Grossmont Center is set to be renovated after the La Mesa City Council unanimously approved the first phase of a three-part community development project in early July.
Grossmont Center opened in 1961 and is a 925,000-square-foot outdoor shopping center approximately five miles east of San Diego State University. There had been speculation and uncertainty regarding the center’s future, but the renovation plans indicate the center will continue to be a part of the community for years to come.
What’s being renovated?
The renovation program is broken up into six categories: site design, landscape design, off-street parking design, energy conservation, safety design as well as architectural design and details.
Phase 1 will renovate storefronts between the anchor stores Target and Walmart and include improved lighting and security bollards.
For site design, the project will establish a unified design theme with a consistent color palette as well as incorporate new architectural details such as wood paneling and stone bases. The renovated central plaza is also set to integrate sitting areas and a pedestrian-focused design, which will include a fountain and shade canopies, according to the ratification document.
The landscape category proposes planting 30 additional trees at Grossmont Center, with six of the 30 located along the entrance. The ratification document notes that there are no significant modifications to the parking areas besides widening the sidewalk in some existing parking facilities.
The second and third phases include renovating the Macy’s building and the areas between Macy’s and Walmart, respectively. Those phases will be voted on by the City Council after the first phase is complete.
According to the ratification document, the project has no fiscal impact to the general fund. The city intends to recover all costs through application processing fees.
What will the renovation mean for La Mesa residents?
For Councilmember Lauren Cazares, who was born and raised in La Mesa, the green space and restorations are particularly exciting.
“We just really want Grossmont Center to be more comparable to One Paseo or Fashion Valley, a more elevated space,” Cazares said. “The La Mesa community is 113 years old this year and it’s a fixture. And so I’m really thrilled that Grossmont Center is going to become the jewel that it once was.”
Councilmember Genevieve Suzuki, who has a 16-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, said she is particularly excited about how the renovation will give kids a safe place to gather and spend time, particularly after pandemic restrictions limited in-person socialization.
“The fact that Grossmont is acknowledging that there is a need for this in a way that they’re open to still attracting our community and not just giving up on them is really a positive thing,” Suzuki said.
Although the ratification document did not have a set timeline for the anticipated completion date for Phase 1, Cazares said she hopes that it would be done by next summer.
Several other design projects are in the works in La Mesa; 2025 is the fourth year of the La Mesa Facade and Property Improvement Grant program, for example. It assists local businesses with property improvements.
Suzuki said that the project’s focus on energy conservation is also notable to her, as it signifies La Mesa’s support and care for the environment.
Cazares also noted that beyond remodeling green space, the Grossmont Center will restore and preserve space for holiday characters and celebrations.
“Green space is something that La Mesa really prides ourselves in, and we want to keep as much green space as we can,” Cazares said. “I’m excited for them to bring back some of the landscaping that will allow kids and folks … to really enjoy their time at Grossmont Center.”
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