Three projects that will bring hundreds of new affordable homes to San Diego\u2019s Hillcrest and City Heights neighborhoods could get a financial boost from city government.<\/p>\n
City staff has recommended $16.5 million<\/a> in Bridge to Home funding for 4th & Brookes Senior Apartments in Hillcrest, as well as Polk Avenue Housing and Teralta South in City Heights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Together the projects amount to 430 new affordable homes, meaning they\u2019re available to residents who earn 30-60% of San Diego\u2019s area median income<\/a> and are considered extremely to very low income.<\/p>\n From the Documenters<\/p>\n This story came in part from notes taken<\/a> by Simon Mayeski, a San Diego Documenter, at an Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting last month. The Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings.<\/p>\n The City Council must approve the funding before staff can negotiate loan agreements.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city\u2019s Bridge to Home<\/a> program, launched in 2021, helps close financing gaps for affordable housing developments.\u00a0<\/p>\n San Diego is under pressure<\/a> to increase production to meet the projected housing demand<\/a> by the end of the decade. Much of the need is for low-income households, making affordable housing a key focus for city leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe cost of housing continues to put pressure on San Diegans, which is why we are moving aggressively to accelerate affordable housing production across our city,\u201d Mayor Todd Gloria said in a news release<\/a> last month. \u201cBridge to Home is one of the tools helping us get more projects built faster.\u201d<\/p>\n Our Documenters program helps track one of San Diego\u2019s biggest issues: housing. Help us.Give $10<\/a><\/p>\n Economic Development Director Christina Bibler said the projects are intended to strengthen neighborhoods while expanding access to affordable housing.<\/p>\n \u201cBy directing Bridge to Home funds where they can have the greatest impact, we\u2019re helping create high-quality, affordable homes in communities with direct access to jobs, transit and essential resources,\u201d Bibler said in the release.<\/p>\n As of January, five projects funded by Bridge to Home have built 390 affordable units. Another 18 projects have been approved or are under construction, the city said.\u00a0<\/p>\n About the projects<\/p>\n 4th & Brookes<\/p>\n The 4th & Brookes Senior Apartments at 3604 Fourth Ave. is being built by Greenline Development Group and will include 98 affordable homes for residents 65 and older. Thirty units will be reserved for those who are considered very low-income and at risk of homelessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n The units range from studios to three bedrooms will be built, and half of them will be designed to be accessible for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n Polk Avenue<\/p>\n A development planned for 4104 Arizona St. and 2428\u20132442 Polk Ave<\/a>. by Affirmed Housing Group would create 267 units ranging from one to four bedrooms. Of those, 75 would be set aside as \u201cmissing middle\u201d workforce apartments for San Diego Unified School District teachers and staff who earned a wage considered low-income or slightly higher<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Plans also call for renovating part of the former Central Elementary School buildings into administrative offices and classrooms for the district\u2019s TRACE school for adults with disabilities, along with community spaces including a commercial kitchen and performance venue.<\/p>\n The project will include a five-story parking structure.<\/p>\n Teralta South<\/p>\n