Originally part of the Mission San Diego de Alcala's lands. Serra Mesa developed south of Kearny Mesa in the years after World War II and the Korean War.  Military multi-family housing was developed first and then single family homes and apartments as well as the supporting retail were almost all built by 1970. 

Today the military housing is being replaced with new 900-unit two- and three-story town home village.  The Village at Serra Mesa is the U.S. Navy's largest public/private venture project to date.  The new homes replace 812 aging units with new housing and add seven acres of park to the area.  The project should be completed in 2005.  The renewal of the military housing is driving a renaissance of the entire area.