The area was previously inhabited by the Kumeyaay, where a trade route connecting the villages of Jamo (Pacific Beach), Onap (Rose Canyon), and Ystagua (Sorrento Valley) once existed through what is now Gilman Dr.

[4] On March 10, 1989, a pipe bomb attached to the minivan of a woman exploded while she was driving near the University Towne Center mall.

[5] She was the wife of Will C. Rogers III, the captain of the USS Vincennes (CG-49) who gave the order to shoot down Iran Air Flight 655.

On August 1, 2003, arson by the Earth Liberation Front, an eco-terrorism group, destroyed a housing complex under construction at the east side of UTC.

It destroyed a 50 million dollar housing sprawl project [7][8] Many residents awoke to find popcorn-shaped ashes littering their backyards and streets.

[9][10][11][12] In November 21, 2021, the San Diego Trolley Blue Line opened for service upon the completion of the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project, which serves the University City area at UTC Transit Center, Executive Drive station, and UC San Diego Health La Jolla station.

On February 17, 2024, "El Chato" of the Tijuana Cartel was killed on the driveway to the parking garage of the Palisades on Nobel Drive after he and his girlfriend were shot in a targeted shooting.

This shopping mall is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Genesee Avenue and La Jolla Village Drive, and is anchored by Nordstrom and Macy's.

The northeastern mesas of University City started to be developed for industrial and corporate uses in late 1980s to early 1990s, and are home to several biotech, technology, and professional services firms among other businesses.

University City was the site of a 2003 fire bombing of a condominium complex, causing 50 million dollars in damage to the La Jolla Crossroads apartments.

The University Square shopping center at Governor Drive and Genesee Avenue is anchored by a Vons grocery store and a Rite Aid pharmacy.

A third shopping center is located in the "La Jolla Colony" area in north University City, and it is also anchored by a Vons grocery store.

With so much construction going on at the same time, Regents Road was put on hold and was not connected from Governor Dr to Nobel Dr. Forty years later, the canyon is now surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

Some residents want the bridge constructed due to the time it takes for emergency vehicles to be transported between southern and northern University City.

The fire department claimed that: "A bridge or the widening of Genesee Avenue would shorten response time for emergency vehicles in the neighborhood.

An emergency such as that would require evacuation, which for the citizens of UC would only leave one escape route, Genesee, already one of the busiest streets in the city.