College Area Overview/Background:
The College Area Community is located in the central part of the
City of San Diego, the mid-city region, along the southern rim of Mission Valley and
approximately eight miles northeast of the downtown area. It is
a residential community, which is also home to San Diego State
University,
(SDSU), which was formerly San Diego State College
and previous to that San Diego State Teachers College, which the
area is still named after.
The College Area Community developed slowly during the early
1930s. The first subdivision maps occurred along El Cajon
Boulevard and along Adams Avenue in the vicinity of 55th Street,
in the vicinity of 63rd and Stewart Streets and along Cresita
Drive, Lindo Paseo and Hardy Avenue. In 1931, the State Teachers
College, (later San Diego State University), relocated in the
College Area from its former Normal Street location.
El Cajon Boulevard is a historic commercial district through
the college area community and was once the primary
transportation route from San Diego to El Cajon and Arizona,
before the construction of Interstate 8. The postwar desire for
suburban living and the completion of Interstate 8 in the late
1950's further contributed to the growth of the community and
University, but contributed to the loss of commercial businesses
which relocated to Mission Valley.
Redevelopment of SDSU and University controlled property,
beginning in the 1990's, caused intensification of uses in the
community near the campus, which is ongoing and includes the
extension of the San Diego Trolley through the community with
two stations: one on campus at SDSU and one opposite Alvarado
Hospital on Alvarado Road. A second redevelopment project is
currently proposed, which would redevelop the commercial core
along El Cajon Boulevard.
There is also an
Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in the area near
Congregation Beth Jacob Orthodox Temple on College
Avenue.
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