Big Beauty In San Diego

San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, with more than 400 hanging baskets and planters, is the first site in a series of beautification plans for the downtown San Diego area. The Little Italy Association (LIA) and Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) united on behalf of the city to make the first project a success.

“With such amazing weather and a flourishing urban core, San Diego’s downtown neighborhoods are prime locations for these types of projects,” says CCDC President Nancy Graham.

The CCDC provided 219 concrete planters and 228 hanging baskets, and the LIA is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the project and providing plants. Volunteer plant experts worked to create attractive arrangements for the baskets and plants.

The flowers chosen for this plan reflect the Mediterranean flair of the vibrant Little Italy neighborhood. They should thrive in the local climate.

“Little Italy remains the standard of neighborhood success, and this latest beautification project gives us a chance to celebrate the hard work and dedication that makes that true,” San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders says.

Councilman Kevin Faulconer (from left), Mayor Jerry Sanders, Little

Italy Association Administrator Marco Li Mandri and CCDC Board

Director William Shaw planted some of the first flowers in Little Italy

as part of a joint pilot beautification plan between the Little Italy

Association and CCDC working on behalf of San Diego.