First Apartments at Millenia in South San Diego County Near Completion

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Chula Vista, Calif.—The first multifamily component of Millenia, a 210-acre master planned development in Chula Vista in South San Diego County, is nearing completion. Known as Pulse by Fairfield Residential, the first move-ins are scheduled for later this month.

Located at the intersection of Birch Ave. and Eastlake Parkway, Pulse features 273 apartments. Common amenities include a central plaza with a pool, spa, sundeck, cabanas and showers, an outdoor fireplace lounge, fitness center and business center.

Otherwise, development has shifted into high gear at Millenia, with construction of a shopping center, hotel, condo project, and mixed-use apartments set to start next year. “Grading is complete and major roads and most infrastructure are in place for the first phase of development,” noted Todd Galarneau, executive vice president of Meridian Development, which is managing development of the property owner Stratford Land. Stratford has been a financial partner at Millenia since February 2011 and assumed full ownership earlier this year.

Stylus Park, a 1.9-acre public park just south of Pulse, is under construction with completion slated for this year. The urban-style park, one of six parks planned for Millenia, is set to open in 2017 once its landscaping sufficiently matures, according to Galarneau.

Also, Meridian Communities (the homebuilding arm of Meridian Development) has started site development on three attached residential condo neighborhoods in Millenia, all designed by the Woodley Architectural Group. These include Metro, which will offer 72 two-story townhomes ranging from about 1,300 square feet to 1,500 square feet, and Trio, which will feature 66 two-story triplexes with private rear yards ranging from 1,650 square feet to 1,880 square feet.

Meridian’s largest residential development, called Evo, will be designed with an urban aesthetic and balconies that extend the living spaces into the outdoors. Ranging from 1,680 square feet to 1,950 square feet, Evo features a floorplan to appeal to multi-generational families, as well as a single-level penthouse on the third floor, accessed by a private elevator.

Trammell Crow Residential is currently seeking entitlements from the City of Chula Vista on a 309-unit apartment/mixed-use development in Millenia. According to Alec Schiffer, managing director of the Western Division of Trammell Crow Residential, the plan is to start construction as soon as possible, tentatively in April 2016.

The Ayres Hotel chain, known for European-inspired hotels in southern California, is under contract with Millenia with plans to build a four-story, 135-room hotel. Construction is expected to start on that property by mid-2016.