Located on 1.4 acres at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Interstate 15, the center is designed to serve as a gateway project in the City Heights redevelopment area. Scheduled to open in May of next year, the center developed by a consortium of public and private interests will house an alternative fuel vehicle showroom, demonstration area and fuel station, along with educational programs.

Designed by Cross Architects and built by Lusardi Construction, the center's design elements recall the golden age of motoring in the 1950s.

"The (center's) innovative educational program will offer area students important insights into the causes and impacts of air pollution," says State Sen.Dede Alpert, D-San Diego.