner of the neighborhood near the I-15/SR 52 interchange. Several other city and county facilities are located in or adjacent to the area, including the Miramar Landfill.

### Community groups

[edit]

The Kearny Mesa Planning Group advises the city on land use and other issues.

## See also

[edit]

* Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District
* Chinatown, Tijuana

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kearny Mesa Demographics and Statistics". Niche. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
2. ^ Fetzer, Leland, San Diego County Place Names A to Z, page 73, Sunbelt Publications, Inc, 2005, ISBN 978-0-932653-73-4
3. ^ Howe, Daniel Walker, What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America 1815–1848. ISBN 978-0-19-507894-7, p. 758.
4. ^ Ken Kramer's About San Diego | Kearny Mesa name | Season 2, retrieved 2020-07-20
5. ^ Harwood, Craig S. and Fogel, Gary B. Quest for Flight: John J. Montgomery and the Dawn of Aviation in the West, University of Oklahoma Press 2012.]
6. ^ a b "Kearny Mesa Community Plan". City of San Diego Official Website. City of San Diego. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
7. ^ "Montgomery Field – Airports". The City of San Diego. 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
8. ^ "Official website of MCAS Miramar". USMC MCAS Miramar. Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
9. ^ "NWS San Diego NOAA Online Weather Data". NOAA. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
10. ^ Biberman, Thor Kamban (August 11, 2004). "San Diego Spectrum dominates Kearny Mesa construction". San Diego Daily Transcript. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
11. ^ a b c Johnson, Troy (2021-05-27). "How Convoy Became the Heart of San Diego's Asian Food Scene". San Diego Magazine.
12. ^ Goto, Asami (2013-10-18). ""Shokuiku" activities at Nijiya Market Thinking about the future of shokuiku activities that pass on the Japanese food culture in America". www.discovernikkei.org.
13. ^ Wu, Sabrina (November 1, 2020), "San Diego Convoy District Designated as Pan-Asian Cultural and Business Hub", UCSD Guardian
14. ^ Marx, Jesse (2022-10-03). "Council Race to Test the Voting Power of Asian Empowerment District". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
15. ^ Rendon-Alvarez, Karla; Gomez • •, Nicole. "New Freeway Signs Will Guide Drivers to Convoy District". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
16. ^ "Chris & Staff | Councilmember Kent Lee (District 6) | City of San Diego Official Website".
17. ^ "Chris & Staff | Councilmember Raul Campillo (District 7) | City of San Diego Official Website".

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kearny Mesa, San Diego.

* Kearny Mesa Planning Group
* Kearny Mesa Neighborhood Link
* State of Serra Mesa and Kearny Mesa, 2009, by Councilwoman Donna Frye
* Will Convoy Become San Diego’s Asiatown?, article from KPBS-FM

* v
* t
* e

Neighborhoods of San Diego

Northwestern (District 1)|

* Carmel Valley
* Del Mar Heights
* Del Mar Mesa
* Fairbanks Ranch Country Club
* La Jolla
* Pacific Beach
* Pacific Highlands Ranch
* Torrey Hills
* Torrey Pines
* Via de la Valle

Western (District 2)|

* Bay Ho
* Bay Park
* Clairemont
* Harbor Island
* Liberty Station
* Midway
* Mission Bay Park
* Mission Beach
* Ocean Beach
* Old Town
* Point Loma (Fleetridge
* La Playa
* Loma Portal
* Point Loma Heights
* Roseville
* Wooded Area)
* Shelter Island
* Sunset Cliffs

Central (District 3)|

* Balboa Park
* Bankers Hill
* Downtown (Columbia
* Core
* Cortez Hill
* East Village
* Gaslamp Quarter
* Harborview
* Little Italy
* Marina)
* Golden Hill
* Hillcrest
* Middletown
* Mission Hills
* Mission Valley
* North Park
* South Park
* University Heights

Southeastern (District 4)|

* Alta Vista
* Bay Terraces
* Broadway Heights
* Chollas View
* Emerald Hills
* Encanto
* Jamacha
* Lincoln Park
* Lomita Village
* Mountain View
* O'Farrell
* Oak Park
* Paradise Hills
* Ridgeview
* Valencia Park
* Webster

Northeastern (District 5)|

* Black Mountain Ranch
* Carmel Mountain Ranch
* Rancho Bernardo
* Rancho Encantada
* Rancho Peñasquitos
* Sabre Springs
* San Pasqual Valley
* Scripps Ranch
* Torrey Highlands

Northern (District 6)|

* Kearny Mesa
* Mira Mesa
* Miramar
* Sorrento Valley
* University City

Eastern (District 7)|

* Allied Gardens
* Birdland
* Del Cerro
* East Elliott
* Grantville
* Lake Murray
* Linda Vista
* Morena
* San Carlos
* Serra Mesa
* Tierrasanta

Southern &
South (District 8)|

* Barrio Logan
* Grant Hill
* Logan Heights
* Shelltown
* Sherman Heights
* Southcrest

* Egger Highlands
* Nestor
* Ocean View Hills
* Otay Mesa
* Otay Mesa West
* Palm City
* San Ysidro
* Tijuana River Valley

Mid-City (District 9)|

* City Heights (Azalea Park
* Chollas Creek
* Fairmount Park
* Islenair
* Swan Canyon)
* College Area
* El Cerrito
* Kensington
* Mount Hope
* Normal Heights
* Redwood Village
* Rolando
* Rolando Park
* Stockton
* Talmadge

* v
* t
* e

Chinatowns in the United States

* Atlanta
* Austin
* Baltimore
* Boise
* Boston
* Quincy
* Chicago
* West Argyle Street
* Cleveland
* Asiatown
* Dallas-Fort Worth
* Richardson
* Denver
* Detroit
* Honolulu
* Houston
* East Downtown
* Las Vegas
* Locke, California
* Los Angeles
* San Gabriel Valley
* Florida
* North Miami Beach
* Montville, Connecticut
* New Jersey
* Edison
* Newark
* New Orleans
* New York City
* Manhattan
* Brooklyn
* Queens
* Oklahoma City
* Philadelphia
* Phoenix
* Pittsburgh
* Squirrel Hill
* Portland, Maine
* Portland, Oregon
* Providence, Rhode Island
* Salem, Oregon
* St. Louis
* Salt Lake City
* San Diego
* San Francisco Bay
* San Francisco Chinatown
* Oakland
* Richmond District
* Sunset District
* San Jose
* Seattle-Tacoma
* Seattle
* Tacoma
* Spokane, Washington
* Washington, D.C.
* Rockville, Maryland
* Winnemucca, Nevada

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

32°49′30″N 117°8′21″W﻿ / ﻿32.82500°N 117.13917°W﻿ / 32.82500; -117.13917
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template