Construction Set To Begin On New Affordable Housing Project In La Mesa

LA MESA, CA —The city of La Mesa is set to begin construction on a new affordable housing project, 8181 Allison Avenue.

The Transient Oriented Development, housed in the city's former police station, will have rents restricted to incomes ranging from 30 to 70 percent of the area's median income and features 147 one and two-bedroom apartment homes, the city of La Mesa announced in a news release.

In 2008, the City sold the former Police Station and site to the La Mesa Redevelopment Agency with the purpose of facilitating the development of affordable housing consistent with the policies of the city’s adopted General Plan, Redevelopment Plan, and Housing Element, the new release said.

"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," the news release said. "Therefore, the use of the former Police Station site is restricted to affordable housing and cannot be developed for another purpose."

The site served as the La Mesa Police Station from 1966 until 2010 when the city's new police station was completed using Proposition D funds and the police department relocated from 8181 Allison Avenue to the new building on University Avenue.

Construction is set to begin Jan. 23, the city said.

For more information on the 8181 Allison Avenue project, visit the project website.

More information about the approved projects plans and the entitlement package can be reviewed here.