More than 75 people, from community leaders to housing officials, attended the grand opening and a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 11 for 8181 Allison – the latest development in the fast-evolving Downtown Village in La Mesa.
The 147-apartment community – located at 8181 Allison, just west of Spring Street – offers much-needed affordable housing for lower-income residents in a downtown neighborhood that includes a trolley station, several bus stops and many stores and restaurants.
8181 Allison will benefit residents, nearby businesses and the neighborhood overall, community leaders said during the two-hour grand opening.
“We can practically walk for brunch, we can go to the park, we can walk everywhere,” resident Alimatu Kamara said to ABC 10. “The safety is really good because I feel like La Mesa is a little slower than some parts of San Diego. It seems more family oriented.”
Post continues after the photo gallery.
Photos by Bernadette Johnston of Native Images
Work and stay close to home
That’s one of the many goals for 8181 Allison, a $71.4 million development possible thanks to a public-private partnership led by developer-manager-owner USA Properties Fund that includes the City of La Mesa, California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), WNC Inc. and KeyBank.
“We want to make the community … a nicer place as a result of our projects,” said USA Properties President Geoff Brown. The Roseville-based company is one of the fastest-growing affordable developer-manager-owners with 90 apartment communities in California, Nevada and Oregon.
8181 Allison will have a far-reaching effect on residents, many who are now able to live closer to their work – and enjoy significant savings compared to market-rate apartment communities.
An amenities-rich community
The apartment community “provides secure, high-quality homes for families who have lived here all their lives and want to stay in the region,” said Stephen Russell, President and CEO of the San Diego Housing Federation.
Media reports on the grand opening
8181 Allison is affordable but also features higher-end amenities, such as a community room, a fitness center, hot tub and rooftop deck.
“It’s been a good experience,” Kamara said. “It makes me appreciative of an opportunity like affordable housing to really give people a chance to rise, to save money in an economy that’s constantly going up.”