Major Catalytic Projects
The Redevelopment Agency actively supports major projects that make sizable improvements to the community and serve as catalysts for attracting additional investment and pride into the Project Areas . Below are examples of some of the major catalytic projects that the Agency has been engaged in over the years.
City Heights Urban Village
The award-winning City Heights Urban Village has re-created the core of the City Heights community, establishing a pedestrian-friendly town square with important City facilities and centers of learning. The project resulted from an unprecedented collaboration among the City of San Diego, CityLink Investment Corporation, and Price Charities, as well as several other public and private entities. The Urban Village covers 10 city blocks within the City Heights Redevelopment Project Area and includes: a police substation, a community gymnasium, an elementary school, a library, a community service center, a recreation center, a continuing education center, a retail center, affordable townhomes, and an office center.
International Gateway of the Americas/Las Américas
The International Gateway of the Americas, or Las Américas, is a mixed-use entertainment and cultural village along the American side of the United States–Mexico border that has dramatically revitalized the San Ysidro community and border crossing. Once fully completed, the International Gateway of the Americas would create a world-class gateway between the cities of San Diego and Tijuana. The project plans include new customs facilities, a pedestrian bridge, retail stores, offices, hotel and entertainment areas, and housing in the San Ysidro Redevelopment Project Area . The retail component of the project, which boasts 100 outlet shops and public amenities, is nearly 560,000 square feet. The public/private partnership necessitates the collaboration of local, state, and federal governments from both sides of the border.
North Park Theatre
A cornerstone of the community since 1928, the North Park Theatre has been rehabilitated to once again become a live performance venue. The renovation included interior restoration and expansion, retail and office space, a new theatre entrance and marquee. The project also features a 388-space public parking structure to support traffic to the theatre and surrounding North Park business corridor. Located in the North Park Redevelopment Project Area , the theatre opened in fall 2005, and the parking structure was completed in February 2006.
Naval Training Center (Liberty Station)
The redevelopment of the former Naval Training Center has become a model for addressing areas affected by military base closings. The 328-acre mixed-use redevelopment project has transformed the former base into a vibrant community featuring residential neighborhoods, a 46-acre waterfront park, shops and restaurants, museums and galleries, a nine-hole golf course, a business center, hotels, state-of-the-art schools and a 16-acre outdoor promenade. The project is a partnership between the City of San Diego, the Redevelopment Agency, Corky McMillin Companies, and the Naval Training Center Foundation.
Mercado del Barrio
The Redevelopment Agency is in negotiations with a private developer for the proposed Mercado del Barrio project. As the centerpiece of the Barrio Logan Redevelopment Project Area , this project would develop two vacant city blocks adjacent to Chicano Park and the San Diego–Coronado Bay Bridge with: affordable housing; commercial space for general retail, service, and restaurant uses; public art and gathering areas; and infrastructure improvements. The project would highlight the culture of Barrio Logan and meet or exceed the United States Green Building Council’s requirements for LEED certification.
Major Programs
Along with supporting major development projects, the Redevelopment Agency implements several programs across multiple Project Areas to address blight in residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors and to improve community health, safety, and stability. Below are brief descriptions of the Agency’s programs and links to more information.
Affordable Housing Collaborative Program
The Redevelopment Agency participates in the Comprehensive Affordable Housing Strategy Collaborative, which consists of the Redevelopment Agency (i.e., the City Redevelopment Division, Centre City Development Corporation, and Southeastern Economic Development Corporation) and the San Diego Housing Commission.  The Collaborative was formed to coordinate the best use of the member organizations’ combined resources dedicated to housing and creates a forum for viewing housing projects and programs holistically City-wide and for sharing the resources and expertise of the four organizations. Each member organization of the Collaborative has a seat on the Executive Loan Committee , which reviews all Agency subsidy recommendations for projects using Affordable Housing Opportunity Funds before they are presented to the Agency Board for approval.
Housing Enhancement Loan Programs (HELP)
The Housing Enhancement Loan Programs (HELP) were created to increase, improve, and preserve the supply of housing occupied by persons and families of low and moderate income. HELP provides forgivable loans to assist residents renovate the homes that they own.
Home in the Heights Homebuyer Assistance Program
Increased homeowner occupancy has been identified as an important factor for achieving the redevelopment objectives of improving neighborhood stability, encouraging private investment, and improving the local housing stock. Accordingly, the Redevelopment Agency created the Home in the Heights Homebuyer Assistance Program in the City Heights community. The goal of the program is to make first-time homeownership more accessible and affordable to persons seeking to reside within City Heights by making available subordinate loans (i.e., silent second mortgage loans).
Storefront Improvement Program
The Storefront Improvement Program encourages property owners and/or tenants through financial and design/architectural assistance to improve the façades of their ground-floor businesses. Storefront improvements create a positive visual impact that helps eliminate blight, stimulate private investment, and increase business activity. The program is currently available to businesses in the City Heights and North Bay Redevelopment Project Areas, with expansion into other Project Areas administered by the City Redevelopment Division anticipated in 2010.
Community Enhancement Program
The Community Enhancement Program was created to improve communities by enhancing the local housing stock and beautifying public right-of-ways. The program addresses interior and exterior home improvements for qualified properties and residents and improves the community through graffiti abatement, canyon restoration, and beautification of public right-of-ways. The program is currently being implemented in the City Heights, Barrio Logan, and San Ysidro Redevelopment Project Areas.
Enhanced Code Enforcement Program
The Redevelopment Agency has Memoranda of Understanding with the City of San Diego’s Neighborhood Code Compliance Division to conduct enhanced code enforcement efforts in the City Heights and Crossroads Redevelopment Project Areas. Efforts primarily focus on, but are not limited to, addressing minor and complicated building code violations, proactively targeting issues related to vacant and foreclosed properties, and monitoring multi-family housing and retail/commercial areas for violations related to parking lots and tenant improvements. Addressing code violations helps eliminate blight, discourages illegal activity, and encourages continued maintenance of properties and neighborhoods.
Additional Information
For additional information on the Redevelopment Agency’s projects and programs, call (619) 236-6700 or visit http://www.sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency/projarea.shtml.
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