By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a 45-year lease with the County of San Diego for the long-vacant Mira Mesa recreational facility known as the Epicentre, located on Mira Mesa Boulevard across the street from Mira Mesa High School and next to Mira Mesa Community Park.
As part of a collaborative and beneficial agreement for both parties, the city will lease the property to the County for $1 a year. In exchange, the county, which has set aside more than $10.25 million for this project, will renovate the building, bring it up to code, and provide a variety of activities and programming on-site, including performing arts and music, special events, drop-in activities for youth, homework assistance and more.
Some of the programming will be created in partnership with Mira Mesa High School, to create a vibrant civic hub for the community and provide safe and fun recreational opportunities for local youth.
“This partnership between the city and county will deliver on a decades-long community dream,” said City Councilmember Kent Lee, who represents Mira Mesa. “I want to thank our county Supervisors and all the people who have lent their voice in support of this project, from local community groups to students at Mira Mesa High School. I’ve heard from so many residents asking when this property will be brought back to life, and this lease agreement is one of the final steps needed to reactivate this building for the benefit of the community.”
“This is a great example of city and county governments working together to create a regional asset we can all be proud of,” said Christina Bibler, Director of San Diego’s Economic Development Department. “We had a very outward-facing process with a lot of community input, and we look forward to the day when this location is once again a thriving center of activity, arts, and culture.”
The 8,086-square-foot one-story structure at 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd. was built in 1975 to house the Mira Mesa Library. After the library moved to a new location, the nonprofit Harmonium leased the property from 1998 to 2016 for use as a teen center. Following the termination of the lease with Harmonium, the city issued a request for proposals for the property in 2017 but none were received. The property has been vacant since.
In 2021 the county, in collaboration with the city, determined the space presented an opportunity to advance equity and inclusion, by offering a variety of programming for people of all ages, income levels, and abilities. The city conducted robust community outreach through local community groups, engagement with Mira Mesa High School, and a community survey that resulted in more than 1,000 responses. The Mira Mesa Community Planning Group supported the proposed concept and use unanimously on May 20 this year. Following council approval, the lease will go to the County Board of Supervisors for its anticipated approval on July 17.
Once the county takes possession of the property and all the necessary permits are acquired, construction and renovation are planned to begin this fall, and the center is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026.
