I don’t think MM qualifies as “old enough” to be “gentrified.” And there’s no compelling architecture there that “higher demographics” would move in to “preserve.”
City Heights actually has a “WWII” and “mid-century” commercial corridor on EC Blvd that is kind of spruced up now with the cut-and-cover parks over I-15. A new “mid-century look” community rec center and swimming pool and the Joan Kroc Ice Rink near Colima Park rounds out the city improvements.
A lot of cute, rehabbed craftsman and even Spanish are found in CH as well, small in size (compared to adjacent communities with more expensive housing).
MM just has a conglomerate of newer mid-rise commercial bldgs and chain hotels on the east end, all bunched-in together. It just looks sterile and extremely crowded to me. 92126 is all on tract as well (except maybe ONE street). There is really no reason to rehab anything there for a “labor of love” as there are no pocket doors and redwood built-ins around the FP to save, etc.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but it’s not the sort of area that gets “gentrified.”
I agree that MM is probably better to raise a family in than City Heights, however.
SK is right. MM is within the “city” but is actually a “suburb” as it is separated from the “metro” portion of SD by MCAS Miramar.
