If you've lived in North County San Diego for a while, you've probably heard about the Watermark project in Scripps Ranch.

In fact, you've probably heard about it for years.

Located at the corner of Interstate 15 and Scripps Poway Parkway, Watermark has long been planned as one of the area's largest mixed-use developments. But after years of delays and changing plans, many residents have been left wondering the same thing:

Is this project ever going to get built?

The Latest Update

I recently reached out to Jimbo's Naturally, which is expected to be the anchor grocery store for the project.

While nothing is official, they told me they're hoping for a 2028 opening. Of course, construction timelines can change, but it does give us a better sense of where things stand today.

The project is still moving forward. It's just taking longer than many people originally expected.

Watermark Was Originally Much More Ambitious

One thing many newer residents may not realize is that Watermark looked very different when it was first introduced.

The original vision included:

• A Whole Foods Market as the grocery anchor.
• A luxury movie theater.
• Chef-driven restaurants.
• Boutique shopping.
• Outdoor plazas and gathering spaces.
• Community events and entertainment.
• Office buildings and a hotel.

The idea wasn't simply to create another shopping center.

It was designed to become a destination—a place where people could meet friends for dinner, spend an evening outdoors, catch a movie, and enjoy community events.

Over time, however, those plans evolved.

Today, Jimbo's has replaced Whole Foods as the announced grocery anchor, the retail footprint has been reduced, and we're still waiting to learn which restaurants and retailers will eventually join the project.

Watermark Isn't the Only Project That's Changed

Watermark's story actually reminds me a lot of Merge 56 in Rancho Peñasquitos.

When Merge 56 was first proposed, many people envisioned another exciting lifestyle destination with shopping, restaurants, offices, and entertainment.

Over the years, though, that project has changed as well. Today, much of the commercial portion has already been built, while the remaining undeveloped land has been discussed for a variety of possible future uses—including housing.

Neither project ended up looking exactly like the original renderings many of us remember.

Why Did These Projects Change?

The answer is fairly simple.

The retail world has changed dramatically over the last decade.

Online shopping continues to grow, construction costs have increased, financing has become more expensive, office demand has shifted, and housing has become one of San Diego's biggest needs.

Developers have had to adapt.

Projects that made perfect sense in 2014 or 2015 don't always make sense in today's market.

My Take

I'll admit it—I was really hoping one of these projects would become North County's version of One Paseo.

One Paseo has become much more than a shopping center. It's a place where people grab dinner, meet friends for coffee, bring their kids to play on the lawn, attend community events, and spend an entire evening.

I think North County could absolutely support another destination like that.

At the same time, I also understand why these projects have evolved. The economics of commercial development are very different today than they were a decade ago.

Maybe housing is ultimately the right answer for portions of these sites.

Maybe a smaller retail center is simply more realistic.

Either way, it's fascinating to watch how these long-planned developments continue to evolve.

What Do You Think?

Would you rather see another One Paseo-style lifestyle center in North County?

Or do you think more housing should be the priority?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below, and if you're interested in staying up to date on what's happening around North County San Diego, be sure to check back for future local updates.