For nearly 30 years, the City of Chula Vista has pursued a vision of creating a University Innovation District on over 383-acres of city-owned land in Eastern Chula Vista. A project history and background is available to be viewed here which summarizes the City's many efforts to realize the vision over the years. The City intends to recruit and co-locate a unique mix of academic partners in an environment different than a traditional university campus. Instead academic institutions, including a four-year university, will integrate with commercial, retail and residential functions in an urban, mixed-use setting. This will provide a collaborative learning and research environment for engaging students, faculty and corporations in the creation and application of knowledge for cross-border economic, social and cultural development. The University will offer a globally desirable range of academic, entrepreneurial, and urban amenities to attract the talent and investment that will sustain a world-class educational-innovation ecosystem.

The site is situated next to an 11,375-acre ecological preserve, less than two miles from the United States-Mexico international border, and is adjacent to the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center — all of which provide unique opportunities for the University and Innovation District. The site is close to quality full-service master planned communities and features incomparable views and access to future high-frequency transit and amenities. The University Innovation District is planned to be California’s next great university.

For more information, please contact Special Projects Manager, Adrianna Relph at arelph@chulavistaca.gov.

Project Highlights

  • Over 553 acres dedicated to a bi-national, multi-institutional University Innovation District
  • Located in thriving San Diego County urban area near U.S.-Mexico border
  • Project is entitled to accommodate
    • 4M square feet of academic space for 20,000 students and 6,000 faculty/staff
    • 2M square feet of innovation district uses for 8,000 jobs
    • 1.6M square feet of onsite student and faculty living
    • 2M square feet of market rate and affordable residential 
    • 160 acres of beautiful open space preserve surrounding the University property
  • Phase 1 Under Construction! Deliverable Summer 2026

 

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