Mira Mesa

Neighborhood, City of San Diego

© McCormack's Guides

 

Zip Code: 92126

Large bedroom community that is sometimes hard to find because it has the misfortune to fall awkwardly where local maps divide. North county maps omit it altogether; some south county maps will box it off separately with scant reference to its neighbors. www.mccormacks.com

Mira Mesa is located just west of Interstate 15. To the south is the Miramar Marine Air Station, to the north Rancho Peñasquitos, to the east, on the other side of Interstate 15, is Scripps Ranch-Miramar. Mira Mesa Boulevard is the main freeway exit. Still building but running short of land the pace has slowed.

The 1990 census counted 57,273 residents, the 2000 census 72,005. In 2006, SANDAG put the number at 75,108.

School scores middle plus to high. Crime low but murders jumped in 2005. Commute better than most.

Mira Mesa is close to the jobs at the Air Station, at both State Diego State University and UC San Diego and at Mission Valley and Sorrento Valley. It's also not that far from downtown San Diego, about 20 freeway miles (but often these are congested miles).

In 1997, the Navy with its jets moved out and the Marines with their helicopters and jets moved in.The Marines have adopted noise-suppressant measures such as flying higher and sticking closer to flight paths over the ocean and the freeways. This satisfies many but not all residents in the region. If you are thinking about moving into the towns near Miramar or the coastal towns, check out the noise and the flight paths. Hot-line number for noise is (858) 577-4277. www.mccormacks.com

Many San Diegans think that San Diego International Airport is in the wrong place and lacks the land to expand. But efforts to shift air traffic to other locations have been shot down.

In 2006, another try was made — converting part of Miramar Air Station into a civilian field to relieve crowding at San Diego International. The question was put to voters: they said No.

Mira Mesa is essentially one big subdivision built around a large circle. Inside and around the circle are stores, restaurants, movies, Mira Mesa High School, a library and a park. In recent years, a giant mall and box stores have opened near Interstate 15 and Mira Mesa Boulevard and shifted much of the shopping to the freeway.

Mira Mesa came to life in the 1970s when it built about 10,000-12,000 housing units. In the 1980s, the neighborhood added about 8,000 units and in the 1990s about 5,000-6,000.

In 2006, the community tallied 24,947 residential units, of which 13,918 were single homes, 10,743 apartments or condos and 277 mobiles. www.mccormacks.com

The initial housing was aimed squarely the middle class and included many three-bedroom homes, some of which are showing their age.

But as you move out from the center, the housing gets newer and fresher and often bigger. The three bedrooms move up to four and five bedrooms, the height from one story to two, the garage sometimes from two spaces to three. In some places, the initial housing was followed maybe 10 or 15 years later by the newer housing and the contrast between new and not-so-new will be more noticeable.

In appearance, Mira Mesa comes across as a modern suburb. Most of the housing employs the creamy pink stucco and tile roofs popular in Southern California.

But as construction has been going on for over 35 years, the styles and interiors will reflect the many changes modern suburbia has passed through. The newer homes might have walk-in closets, high-tech wiring, open kitchens, and wall slots for entertainment centers. This variety is reflected in the housing prices.

Mira Mesa is divided by arroyos but much of the community is fairly level. On its east side, the land ascends into a steep mesa that gives the residents great views of the countryside, looking toward the ocean and the setting sun. Some streets on the west side will also have great views. www.mccormacks.com

The north side of Mira Mesa is defined by a deep arroyo, much of which has been set aside in park land.

Mira Mesa is generally included in the family of communities along the Interstate 15 corridor. These include Rancho Peñasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Scripps-Miramar and Escondido, and the new communities going up along Highway 56.

Many of these places, including Mira Mesa, are “communities” or neighborhoods of the City of San Diego. In housing styles, especially if the homes are new, they will often resemble one another. On the maps, it might look like they flow into one another.

But in local lore the communities are considered distinct with their own identities. And the maps mask the borders imposed by the deep ravines. The communities to the north are mostly within the Poway school district.

Mira Mesa is served by the San Diego Unified School District, which in recent years passed a $1.5 billion bond and is renovating or building schools. Mira Mesa is to get another elementary school. www.mccormacks.com

Many of the Mira Mesa schools, on the state comparisons, are scoring above the 70th percentile, the top 30 percent. See Schools.

According to census data, about 23 percent of the residents have college degrees and another 7 percent graduate degrees — a total 30 percent college educated. Fairly high percentage, which usually means that the local schools are going to get good support from parents.

Mira Mesa has a large community college, Miramar. Community colleges charge little and offer everything from exercise classes to dance to philosophy to computers to child rearing. For their neighbors, these colleges often function like large park-and-rec departments and cultural centers. In 1999, college opened a swimming complex for students and community.

Usual activities for kids: swimming, soccer, baseball, gymnastics, etc. At least eight community parks, all situated next to schools. Recreation centers, two of them former elementary schools. Library. Big annual show with Blue Angels at the air station. Every fall, a community-wide garage sale is held. Good opportunity to clean out the closets.

Patrolled by San Diego cops. Five homicides in 2005, zero in 2004, one in 2003, zero 2002 and 2001. See Crime. www.mccormacks.com

See profile on San Diego in this chapter. Chamber of commerce. Phone (858) 487-1767

• In 2005 many a nose was pushed out of joint when it was announced the opening of another elementary school would be delayed a year, to 2007. The site contains vernal pools and the pools contain the eggs of fairy shrimp, an endangered lot. The eggs slumber in the San Diego heat and when the rains come, out pop the shrimp. Some people were not impressed by this feat of nature and thought the school should have been given preference. The school, assuming the shrimp can be accommodated, is to be built on 13 acres at Parkdale Avenue and Flanders Drive.

• In 2004, to the north of town, Highway 56 opened, a shortcut for residents with jobs in the Sorrento Valley and around UC-San Diego. Mira Mesa has several arterials that move traffic west to these job centers and to Interstate 5.