The El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District runs through two redvelopment areas. The area west of the 805 to Park Boulevard is in the North Park Project area. The area from east of the 805 to 54th Street lies within the City Heights project area.

City Heights Redevelopment Area Background
The City of San Diego's 1,962-acre City Heights Redevelopment Project Area comprises various community planning areas focusing on education and beautification of the community. The centerpiece of the project area is the City Heights Urban Village, a public/private partnership effort that encompasses nine City blocks. Two other projects in the area include the Regional Transit Center and the Interstate 15 Corridor.
A variety of excellent redevelopment opportunities are afforded in City Heights due to several established commercial districts, multi-family and single-family housing, access via four major freeways, and industrially-designated properties. The project area is bounded by Home and Euclid avenues and 54th Street on the east, Meade and Monroe avenues on the north, Home Avenue and Interstate 805 on the south, and Interstate 805 on the west.

Redevelopment Incentives

- Site assembly
- Fee reductions
- Permitting assistance
- Off-site improvements
- Housing programs
- Facade rebates
- Low-cost financing incentives

Development Objectives

- Commercial mixed use projects
- Affordable housing and rehabilitation
- Youth recreation and service centers
- Transportation facilities
- Living wage job creation
- Increased homeowner occupancy

Interstate 15 Corridor Project
Major improvements and redevelopment efforts are underway or have already been completed for the Interstate 15 corridor in the City Heights Project Area. This include new landscaping, street and sidewalk improvements, three new parks, improved public transit, and new development. The City is working on the project with Caltrans, Metropolitan Transit Development Board, Mid-City Transit Interchanges Project, and several community organizations.

Regional Transit Center
The Regional Transportation Center facility educates and informs consumers about alternative fuel vehicles. The City's Redevelopment Agency worked with several partners on this project in the City Heights Redevelopment Project Area. Major funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

City Heights Urban Village
The City Heights Urban Village has recreated the core of the City Heights community, establishing a pedestrian-friendly town square with important City facilities and centers of learning. The project has been a partnership of the City of San Diego, City's Redevelopment Agency, San Diego Foundation, CityLink Investment Corp., and Price Charities. Already completed are a library, performance area, recreation center, playing fields, police substation, public swimming pool, municipal gymnasium, and elementary school. Still under construction or being planned are an adult learning center, retail center, and affordable housing. The urban village covers eight City blocks within the City Heights Redevelopment Project Area.

Talmadge Senior Village Development
The Redevelopment Agency approved funding of $3.8 million for the Talmadge Senior Village development, a mixed-use development incorporating 90 units of affordable housing in the Talmadge neighborhood. This decision marks the second project to be funded by the new Redevelopment Agency Affordable Housing Program, which was developed by a collaboration of the City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency and the San Diego Housing Commission. The proposed three-story Talmadge Senior Village mixed-use project, which is within the City Heights Redevelopment Project Area boundaries, will replace a converted motel at 5252 El Cajon Boulevard. The new development will offer 91 housing units, 90 of which would be rented for 55 years at rates affordable to very low income senior citizens. The remaining unit is reserved for an on-site manager. Also included in the project are 3,362 square feet of commercial space to front on El Cajon Boulevard, a 618 square feet leasing office, a 1,573 square feet community activity room and 91 underground parking spaces.

Check the Boulevard's Project Page for more projects on El Cajon Boulevard.

North Park Redevelopment Area Background
The North Park Redevelopment Project was adopted by the City of San Diego to eliminate conditions of blight in the Project Area by new construction, revitalization and upgrading of residential, commercial, office, and public properties and facilities within and surrounding the Project Area (see map). Major improvements and redevelopment efforts are ongoing west of the Interstate 805 in the Greater North Park Area. The most prominent redevelopment activity along El Cajon Blvd. is the Renaissance at North Park Project located at the northwest corner of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street. Other projects within the North Park Project Area include the North Park Theater Rehabilitation, North Park Parking Facility, 30th Street Lighting and La Boheme Condominiums on 30th Street and Lincoln Ave. The North Park Theatre Project is a public/private partnership effort to rehabilitate and reopen a historical community landmark that has been vacant since 1989. Aside from these developments, improvements to the North Park Project Area also include street and sidewalk improvements, increased housing supply, and more pedestrian friendly environments.

