Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation: Announcing Southwest Village and Change in Leadership

SAN DIEGO (Nov. 1, 2022) – Continuing its focus on building communities and lifting lives in Southeast San Diego, Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is developing a new affordable development in San Diego and has announced a change in leadership, as the nonprofit continues moving toward a community-led organization.

Located on 2.9 acres of vacant infill land overlooking the Chollas Creek, Southwest Village will be an 81-unit affordable, transit-oriented development. The LEED development will include five residential buildings and a 4,000-square-foot community building featuring a multipurpose room with kitchen, property management and social services offices. Amenities will include gated entry, picnic area and playground, and bicycle parking/storage for each building. There will be 70 spaces of reserved parking for residents.

Southwest Village is a key component of Jacobs Center’s community-developed Town Center Master Plan, with mixed-use developments (housing and retail), plus open space and pathways. Southwest Village will be located within one mile of public transit, schools, services, parks, grocery stores, a library and health centers. When finished, Southwest Village will also complete the walkways toward Chollas Creek Linear Park and to the Euclid Avenue Transit Center Station. Construction is set to begin in November and estimated to be completed in Q4 of 2023.

Jacobs Center, in partnership with Related California, secured more than $85 million in funding for the development of Southwest Village, including an Infill Infrastructure Grant, Transit-Oriented Development Funds, California Housing Accelerator Funds, No Place Like Home Funds, Wells Fargo (construction financing) and California Community Reinvestment Corporation (permanent financing).

To be kept up to date on Southwest Village and learn about future housing availability, sign up for Jacobs Center’s e-communications at www.jacobscenter.org.

Also announced is that Jacobs Center President and CEO Reginald Jones has transitioned from the organization. Selena Ellis-Vizcarra, current director of operations, has stepped into a leadership role as senior vice president of operations, as the nonprofit works toward the next steps of community-led decision-making. Board Chair Claire Hapke and board member Valerie Jacobs Hapke will serve as board support during this transition. Jones has been the voice and face of the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation for 10 years, leading millions of dollars in development and numerous community partnerships.

“We’ve valued Reginald’s role, impact, and passion in helping us improve and empower the Southeast San Diego community over this past decade,” said Hapke. “We are also grateful for Selena’s leadership, and want to thank the community, partners, and staff for being part of our organization’s critical work.”

This move continues Jacobs Center’s transition of ownership to the community by 2025, since shifting from a family foundation to a 501(c)(3) public charity.

The nonprofit’s goal for the community – 25 years in the making – continues to be enabling the transfer of assets to be managed by the community. In 2022, there are now more community board members leading the organization than Jacobs family members. The nonprofit’s hope is that by 2025, the family will begin to step down, and over time the board will become fully run by community members. This board will oversee all operations, activities, real estate assets and community partnerships of the organization, as well as continue to invest capital back into the community. This will help provide Southeast San Diego with partnerships, infrastructure and programs to benefit generations to come, by and for the community.

To learn more or donate, visit jacobscenter.org.

About Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
Founded in 1995, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is focused on building communities and lifting lives. As a creative catalyst and incubator, the Jacobs Center works with the community to revitalize Southeastern San Diego’s Diamond Neighborhoods. This means transforming nearly 60 acres into sustainable developments that provide residents with greater access to resources and amenities that improve their quality of life. Additionally, the Jacobs Center works with community organizations and partners to increase residents’ economic opportunities, leadership skills and educational success. Learn more at jacobscenter.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

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