In San Diego’s University City, the former Costa Verde Center is being transformed into High Street Village. The 13-acre site, planned to include housing, retail, restaurants, and community gathering spaces, is located next to the UTC Transit Center and UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley. The project will introduce a pedestrian-oriented main street and new residential opportunities in one of the region’s largest employment centers, bringing a new sense of community to central University City.
Since 2021, RICK has been working closely with the development team as the project progressed from early planning to site preparation. Most recently, the team helped secure Final Map approval in September 2026, an important milestone that allows the developer to begin selling individual parcels for future development.
The plans for the Costa Verde Center site have changed significantly since RICK first became involved in 2021. What began as a proposed life sciences campus eventually shifted toward a development with an emphasis on housing, opening up new possibilities for the property. When Cass Street Ventures and investment partner Global Mutual acquired the site in 2025, the project moved in a new direction, with plans for a mixed-use development that made better use of its location near major employment centers and public transportation.
In order to accommodate the shift toward residential development, RICK worked with the client to separate the project from an existing specific plan, which allowed the development team to use updated zoning regulations that permit higher-density housing. Since RICK had been working on the site since 2021, the team had the history and understanding of its previous designs and approvals.
“We’ve been involved with this project from its early stages, through changes in ownership and the development plans themselves. That history has given us a unique understanding of the site and allowed us to continue supporting the client as the project moves into its next phase.” —Alejandra Quesada, Principal Project Manager
One of the project’s biggest milestones came in September 2026, when the City of San Diego approved the Final Map for High Street Village. The approval formally established the individual parcels within the development, allowing the property owner to begin selling lots to builders who will develop them separately. Working against an aggressive deadline, RICK collaborated closely with City staff to complete the approval process, securing approval a day ahead of schedule.
“Getting the Final Map approved on such an aggressive schedule took a tremendous team effort. It required close coordination between our team, the client, and City staff, and it’s rewarding to see that collaboration help move the project into its next phase.”
—Alejandra Quesada, Principal Project Manager
Their collaborative approach earned praise from Michael Yanicelli of Cass Street Ventures, who described the team as “truly awesome to work with.”
With the Final Map recorded, High Street Village is moving into the building permit phase after years of planning and preparation. Rather than developing the entire property at once, construction will take place across individual parcels over several years, with plans for multiple mid-rise and high-rise buildings. RICK is now supporting the preliminary civil engineering design for several of those buildings, applying the team’s knowledge of the site as developers begin planning their individual projects.
“What makes High Street Village exciting to me is the opportunity to create one of San Diego’s next memorable neighborhoods. It’s more than just redeveloping a site; it’s creating a place with its own identity that can become part of the fabric of University City. I’m proud that RICK has been involved in helping shape that vision from the early planning stages through implementation.” —Carson Edgington, Principal
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For the RICK team, the start of development marks an important milestone in a project that has progressed through multiple phases and approvals. With the Final Map approved and development moving into its next phase, High Street Village is one step closer to becoming a new residential and commercial neighborhood in University City.