A vision in the works for years in La Mesa is finally coming to fruition.

Construction through USA Properties Fund is underway on 8181 Allison, billed as an affordable apartment community in the heart of La Mesa.

The development, located at 8181 Allison Avenue, is situated on the southeast corner of Allison and Date avenues, close to University Avenue and Spring Street.

According to the developer, the property will provide ideal access to various amenities nearby. Among them would be a sizable grocery store and pharmacy, several dozen restaurants, City Hall, the local library and more. There is also a trolley station nearby and multiple bus stops.

In a statement on the company’s website, USA Properties Fund President Geoff Brown noted, “It’s a development that checks the boxes in so many ways, from providing affordable housing to cost-effective and environmentally friendly public transportation options for getting around the community. It’s an excellent location for affordable housing, with easy access to so many businesses and services.”

Once finished, the complex will have one-bedroom and two-bedroom, two-bath apartments.

It is projected that rents will vary from around $700 to $1,675 each month for one-bedroom units, with two-bedroom apartments going anywhere from $835 to $2,000.

Among amenities mentioned for the complex will be a community room offering a kitchen, a fitness center, computer stations, onsite laundry, a spa and more. The complex will also provide an 117-space parking garage that comes with EV-charging stations. The apartments come with energy-efficient appliances, light fixtures, ceiling fans and more.

The planned date for construction to finish is late next year.

How the apartment community came together

The 147-apartment community was conceived through a public-private partnership including the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), the City of La Mesa, KeyBank and WNC. KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment put forth a $42.78 million construction loan for the project.

Alison 8181’s site dates back a number of years to when the location was the headquarters for the La Mesa Police Department.

Some 15 years ago, the City sold the former police station site to the La Mesa Redevelopment Agency. Following the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in the state in 2012, La Mesa retained the location and it would continue being looked at as an affordable housing project at a later date.

What’s been the feedback on the project?

La Mesa City Manager Greg Humora, who said he’s gotten positive feedback on the project, noted, “The City solicited proposals from developers for a multi-family affordable housing project. The project is critical to providing affordable housing to the La Mesa community and will assist in meeting our state-mandated housing targets.”

When asked if City officials are looking at additional housing projects in the area, Humora stated, “The City has a few small parcels that could be developed in the future but nothing specific has been determined at the moment. “The bulk of development is expected to be on private property.”

Not everyone is giving a thumbs up to the project as it takes shape.

La Mesa Councilmember Laura Lothian remarked, “I found the speed of approval of this large, jarring, boilerplate, freeway apartment project confounding. The City of La Mesa has a justified reputation for being difficult to build and obtain permits.”

According to Lothian, “Whereas other Downtown La Mesa projects take years to go through our arduous process, this went from submittal to approval in months. Additionally, though not exactly hidden from public scrutiny, the project definitely remained under the radar until it was too late for public input. This project is not important to the City’s development, it is detrimental. We will have increased traffic, decreased parking, and a huge hit to our charm and small-town feel.”

When asked what kind of feedback she has received from La Mesa residents and businesses and its impact on the City, Lothian responded, “The feedback I have received has been 100% negative. Locals are dreading it.”

Fellow Councilmember Jack Shu noted, “Contributing the public property towards the development of affordable housing is one of the strategies we currently have to create more housing people can afford. Over the many years that the project was not moving at all, it was the unrelenting work of city staff that finally made it happen.”

Asked about feedback he’s gotten from La Mesa residents and business owners, Shu said he’d not heard much.

“I think like many developments, until people see the building near its completion and then see it become available for residents, most people will not learn the full story of the project. Affordable housing advocates in the region know this project very well because 100% of it’s units will be for people making less than median income.”

As Shu sees it, there are other opportunities to bring additional affordable housing to La Mesa.

“Yes, there are other sites, using public property which are going through the system of finding developers and moving on to development,” Shu remarked. “MTS (Metropolitan Transit System) has a such a site at the Spring Street Trolley Station. Unfortunately, under the current system of government partnering with the development industry to build affordable housing, we fall far short of what is needed. Especially housing for those in the very, very low income group. We need to find more resources and better ways to address the housing shortage for those who need it the most. Let’s face it, if you have lots of money, you can find housing.”

For Councilmember Colin Parent, the building of this complex is a welcome thing.

“I’m proud of La Mesa for using our old police station site to build much-needed homes for low and moderate income families,” Parent said. “Not only did we meet our state obligations to use the site for affordable homes, but we went above and beyond, creating La Mesa’s first 100% affordable development in decades.”

As a resident and/or business owner in La Mesa, are you looking forward to this new project being completed in late 2024?