Mira Mesa’s future is looking bigger. San Diego City Council unanimously voted to approve the neighborhood’s Redevelopment Plan. The decision pivots the community’s growth — replacing a 1992 plan — to align it with goals outlined in San Diego’s Strategic Plan.
This means Mira Mesa will become a redesigned community with more opportunities over the next 20 to 30 years. The ambitious plan focuses on all aspects of life including where people live, their commutes, and uses of outdoor space.
Living in the future
Mira Mesa is already home to 78,000 locals as well as many employers — accounting for 85,000 jobs in the county. Growth will increase population, but the master plan includes objectives designed to benefit existing residents.
- The Redevelopment Plan aims to nearly double the population to 143,000 with the addition of 24,000 new homes.
- New jobs are coming and will bring the neighborhood’s total to ~117,000.
- Homes will be developed in “urban villages” with mix-housing styles, outdoor spaces, and the ability to commute throughout the community in 15-minutes with walking and public transit.
- Space has been allocated to businesses — one area with an emphasis on technology — as well as commercial spaces to help provide jobs and retail in the community.
- Improvement to city infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and storm drainage.
A look at a skyway that could enhance transportation.
Rendering via City of San Diego
A green future
San Diego’s master plan emphasizes outdoor and community spaces and achieving net zero-greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Climate Action Plan. When Mira Mesa’s redevelopment is complete, it will include 100 acres of new parks, 17 miles of trails, two recreation facilities, and an aquatics center. The neighborhood would also have 91 miles of new bike lanes with biking facilities throughout the city.
To address climate change, public + shared transportation will be a priority. This will include mobility hubs and micro-mobility stations where residents can find bus stops, carpools, electric vehicle charging stations, and shared vehicles like bikes and scooters. The nearby terrain makes it difficult to add a trolley stop, but city officials have their hopes up that a proposed aerial skyway will allow connections to the Mid-Coast Trolley Extension and a potential commuter rail station.