8181 Allison

Image from 8181 Allison.

Completed in July 2025, 8181 Allison Ave is a 147-unit apartment building adjacent to the La Mesa Boulevard Trolley Station. It is the newest of several apartment and condo buildings within walking distance of the Downtown La Mesa Village, including the under-construction 4757 Palm Ave mixed-use development.

Image from 8181 Allison.

The project is composed of 4 stories of residential, built over a one-story 117-space parking area, for a total of 5 stories. This includes 103 one-bedroom units and 44 two-bedroom units, between 578 and 860 square feet, with some units featuring balconies. Laundry is available on-site, though not in-unit; other building amenities include a spa, outdoor community area, clubhouse, and fitness center.

Image from 8181 Allison.

8181 Allison was originally the site of La Mesa's police department. In 2004, La Mesa voters approved Proposition D, authorizing bonds for new police and fire facilities, which was used to construct a new police department building at the corner of University Avenue and Baltimore Drive. La Mesa City Council then issued a Request for Interest, seeking development partners for the 8181 Allison site-although after entering an exclusive negotiating agreement with CityMark Communities in 2007, La Mesa terminated the agreement due to the poor economic environment. After multiple timeline extensions and AB 26 (2011)'s dissolution of redevelopment agencies, in 2019 the city sent a Request for Developer Qualifications for a mixed-income project, ultimately selecting USA Properties to lease the property and develop the project. Construction finally began in 2022 and finished in July of 2025.