Situated between Kensington to the east and University Heights to the west lies this mostly residential neighborhood. It is distinctive as it is peaceful. Located between Interstate 15 and the 805 just south of Interstate 8. Adams Avenue is the main business district which takes you east or west by a lot of good ethnic restaurants, book stores and antique shops. With a population of about 18,000 residents, Normal Heights has been identified as one of San Diego’s “most walkable neighborhoods in San Diego.”

Many of the homes (off of Mountain View Drive and similar streets) have imposing views of San Diego River basin, Mission Valley, and the Pacific Ocean. Homes tend to be about 1/3 less in price from its pricier “cousin neighborhood” Kensington to its east, and good buys can still be found. Numerous older homes (‘30’s,’40’s vintages) can be found in this area -it’s a good area to find fixer-uppers. As is the case for most of the homes that were built in this time period room sizes tend to be on the smaller size. Most of the homes have 1-2 baths maximum it seems.

A feature that can be found on some of the streets is the “back alley” whereupon the garage actually faces the alley behind the home leaving the front façade clean and tidy. In my opinion, it isn’t pleasing to the eye to see home after home with garage doors open and garage junk facing the front of the home. A big plus for some of these homes.

Home styles vary, adobe Spanish –style homes, contemporary, some bungalows, all can be seen driving through its wide streets. Hard to believe, but Normal Heights was once San Diego’s early “suburbs!”