September 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeremy Bloom, Chief Operating Officer
619-841-2258 | [email protected]
Midway Rising Specific Plan Earns Circulate Mobility Plan Certification,
Setting the Stage for a Walkable New Village Anchored by Affordable Homes
Circulate Planning & Policy, whose mission is to create excellent mobility choices and vibrant, healthy neighborhoods, today announced that the Midway Rising Specific Plan has earned the Circulate Mobility Plan Certification. The plan will replace an aging, auto-oriented arena and parking site with a new mixed-use village of up to 4,254 homes, including 2,000 deed-restricted affordable homes, marking one of the largest affordable housing commitments to move through the certification program and a catalyst for walkable redevelopment throughout the Midway community.
Of the affordable units, 200 will be permanent supportive housing linked to health, mental health, employment, and other services, with no limit on length of stay. The plan also weaves in over 14.5 acres of new parks and public space, along with a new 16,000-seat multi-purpose entertainment center, giving future residents and neighbors alike places to gather that don't require a car to reach.
Midway Rising is also accessible by excellent transit options. The plan relocates and upgrades an existing bus stop into a Rapid BRT station along Sports Arena Boulevard, supports the planned extension of Rapid Bus Route 10, and adds a new third bus stop at Sports Arena Boulevard and Kemper Street. The site sits within a mile of the Old Town Transit Center, and a daily commercial shuttle plus an event-day shuttle will connect residents and visitors to Old Town and Mission Bay without adding cars to the road. A network of Class I multi-use paths and Class IV cycle tracks, including a 33-foot promenade along the project frontage, ties the site together for people walking and biking.
The Circulate Mobility Plan Certification is awarded by an independent volunteer committee with expertise in development, active transportation, and neighborhood design. The panel independently evaluates each proposal on the basis of objective application criteria, including transit access, vehicle miles traveled, mixed-use opportunities, density and smart growth techniques, and community character.
The Circulate Mobility Plan Certification panel evaluated the Midway Rising Specific Plan and determined that it meets Circulate's objective criteria for a sustainable growth project in the San Diego region. There are several highlights the panel felt particularly compelling.
Colin Parent, CEO and General Counsel at Circulate Planning & Policy, said "Midway Rising shows what's possible when a community reimagines an underused site: thousands of new affordable homes, real transit connections, and public space, all in one plan. This is exactly the kind of transformative project our certification was built to recognize."
Jeff Meyer, spokesperson for Midway Rising, said “Midway Rising is the culmination of years of hard work led by the Midway-Pacific Highway Community Planning Group, which envisioned a pedestrian, transit-oriented mixed-use Sports Arena Community Village to create a variety of new housing opportunities and help revitalize the Midway neighborhood.”
About the Circulate Mobility Certification
Formed in 2012, the Circulate Mobility Certification provides recognition and support for development proposals that demonstrate a commitment to creating, preserving, and enhancing sustainable communities that provide mobility choices. Applications are reviewed by a volunteer committee with expertise in development, active transportation, and neighborhood design, and each project is independently evaluated using clear, objective criteria. For more information, go to http://www.circulatesd.org/certified.
About Circulate Planning & Policy
Circulate Planning & Policy is a nonprofit think tank based in San Diego, dedicated to advancing mobility and making the region a better place to move, work, learn, and play. Our work focuses on creating great mobility choices, more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and land uses that promote sustainable growth. For more information, visit http://www.circulatesd.org.
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