San Diego Council Approves $4.2 Billion Midway Rising Project

The San Diego City Council voted 8-0 to approve Midway Rising, a $4.2 billion mixed-use redevelopment project in the Midway District. The deal grants a 105-year lease of 48.5 acres of city-owned land to Midway Rising, LLC, for the construction of a 16,000-seat indoor entertainment venue, 130,000 square feet of retail, and approximately 14.5 acres of parks and public space.

The project will deliver 4,254 residential units, including 2,000 designated as affordable housing, which proponents describe as the largest affordable housing development on public land in California history. To fund an estimated $462 million in infrastructure costs, the city will establish an enhanced infrastructure financing district to redirect future tax increment revenue.

Approval followed concerns from local residents and planning groups regarding traffic congestion, 250-foot building heights, and the potential release of toxins from the 120-year-old West Point Loma Dump during excavation. City leaders and business advocates dismissed these concerns, emphasizing the need to modernize aging infrastructure and revitalize the underused district.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029, with the new arena starting in 2032. The existing Pechanga Arena will remain operational until the new facility is complete to avoid event interruptions. Full project completion is expected by 2050.