Yesterday morning, Chula Vista made great strides in elevating its community with the groundbreaking ceremony for the ambitious UniverCity project, set to open in 2025. This development is expected to provide a new state-of-the-art library, high-quality office spaces, and present an unparalleled opportunity to bring educational institutions and businesses together to foster learning and economic growth in the region, according to the City of Chula Vista.

During the event, both local and state elected officials, city leaders, and industry partners celebrated the beginning of construction with a spray of confetti and a ceremonial plunge of shovels into the ground. This marked a significant milestone in the City of Chula Vista's vision to bolster education, employment, and workforce development in the area.

According to the City of Chula Vista, the first phase of the UniverCity project is estimated to cost $96.4 million, with $30 million being funded by the state of California and administered by the California State Library. The building under construction spans 168,000 square feet, and is expected to be completed by Fall 2025.

The new City library promises to be a valuable resource for the community, offering in-demand services and resources. Moreover, the groundbreaking event marked the beginning of the City of Chula Vista's partnership with real estate broker CRBE to entertain interest from prospective tenants seeking to strengthen higher education and workforce pipelines.

Mayor John McCann expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating that it represents “an unparalleled opportunity for higher education and business partners, and for our entire community.” The mayor's vision for the UniverCity project is to offer access to quality education and high-paying job opportunities in the Chula Vista area.

State Senator Steve Padilla, a long-time advocate for bringing a four-year university to Chula Vista, said, "Today marks an important step toward our goal of bringing a four-year university to Chula Vista." The people of Chula Vista would not only benefit from increased access to academic opportunities, but also from the economic and employment growth the project is expected to generate.

Assemblymember David Alvarez played a crucial role in securing $25 million in state funding for the library — a necessary resource for the growing South Bay population. Alvarez stated that his commitment to pursuing educational growth and supporting the goal of establishing a university in Chula Vista remained unwavering.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins also contributed greatly to the project, helping to secure an additional $5 million in funding.

Upon completion, the UniverCity of Chula Vista will encompass more than 12 million square feet of available development space across three locations. The first phase of the project will feature a versatile library designed to accommodate community meeting spaces, a passport office, and a business incubator to offer support for small businesses in the area, as per the city's official announcement.

State Librarian Greg Lucas, who has visited the site several times, expressed his desire to see more library projects like UniverCity's implemented across the state, saying, "California is the fourth largest economy in the world and should be creating more world-class libraries like Chula Vista's UniverCity."

Chesnut Properties leads the development of this phase of UniverCity at Chula Vista, working alongside general contractor McCarthy and architectural firm Gensler. Lee Chesnut, CEO of Chesnut Properties, believes that the project will have a significant impact on the community, stating that the development will change "the landscape of opportunity in eastern Chula Vista and catapulting the region to become the place where great things happen for generations to come."