National City, unlike Chula Vista to its south, does not have hundreds of contiguous acres of open space available for new homes and businesses, but that hasn’t kept the city from developing.

Both housing and commercial development are under way in the city now, says Paul Desrochers, community development director. New housing includes 220 single-family homes being built east of Plaza Bonita by Concordia Homes. Due to be complete by mid-2004, they will cost $250,000 to $300,000.

A developer is being sought for a 35-home subdivision on East Plaza Boulevard. Negotiations are occurring with developer Jim Hammit for 17 row homes, to be priced around $200,000, to be completed late this year on CDC-owned property on East Highland Avenue. Another eight units on N Street have been approved by the Planning Commission.

“The CDC has several sites that we are in negotiation to purchase for more affordable housing,” reports Desrochers. “The CDC is engaged in the renovation of multi-family affordable units all over the city.” That includes the recently completed Summercrest Complex, with more than 350 family and senior units, and reconstruction of 138 Q Avenue apartments two years ago.

Leading the way for commercial development in National City is Wal-Mart, which will break ground this month on the long-deserted Fedco site at Highland Avenue and Plaza Boulevard. The city has received 10 responses to a request for plans to redevelop abandoned businesses and a junk yard at the Marina Gateway properties at Interstate 5 and 24th Street.

A new education village is being developed in National City’s downtown for use by Southwestern Community College, the County Office of Education and SDSU. The first phase is an 80,000-square-foot parking structure for 500 cars with construction to begin this summer. Other commercial projects include redevelopment of PSI scrap metal operation on a contaminated Cleveland Avenue site by Squires Belt Material Co., which will use seven acres, and a new 350-slip marina now under excavation in the Sweetwater Channel.