Oct 3 2013
McMillin Communities, which has built more than 30,000 residences, 16 master-planned communities and San Diego’s Liberty Station, has broken ground on its most ambitious project ever: the multi-billion-dollar Millenia, designated the urban center of the 23,000-acre Otay Ranch masterplan.
It is located adjacent to the future University Innovation District, near the U.S. Olympic Training Center, four miles from the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and the planned cross-border terminal, and just 20 miles from Downtown San Diego.
Millenia, which will be equivalent to about 80 city blocks, is fully entitled with plans for 3,000 multi-family residences; 2 million square feet of Class A office space on 30 acres; 1.5 million square feet of retail, hospitality, civic and mixed-use projects; six urban parks; and a variety of promenades, gathering places, bikeways and plazas. Population will be approximately 8,500 when complete in about 20 years. It has been designated a Smart Growth Urban Center by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).
The Millenia planning team, which was headed up by McMillin’s Todd Galarneau, senior vice president of Land Development, includes RTKL, a global architecture and design practice headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland; Cinti Land Planning, now of Rosarito, Mexico; Project Design Consultants (PDC) of San Diego for civil engineering; and Wallace, Roberts & Todd for park design. Stratford Land of Dallas, Texas, is a financial partner.
“The magic of this plan is the synergy of land uses, which will fundamentally change how the community interacts,” said Galarneau. “Every decision we make is motivated by our desire to make Millenia the kind of place that is vibrant and worthy of affection.”
Grading on about 100 acres of the property has commenced. Construction is anticipated to start within 12 months in a variety of apartments, townhomes and condominiums, retailers, parks and a hotel.
Sustainability is an integral part of Millenia, which played an integral role as part of an energy modeling initiative conducted by the National Energy Center for Sustainable Communities and the city of Chula Vista, among others. The National Center for Sustainable Communities concluded that the design of Millenia will result in residents traveling 5.5 million fewer miles per year.
Press release avilable from http://www.businesswire.com/
Source: http://www.milleniasd.com