11 Mission Valley 1970's Condo Complexes

Mission Valley is located several miles north of downtown San Diego. While Downtown San Diego started its current redevelopment 10-15 years ago, Mission Valley 92108 began its residential development in the 1970's.

Mission Valley had been a farming area for many years. In the mid-1960's Mission Valley as we know it today began with Mission Valley mall. As you can see from the above photo, Mission Valley mall appears to be in the middle of no where, and at the time that was the truth. Mission Valley mall began with the May Company anchoring the eastern end and Montgomery Ward anchoring the west end. Today Macys is at the easterly end of the mall and Target anchors the westerly end. In fact, Pei Wei and Corner Bakery sit on the Montgomery Ward Auto Center.

Due to Mission Valley mall, housing, hotels and auto dealerships began to be constructed in Mission Valley. Many large apartment complexes sprung up along Interstate 8 at the easterly and westerly ends of Mission Valley. In fact, for the most part, Mission Valley developed inwards. Newer developments such as Civita occupy an old rock quarry and Escala was cut out of the hillside. Early Mission Valley developments took the line of least resistance.

A number of these projects began life as apartment buildings and were converted to condos in the 1980's when it was profitable. If you would like to see what the 1970's looked like, just check out these Mission Valley condos ala 2013. They look like they did in the 1970's. They may be boring and old-fashioned looking, but their locations are in the heart of Mission Valley and owners have easy access to everything. We will compare the two newest Mission Valley developments, Escala (about 10 years old) and Civita (currently under construction) in future blogs.

The 1970's Again

Friars Pointe

Lots of wood, lots of stucco, trees and greenery. Dated to today's tastes but units offer good size for value.

Mission Greens

Before we all had to worry about water conservation, water themes were common in both condos and apartments. Lush grounds attracted tenants and owners who liked space. Today's density cannot support such open space at a reasonable homeowner association cost, so spacious grounds and lower homeowner association dues are more common in these 1970's projects.

Mission Heights

Another stucco and frame project built over parking. Same 1970's Mission Valley look with a great location.

Mission Plaza

Are you getting the feeling that "Mission" was a popular name in the 1970's? Because of the San Diego Mission located at the easterly end of the Mission Valley, architects and developers had mental blocks and could only come up with a name that contained "Mission" when a project was located within a mile of the San Diego Mission.

Mission Ridge

Same theme, same 1970's design. Good sized balconies, not so much wood in this complex, but plenty of stucco. It was easier to design box looking projects.

Mission Verde

When I started this research, even I had no clue how many of these projects had "Mission" in their name. It kind of boggles the mind. It could be made into a good trivia drinking game. Every time you can name a Mission Valley "Mission" project, bottoms up!

Mission Village

Amenities in the 1970's included a pool and usually a party style recreation room. Stucco, wood and balconies round out our 1970's look.

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Rancho Mission Villas

Rancho Mission  Villas began life as an apartment complex and underwent conversion to a condominium complex. Located at the easterly end of Mission Valley, Rancho Mission Villas are situated within walking distance to a trolley station and are a perfect location for San Diego State students along with first-time homebuyers.

Park Villas

Before you  begin to think someone got creative with the Park Villas name, you would need to know that Park Villas began life as the "Apple Apartments". The Apple Apartments were the Austin Powers of Mission Valley living. You could select up-to-date lime green carpet, mandarin orange carpet, lemon yellow carpet, or camel beige carpeting. The Apple apartments were the newest style of decor in the early 1970's. I know because I lived in a lime green apartment. Kind of scary as I look back, but at the time, it was fantastic. When the Apple Apartments were converted to condominiums, Park Villas sounded much better to owners.

The Bluffs

The Bluffs also began life as apartments in Mission Valley West and within walking distance from Fashion Valley mall, which was beginning its creation. The Bluffs originally sold their studio units for $39,000. Imagine what an investment that would be today. The Bluffs currently has the condominium portion and the apartment portion. Creativity was also used to name the Bluffs. They are located below the bluffs that ring the northerly portion of Mission Valley.

The Franciscan

Another "Mission" related name. Same 1970's style, but located in a great Mission Valley locale.

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