Simon Proposes Housing at Fashion Valley Mall
Simon Property Group wants to demolish the JCPenney building at Fashion Valley to make room for 410 housing units.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Commercial
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Simon Property Group has proposed demolishing the JCPenney store at Fashion Valley, along with a Firestone Tire building and a vacant strip mall. The plan would add 410 housing units alongside new restaurants and retail space.
Why it matters
The proposal would convert a portion of a major San Diego retail center into residential space, adding housing to the Mission Valley area. Simon says the new retail and dining portion does not remove any existing parking.
The proposal calls for 410 housing units ranging from studios to three-bedrooms in a five-story structure, with 1.5 parking spaces per unit. Simon's earlier 2024 plan called for 850 luxury units, and the current plan has not yet been approved.
The players
Simon Property Group
A major American real estate investment trust that owns and operates shopping malls and outlet centers across the United States.
Mission Valley Planning Group
A local community planning body that reviews development proposals affecting the Mission Valley neighborhood of San Diego.
The details
The revised plan replaces the JCPenney building with four two-story buildings arranged around a large courtyard. The proposal requires a Neighborhood Development Permit, which triggers a public hearing after preliminary city review.
Timeline
May 2024: Simon first proposed adding housing to Fashion Valley Mall.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Simon presented the revised plan to the Mission Valley Planning Group.
Market Landscape
The revised plan scales back Simon's May 2024 proposal of 850 luxury units at the JCPenney site to 410 units including affordable housing. The shift reflects how mall owners are converting underused retail land into residential space.
If approved, the project would add 410 homes to the Mission Valley area, including 41 affordable units. Shoppers would see the JCPenney building replaced by a courtyard layout with new restaurants and retail.
The takeaway
Proposals like this one show how older shopping centers may be reshaped into mixed-use neighborhoods. Residents who want to weigh in can follow the Mission Valley Planning Group and the city's public hearing process.
Further reading
For more on commercial property changes, see Commercial real estate coverage in San Diego.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of San Diego.
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Would you support adding housing and restaurants to Fashion Valley Mall in your area?
