8181 Allison Ave

Old Police Station Site, 8181 Allison Avenue, APN 470-572-22

In 2008, the City sold the former Police Station site to the La Mesa Redevelopment Agency.  The purpose of this sale was to facilitate the development of affordable housing consistent with the policies of the City’s adopted General Plan, Redevelopment Plan, and Housing Element.  After the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in California in 2012, the City retained the property and it continued to be identified as a future affordable housing project.  Therefore, the use of the former Police Station site is restricted to affordable housing and cannot be developed for another purpose.  The proposed project, located at 8181 Allison Avenue, is a Transit Oriented Development featuring one and two-bedroom apartment homes.  Rents would be restricted to incomes ranging from 30% to 70% of the area median income.  For more information, please visit the project website.

Site Chronology:

1966-2010:  Location of the La Mesa Police Station

2004:  La Mesa voters approved Proposition D – Fire, Police and Emergency Services Bond Measure for $25M to build new police and fire facilities.

2006:  Request for Interest was issued by the City for development partners for the site.

June 26, 2007:  City Council approved entering into an exclusive negotiating agreement with CityMark Communities for a mixed-use development project.

August 12, 2008:  City Council terminated the exclusive negotiating agreement with CityMark Communities due to the unfavorable economic conditions for developing housing.

December 10, 2008:  Property was sold to the former La Mesa Redevelopment Agency using low and moderate income housing funds with the intent of developing a project that included housing affordable to low and moderate income levels.

2010:  New police station completed using Proposition D funds and the police department relocated from 8181 Allison Avenue to the new building on University Avenue.

2012:  Environmental remediation completed and former police station building demolished.

February 1, 2012:  All California redevelopment agencies were dissolved as a result of AB26.

December 10, 2013:  City Council adopted a resolution to extend the time period for development to occur on the site until December 10, 2018.

March 2016:  Civic Center Feasibility Study presented to the City Council.

January 10, 2017:  City Council created the Civic Center Master Plan Subcommittee and appointed Councilmember Baber and Councilmember Parent.

May 9, 2017:  City Council approved a resolution extending the time period for development of the site for affordable housing purposes until August 30, 2022.

February 27, 2018:  Civic Center Master Plan Subcommittee provided a report to the City Council recommending that Keyser Marston Associates update market and financial feasibility analyses and analyze additional development scenarios.

November 27, 2018:  Civic Center Master Plan Subcommittee provided a report to the City Council outlining 5 separate development scenarios for the site.  The City Council provided direction to prepare a Request for Developer Qualifications for a long term ground lease to build a mixed-income apartment building with a minimum of 20% affordable units.

February 7, 2019:  Request for Developer Qualifications (RFQ) issued for a long term ground lease opportunity to construct a mixed-income, residential, rental project on the site.  The RFQ required a minimum of 20% moderate income units to be constructed on the property in order to satisfy the obligation created by the purchase of the property using affordable housing funds in 2008.

April 8, 2019:  Responses to the RFQ were due.

July 9, 2019:  City Council selected USA Properties as the preferred developer to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement to lease the property to develop a mixed-rate, multi-family, residential apartment project.

October 8, 2019:  City Council approved entering into an exclusive negotiating agreement with USA Properties to prepare terms and conditions for a Disposition and Development Agreement that will describe the project in detail.  USA Properties will be responsible for preparing site plans and conducting environmental review prior to entering into the Disposition and Development Agreement.

July 26, 2021: Design Review Board considered this project on July 26.

August 17, 2021: USA Properties conducted a virtual workshop with the community on this project. View the PowerPoint.

October 12, 2021:  City Council approved entering into a Disposition and Development Agreement with USA Properties and the entitlements to build the project.  The approved projects includes 147 affordable rental units.  The project is schedule to be under construction by August 2022.  More information about the approved projects plans and the entitlement package can be reviewed here.

August 30, 2022:  Construction required to begin on a housing project.