Affordable Housing General Information
General Information
GOALS – The availability of diverse, affordable housing near public transit options benefits the entire region by reducing traffic congestion, urban sprawl and air pollution. One of Civic San Diego’s (“CivicSD”) goals is to expand and preserve the supply of affordable housing for San Diego, provide housing options for all income levels and promote income diversity in neighborhoods. Through the development of affordable housing, other community goals for neighborhood amenities are also able to be met within the development, such as meeting needs for parks, shopping, and community or educational facilities.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MASTER PLAN – Toward that goal, CivicSD prepared an updated Affordable Housing Master Plan, approved by City Council in January 2016, outlining the priorities and strategy for the remaining former redevelopment housing assets, that maximizes their effectiveness to continue affordable housing production. The Plan is a guiding instrument to leverage limited resources while optimizing unit production. Affordable Housing Master Plan (4MB PDF)
IMPLEMENTATION of the Master Plan began with negotiating for the sale and development of two high value affordable housing properties at Seventh & Market and Park & Market in downtown. Through these two negotiations CivicSD was able to attract over $675,000,000 in private investment, provide public open space park and plaza areas, a Whole Foods Market, neighborhood retail, San Diego’s first five-star hotel, a 56,000 square foot University of California San Diego facility, market rate housing, as well as 119 units of affordable housing and significant sale proceeds for the production of future affordable housing.
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA) – In 2017 CivicSD released the first of a series of NOFA for development or preservation of new affordable rental housing units. The new affordable units produced over the next few years through the NOFA will help to address the San Diego housing affordability crisis. More information about the NOFA
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS – Production of permanent supportive housing is a key tool and a proven solution to addressing housing stability and the complex challenges of those with disabilities, or those who are experiencing homelessness or most at risk of homelessness. Supportive housing combines affordable housing with services needed to achieve long term stability. One of CivicSD’s significant achievements in addressing homelessness is the opening of Connections Housing in 2013, providing housing for 223 formerly homeless individuals with on-site wrap around services for the tenants.
QUICK FACTS – Since CivicSD’s inception in 1975, more than 6,500 affordable housing units have been created using redevelopment funds in downtown, Southeastern San Diego and Encanto neighborhoods, and more than 365 units are in the pipeline.