Redevelopment Incentives

- Site assembly
- Fee reductions
- Permitting assistance
- Off-site improvements
- Housing programs
- Facade rebates
- Vacant commercial property opportunities

Development Objectives

1) Eliminate and prevent the spread of blight and deterioration and conserve, rehabilitate and redevelop the Project Area;
2) Improve, promote, and preserve the positive neighborhood characteristics in North Park while correcting its physical and economic deficiencies;
3) Promote and enhance varied housing opportunities;
4) Improve, support and promote the growth and vitality of the Project Area's business environment and address its commercial, service and employment needs;
5) Increase parking, enhance the quality of mobility and improve transportation facilities which support the vitality, safety, and viability of North Park;
6) Expand and improve park and recreation facilities, green belts and open space;
7) Enhance infrastructure facilities;
8) Increase and improve quality education opportunities in North Park; and
9) Reduce and control crime and increase and improve needed health and social services in North Park.

For more information about the North Park Redevelopment Project Area, please visit the City's website at www.sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency/northpar.shtml

Renaissance at North Park Project

Construction is now underway for the Renaissance at North park Project, a mixed-use development located at the northwest corner of El Cajon Boulevard and 30th Street. The site for the new development is 1.68 acres in size and will be improved with a mix of both commercial and residential structures. The project includes a four-story, mixed use structure fronting on El Cajon Boulevard and 14 three-story town homes on Kansas Street. The mixed-use component of the proposed project will provide 94 senior citizen affordable apartments, 6,000 square feet for a public community center, and 6,000 square feet of commercial space. A pedestrian plaza accessible to the public will provide a link between El Cajon Boulevard, shops, and parking located to the rear and beneath the development. The three-bedroom town homes on Kansas Street will also be affordable. Twenty-four market-rate town homes will also be built immediately north of the Renaissance at North Park, on the west side of 30th Street, resulting in a total of 135 new dwelling units varying in affordability and style.

30th Street Mid-Block Lights

In 2000, the Adams Avenue Business Association (AABA) received funding from a state transportation allocation and City Community Development Block Grant funding for installation of decorative mid-block street lights on Adams Avenue. In December of that year, AABA approached the North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee (NPPAC) to propose including a portion of 30th Street from Adams Avenue to El Cajon Boulevard in this program. The PAC supported this proposition and funding was authorized for the purchase and installation of pedestrian -oriented street lights on 30th street between Adams Avenue and El Cajon Blvd. Single and double acorn light fixtures will brighten up the dark mid-block areas.

Other Projects in the North Park Project Area

North Park Theatre Rehabilitation Project

Major rehabilitation efforts are already underway within the North Park Theatre. The North Park Theatre is located at the corner of University Avenue and 29th Street. The Theatre opened in 1928 as a single screen motion picture theatre with approximately 1,200 seats. The Theatre has been designated as a historic structure by the City's Historic Resources Board. In 1990, the North Park Theatre was purchased by the City of San Diego to save it from destruction. The current improvements include the exterior and interior rehabilitation of the North Park Theatre for an 800 seat live theatre venue. The live entertainment tenant identified is the Lyric Opera San Diego, however, other non-profit and for profit users will lease the facility for performances. The Theatre building is also being rehabilitated to accommodate approximately 5,800 square feet of ground floor restaurant/retail space along University Avenue and approximately 6,700 square feet of office space on the second floor. The City is working on the project with the developer Arnold G. Fischer, an experienced developer having successfully completed historic renovations and new construction.

North Park Parking Facility

The North Park Parking Facility is designed to serve the renovated theatre, associated restaurant and office space, and the community at large. The Parking Facility will provide for 400 parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the North Park Theatre. The parking structure will also accommodate some commercial space at the street level of the structure.

La Boheme Condominiums

The Redevelopment Agency and Western Pacific Housing are working together to develop a mixed-use project on a 2.06 acre site bounded by 30th street to the west, Lincoln Avenue to the North and Ohio Street to the east. The mixed-use project will include 224 for-sale condominium homes, some suited to live-work use, approximately 15,800 square feet of ground level commercial space. The development of this major mixed-use project will be another key accomplishment in the implementation of the North Park Pilot Village, a designation awarded by the City of San Diego to demonstrate the benefits of well-planned urban infill development in neighborhoods served by ample transit alternatives.
Other projects currently in initial stages include pedestrian-friendly street improvements as well as more market rate and affordable housing and urban mixed use community developments.

Check the Boulevard's Project Page for more projects on El Cajon Boulevard.