Merrill Gardens, PMB and Pillar Properties will develop a 250-apartment community with independent living, assisted living, and memory care services in an intergenerational, university-centric environment.
San Diego State University, with Merrill Gardens, PMB, and Pillar Properties, today announced plans for a senior living community as part of the development of SDSU Mission Valley.
Artist’s rendition of the senior living community at SDSU Mission Valley. (Image: Urbal Architecture)
The project is envisioned as a university-centric senior living community that will add to the growing mix of uses at SDSU Mission Valley, further supporting the university’s long-term vision for a vibrant district that brings together housing, open space, recreation, innovation and neighborhood-serving amenities.
The planned seven-story, 295,000-square-foot community will include 224 independent and assisted living residences, 26 memory care residences, and amenities such as a restaurant and bistro, a community room, a fitness center, rooftop deck, pool and outdoor courtyard.
Located along Jacaranda Street and Innovation Parkway within SDSU Mission Valley, the project will be positioned near the district’s growing network of housing, open space, recreation and neighborhood-serving amenities.
Construction is expected to begin at the end of 2027 and to be completed by 2030, with a leasing office anticipated to open in fall 2028. First occupancy is expected as early as 2030.
The project, which will go before the California State University governing Board of Trustees for approval, will provide residents with access to a university-connected environment that supports an active and intellectually stimulating lifestyle near parks, open space, transit, recreation and neighborhood amenities. The project is also targeting LEED Gold certification.
“The vision for this project is rooted in SDSU’s commitment to serve our intergenerational SDSU community,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “We can’t wait to see SDSU alumni, retired faculty, and so many others take advantage of this unique living environment to deepen their relationship with SDSU.”
Once the community is open, the university also plans to partner with Merrill Gardens to provide internships, employment and community engagement opportunities for students, and access to campus programming and lifelong learning opportunities for residents. There will also be opportunities for the community to collaborate with SDSU’s Center for Excellence in Aging and Longevity.
PMB and Pillar Properties are serving as co-developers for the project. Merrill Gardens will manage the community. Urbal Architecture is the architect. The general contractor and financing partners will be announced later.
“This project reflects something we at PMB are deeply passionate about; the idea that a senior living community can not only integrate seamlessly into a university master plan, but also enhance campus vibrancy, catalyze additional development, and promote meaningful intergenerational relationships among residents, students, faculty, and visitors,” said Nolan Weinberg, senior vice president of development at PMB. “We believe this is a model worth replicating, and we are thrilled to bring this vision to life alongside our partners on the project.”
PMB, a Solana Beach-based healthcare real estate developer, is focused exclusively on healthcare real estate across the continuum of care, including senior living communities, behavioral health, life sciences, ambulatory care centers, medical outpatient buildings, inpatient hospitals, post-acute hospitals and parking structures. At SDSU Mission Valley, PMB’s role builds on its experience developing healthcare and senior living environments intended to support care delivery, community connection and long-term value.
Merrill Gardens brings senior living operational experience to the project, with a focus on creating residential environments that support independence, wellness, hospitality and access to care. At SDSU Mission Valley, Merrill Gardens is expected to help shape the resident experience across independent living, assisted living, and memory care residences.
“We are honored to partner with SDSU on this innovative project. This community will offer older adults a unique opportunity to remain engaged in a vibrant, intellectually rich setting while enjoying the support, services, and hospitality that define the Merrill Gardens experience,” said Tana Gall, president of Merrill Gardens. “We look forward to creating opportunities for meaningful interaction between residents, students, faculty, and the broader SDSU community. We believe this will be a truly special place, and we are proud to help bring this vision to life.”
In May, SDSU and Chelsea Investment Corporation broke ground on Addison, a 126-unit affordable housing development in SDSU Mission Valley. In August 2025, AvalonBay Communities broke ground on the site’s first market-rate residential development..
At full buildout, SDSU Mission Valley will include 80 acres of parks and open space, up to 4,600 market-rate and affordable housing units, 1.6 million sq. ft. of research and innovative space, 95,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and a hotel, in addition to Snapdragon Stadium. SDSU acquired the former city-owned property under a voter-approved 2018 ballot initiative,
Additional information about the development is available on the SDSU Mission Valley website.
The full content of this article is only available to paid subscribers. If you are an active subscriber, please log in. To subscribe, please click here: SUBSCRIBE
