Local developer JMI Realty announced plans this week to convert Mission Valley's 166-acre Qualcomm Stadium property to a west campus for San Diego State University (SDSU), possibly with a new, smaller stadium that would be shared by SDSU, a Major League Soccer franchise and other community partners. The concept was immediately endorsed by SDSU president Elliot Hirshman in a blog post. He says the SD Chargers’ recent decision to pursue a downtown stadium creates a critical opportunity for the university, which needs room to grow.

The plan was presented at a media briefing sponsored by SDSU's real estate center and featured representatives from JMI Realty, Cruzan, Cisterra Development, and Carrier Johnson + Culture architects, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The stadium would be demolished to build student and faculty housing, research and academic space, a hotel, and related retail and commercial space. Nearly 40 acres would be reserved as parkland. The next step requires the city to donate the property to SDSU and possibly UC San Diego, which would share and oversee a master planned project.

It was JMI Realty owner John Moores’ idea to redevelop the property, says JMI Realty president/CEO John Krater, who notes Moores has donated millions over the years to both universities. [SDUT]