District Formation

Council President Pro Tempore Monica Montgomery Steppe has been a strong advocate for the formation of a Black Arts + Culture District from the time she was elected to her first term in office. She supports a central location where all can celebrate the history, arts, and culture of Black people. Montgomery-Steppe also understands that several elements of an earlier plan (initiated by the late Council members Charles Lewis & Rev. George Stevens), laid the foundation for what is achievable on the corridor. The Imperial Avenue Corridor Master Plan was produced by the community, for the community.

The San Diego Urban Warriors and other arts and culture groups worked to encourage support for the designation of a San Diego Arts + Culture District located in City Council District 4. On June 14, 2022, Council President Pro Tempore Montgomery Steppe successfully secured the San Diego City Council's unanimous approval of Resolution(R-2022-508) establishing the San Diego Black Arts + Culture district along Imperial Avenue between 61-69th Streets.

The resolution also identifies the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art (SDAAMFA) as the entity responsible for overseeing the district. SDAAMFA is a long-standing Black arts organization posed to work with the Council District Four office, the San Diego Black Arts + Culture District Advisory Committee, the San Diego Commission on Arts + Culture, corporations’ property owners and others to make sure the district, funding and the recommended programing are coordinated.

Mission & Vision

Mission:

To establish a Black arts and culture renaissance that revitalizes Black hospitality, economic empowerment, and commerce. Awakening a common ground where Black people name, define, speak, and create for themselves, and raise the level of appreciation for Black arts and culture in San Diego.

Vision:

  • Serve as an anchor to facilitate, organize, promote and actualize Black art and culture.

  • Preserve the history of Black influence in San Diego through arts and culture while serving in an advisory role to the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art.

  • Celebrate the Black family & community through arts and culture.

  • Create a supportive artistic and cultural environment through collaboration within the Black community.

  • Embrace cultural exchange to increase the level of awareness and acceptance through arts and culture

  • Activate spaces for youth creativity and innovation through “Science and Technology, interpreted through Engineering and the Arts, all based in Mathematical elements.” (STEAM)

  • Support and encourage activities that stimulate economic growth.

Imperial Avenue, an important part of San Diego’s Black History

When walking the district, it is easy to see that Imperial Avenue (originally known as U.S. Highway 80), was the commercial corridor for Encanto. It has become one of the main east-west corridors from the edge of the City of Lemon Grove and west into downtown San Diego terminating at 12th Avenue. Today Encanto is serviced by the San Diego Trolley with a stop within the district at 62nd Street.

Historically, the restrictive covenants meant that Black residents and businesses were limited to neighborhoods south of Market Street like Logan Heights and Grant Hills. We remember the first location of Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary, the Lighthouse Newspaper, Gilliam Fish Market, Sister Pee Wee’s Soul Food, Sidney Cooper’s Twilight Barber Shop and Cooper and Son’s Fresh Fruits & Vegetables to name a few. The trend to move east continued and Black businesses continued to locate along Imperial Avenue.