San Diego State University (SDSU) announced this week in partnership with several developers a plan to build a senior living community in the SDSU Mission Valley campus development project. However, the project is still pending approval from the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees.
According to a report by the city news agency, if constructed according to the current plan, the community will consist of a 7-story building spanning approximately 295,000 square feet, offering 224 independent and assisted living residential units, along with 26 memory care units, as well as amenities such as restaurants, a pub, community rooms, a fitness center, a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, and outdoor courtyards.
SDSU President Adela de la Torre stated that the vision for this project stems from the university’s commitment to serving a diverse community across generations. She expressed, “We look forward to seeing alumni, retired faculty, and many others reside in this unique living environment to further deepen their connections with SDSU.”
The project is projected to commence construction by the end of 2027, with completion expected by 2030, and the leasing services center slated to open in the fall of 2028. The community will be located near Jacaranda Street and Innovation Parkway within the Mission Valley area.
Upon the full completion of the SDSU Mission Valley development, it will include an 80-acre park and open spaces, comprising a 34-acre river park, up to 4,600 market-rate and affordable housing units, 1.6 million square feet of research and innovation spaces, 95,000 square feet of retail space, and a hotel.
The university mentioned that the overall development plan also encompasses establishing an “Innovation District” to support SDSU’s educational, research, entrepreneurship, technology, and sports initiatives.
PMB and Pillar Properties are the joint developers of this project. Merrill Gardens will oversee the community management, and Urbal Architecture is in charge of the architectural design.
Nolan Weinberg, Senior Vice President of Development at PMB, emphasized that the company has always believed that senior housing can seamlessly integrate with the university’s master plan, enhancing campus vitality, driving future development, and fostering meaningful intergenerational interactions among residents, students, faculty, and visitors.
He expressed hope that this model could be replicated and promoted in more locations in the future.
After the community’s inauguration, SDSU also plans to collaborate with Merrill Gardens to provide students with internship, employment, and community engagement opportunities, while offering residents access to campus activities and lifelong learning resources. Tana Gall, President of Merrill Gardens, expressed her honor in partnering with SDSU to allow seniors to enjoy the company’s consistent quality services.