Bankers Hill, sometimes known as Park West, is a long established uptown San Diego neighborhood near Balboa Park. It is bordered to the north by Hillcrest (at Upas St.), to the south, past Date Street, by Downtown (at Interstate 5, the San Diego Freeway), to the east by Balboa Park, and the west by Interstate 5, Little Italy and the neighborhood known as Midtown. The area is primarily residential south of Laurel Street and west of 5th Avenue. Many new construction projects are ongoing as of 2009, creating condominiums along 6th Avenue facing the park. Locations further west allow an elevated, panoramic view of Downtown, San Diego Bay, the airport, Coronado, Harbor Island and Mount Soledad. Many homes date from the late 19th century, including some which have been restored as offices or bed-and-breakfast inns. Architects Irving Gill, William Hebbard, Richard Requa, and Frank Mead designed homes in this area. The area acquired the name "Bankers Hill" because of its reputation as a home for the affluent. - source: Wikipedia