Global Village

Global Village is more than a development project—it is a transformative master plan and civic vision that reimagines how San Diego welcomes, supports, and invests in the communities that have shaped its cultural identity for generations. Led by the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), the Global Village establishes a long-term framework for equitable growth, community ownership, and social resilience in the heart of Mid-City.
Situated on 2.2 acres of strategically acquired land near City Heights, the project emerged from an extensive community-led planning process that engaged thousands of residents, local leaders, and community-based organizations. Rather than imposing a top-down vision, the master plan was shaped through multilingual outreach, democratic participation, and the direct involvement of refugee and immigrant families representing dozens of cultures and lived experiences. The result is a place-based strategy that reflects the aspirations of the people it is intended to serve.
The plan integrates affordable family housing, transitional housing, entrepreneurship opportunities, social services, community gathering spaces, and cultural programming into a cohesive civic ecosystem. More importantly, it establishes a model of community stewardship in which land and resources are dedicated to long-term public benefit rather than speculative development. By creating permanent infrastructure for belonging, Global Village addresses housing affordability, economic mobility, public health, cultural preservation, and social cohesion through a single integrated framework and providing community resilience.
As a civic policy initiative, Global Village advances broader regional goals related to housing production, anti-displacement strategies, economic development, and equitable access to community services. The project recognizes that refugee and immigrant communities are not merely recipients of support but essential contributors to San Diego’s social and economic vitality. Through a marketplace for small businesses, nonprofit collaboration spaces, and flexible community facilities, the master plan strengthens opportunities for entrepreneurship, workforce development, civic engagement, and intergenerational connection.
Global Village demonstrates how thoughtful planning can translate public values into lasting physical form. It creates a destination where culture, housing, commerce, and community life reinforce one another while strengthening resilience for future generations. In a time when cities nationwide are grappling with housing challenges, displacement, and social fragmentation, this project offers an inspiring and replicable model of inclusive urban development. By combining visionary master planning with community-centered policy objectives, the Global Village will enrich San Diego’s civic landscape, strengthen neighborhood identity, and ensure that the promise of belonging remains accessible to all who call the city home.