Construction on the Hillcrest Pride Promenade project will still be underway when thousands of people gather next weekend for the annual San Diego Pride Parade. The nearly $28 million project was originally expected to be completed before this year’s celebration, but SANDAG says unexpected comp lications involving underground work delayed construction. The project has now entered its 18th month, after the city broke ground in February of 2025. Some Hillcrest residents say the delays have tested their patience. “For the amount of taxes I pay here in Hillcrest, it’s annoying,” said Hillcrest resident Rudy Myers. “Property taxes here are too high for that to happen.” Neighbor Monique Lidrazzah said the ongoing construction has made everyday life more difficult, especially when it comes to parking and getting around the neighborhood. “It’s impacting us with the building of new properties, and then we have University, and then we have Normal Street,” Lidrazzah said. “So our parking is one-third of what it used to be.” She also criticized what she describes as a lack of communication from project leaders. “It just seems like there’s not a lot of transparency in general,” Lidrazzah said. “It just seems that there’s not any consideration or communication.” About two weeks ago, the Hillcrest Business Association told NBC 7 the work involves multiple projects with many moving parts, including new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, expanded public gathering space with additional parking, and stormwater improvements designed to reduce flooding. Despite the ongoing construction, San Diego Pride says this year’s parade will proceed as planned. “The San Diego Pride Parade will take place along the same route as in previous years,” the organization said in a statement to NBC 7. “The construction around the promenade will not impact staging or viewing.” The parade will begin at Richmond Street and University Avenue, head down Sixth Avenue, and end at Quince Street near Balboa Park. Construction has also become a point of contention for some local businesses. Earlier this year, a group of Hillcrest businesses filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego over the storm drain construction along University Avenue, alleging the prolonged work has hurt revenue. NBC 7 reached out to several businesses along University Avenue for comment. About half declined to speak on camera, with some citing the pending lawsuit. Others acknowledged off camera that the prolonged construction has been frustrating. “For them, their businesses have lost a lot of money and revenue,” Lidrazzah said. Even so, neighbors say they are looking forward to celebrating Pride and supporting the community. “I’m frustrated, but at the same time I’m happy that we’re still able to just be resilient and continue on and support our community,” Lidrazzah said. “It’s frustrating, but I’m not angry.” Myers echoed that sentiment. “I’m sure it will be a good time anyway,” he said. SANDAG expects portions of the Pride Promenade project to be completed as early as September, while the full project is now expected to wrap up sometime next year. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less