SAN DIEGO — A former teen center, also know as the “Epicentre,” closed its doors for good in 2016 when the nonprofit operator Harmonium backed out of its lease agreement with the City of San Diego because of financial troubles.
The vacant building has been deteriorating for the past 8 years, becoming a magnet for graffiti, drug use and squatters.
“I think it’s very unsanitary,” said Lally Coralde, a member of Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens, about the 8,000 square-foot building. “When you see some people who are there, especially at night, of course it causes danger. You’re not safe.”
Coralde frequents the Verne Goodwin Mira Mesa Senior Center across the parking lot from the old Epicentre. She and others have been urging the City to clean up the building. On Thursday, City workers responded by painting over graffiti, boarding up windows and trimming knee-high weeds at the property at 8450 Mira Mesa Blvd.
“To me if they painted, I think it’s just the outside,” said Coralde. “It’s just cosmetics, but inside, it’s very unsanitary because it’s been abandoned for eight years already, so I think the City should have done more.”
What’s on the horizon for this vacant building?
CBS 8 reached out to the City of San Diego’s Department of Real Estate and Airport Management, and they told us the City is currently in negotiations with the County for a lease agreement.
“In 2021, the County of San Diego signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City for right-of-entry. The City and County have been negotiating in good faith and anticipate a lease coming to City Council in the next 60 to 90 days, depending on available council meetings and attorney review,” said Tara Lewis, a spokesperson for the City of San Diego.
CBS 8 contacted County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, whose district includes Mira Mesa. She told CBS 8 that $8 million dollars has been set aside for the design and construction of a new teen center operated by the County.
“I think it’s going to be a gamechanger,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer. “It’s going to be a big deal for Mira Mesa, especially the young people in Mira Mesa, so that folks can have a place to go, meet up, get to do their homework, do activities, just like a really nice community space and that’s what it’s going to be.”
If the lease agreement is approved, the County’s Parks and Recreation Department will operate the teen center with programs and activities geared toward youth ages 10 to 18 years-old.
“Everybody will like it if it’s really well-equipped and sanitized, and if they make it pleasing to the eyes of the people,” said Lilie Carasco, who spends time at the Senior Center.
The County says construction could begin as early as this summer and would take about a year to complete.
WATCH RELATED: Abandoned building in Little Italy soon to be demolished (Nov. 3, 2023)