The area is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic PlacesasGaslamp Quarter Historic District. Its main period of development began in 1867, when Alonzo Horton bought the land in hopes of creating a new city center closer to the bay, and chose 5th Avenue as its main street. After a period of urban decay, the neighborhood underwent urban renewal in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Gaslamp Quarter extends from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and from 4th to 6th Avenue, covering 16½ blocks. It includes 94 historic buildings, most of which were constructed in the Victorian Era, and are still in use with active tenants including restaurants, shops and nightclubs.
Local San Diegans generally refer to the area simply as "the Gaslamp", while "Gaslamp Quarter", despite being on the entryway arch and all official city signage and banners, is rarely used by locals. The use of "the Gaslamp" is so pervasive by locals that it has become a shibboleth to determine who is a local San Diegan and who is a tourist.[citation needed]
History
Corner in the Quarter
When development of the area began in the 1860s, the area currently known as the Gaslamp Quarter was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town, which was the original Spanish colonial settlement of San Diego.[3] Though Gaslamps were not the main source of lighting in the district, it was chosen as the symbol for the "Gaslamp Quarter" during the redevelopment and preservation efforts that occurred during the 1980s. In actuality, the main source of lighting was arc lighting.[4] Four new gaslamps have been installed at the intersection of Market Street and 5th Avenue.[when?]
Timeline
1850: William Heath Davis bought 160 acres (0.65 km2) in what would eventually become the Gaslamp Quarter. Despite heavy investment from Davis, little development happened in this period.[5]
1867: Real estate developer Alonzo Horton arrived in San Diego and purchased 800 acres (3.2 km2) of land in New Town for $265. Major development began in the Gaslamp Quarter.[6]
1880s to 1916: Known as the Stingaree, the area was a working class area, home to San Diego's first Chinatown, "Soapbox Row" and many saloons, gambling halls, and bordellos.
1912: Stingaree was the site of a free speech fight between socialists and city politicians which led to riots and the abduction by vigilantes of Emma Goldman's husband.[7]
1916: the entire neighborhood of Stingaree was demolished and renamed by anti-vice campaigners.[8]
1950s-1970s: The decaying Gaslamp Quarter became known as a "Sailor's Entertainment" district, with a high concentration of pornographic theaters, bookshops and massage parlors.[9]
1970: Public interest in preserving buildings downtown started, especially in Gaslamp Quarter.
1976: The city adopted the Gaslamp Quarter Urban Design and Development Manual, aimed at preserving buildings in the area, and the redevelopment of Gaslamp Quarter as a national historic district.[10]
1982: Gaslamp Quarter became the major focus of the redevelopments in downtown by the city of San Diego.[citation needed]
1992: Gaslamp Quarter Archway is installed and dedicated.[11]
