Housing developer National CORE and the city of San Diego have secured a $5 million state grant to revitalize a 1.8-acre park, repair streets, and build a crosswalk that links the improvements to a planned 100-home affordable living community in San Ysidro, it was announced Tuesday.
The project, called The Iris at San Ysidro, is set to break ground in December. National CORE is constructing the transit-oriented development.
Park improvements will restore a children’s playground, add a shade structure, install security lighting along pathways and other areas, re- establish an ADA-accessible pathway circling the park, repair and renovate hard courts to include multiple uses and add fitness equipment, according to the developer.
“The restored Howard Lane Park once again will offer a nice gathering place for the community,” said John Seymour, National CORE’s vice president of acquisitions. “The new crosswalk and street improvements will boost community safety.
“We are indebted to the state of California for making it possible to bring these community facilities to San Ysidro and deeply value our partnership with the city of San Diego,” he said.
The park is across the street from The Iris at San Ysidro, which is planned to provide 30 apartment homes for extremely low-income families, 54 homes for very low-income families, 15 homes for individuals who have experienced homelessness and an onsite property manager’s apartment.
“As we build more affordable housing, we are also upgrading infrastructure and amenities around new homes,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Everyone deserves access to high-quality parks, community centers, efficient and safe transportation and other infrastructure that supports the needs of growing neighborhoods.”
According to the developer, the city will oversee the park restoration, sidewalk improvements and street work, which will include a high- intensity activated crosswalk — triggered by pedestrians and which generate multiple alerts to drivers.
“The Iris at San Ysidro is a much-needed project that will provide 100 homes to families in need,” said City Councilwoman Vivian Moreno, who represents San Ysidro. “This is a step in the right direction as we continue to build more housing units.”
— City News Service
