The city of San Diego is taking a step toward increasing affordable housing by converting a long-vacant building.
A long-term ground lease with a nonprofit developer will transform the former Serra Mesa Library site into affordable housing. Priority for h alf of these homes will be given to military veterans, providing supportive services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The San Diego City Council has approved a 65-year lease agreement with Community HousingWorks, allowing the nonprofit to develop the 0.34-acre lot at 3440 Sandrock Road into 59 affordable homes.
The Serra Mesa Apartments will consist of 56 one-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units, and one unrestricted two-bedroom manager’s unit.
Designed to support those at the greatest risk of homelessness, these homes will be restricted for 55 years to households earning between 30% and 60% of the area’s median income.
Thirty of the units will be specifically designated for veterans in need of stable housing. The development is part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s Homes for All of Us initiative.
“Serra Mesa Apartments is precisely the type of project my policies are designed to incentivize — affordable housing on underused public land, in high-resource neighborhoods with easy access to quality jobs, transit, schools, and essential services,” said Mayor Todd Gloria.
He added that the “project demonstrates our commitment to ensuring lower-income families and our veterans can afford to live in communities that provide the opportunities and stability they deserve.”
A ground lease ensures that while the city retains ownership of the land, the developer will construct and manage the housing, sharing revenue with the city. Once the lease expires, all improvements will revert to city control.
The new development will feature 22 parking spaces, community room spaces, a computer lab, laundry facilities, a case management and resident services area, bike parking and a second-story courtyard with seating, trees, and greenery.
Once financing is finalized, construction is expected to take approximately 26 months.
“This is a great opportunity to activate a vacant community space into much-needed affordable housing while serving those who have willingly served our nation,” said Economic Development Director Christina Bibler.
The former Serra Mesa Library closed in 2006 when the new Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa Branch Library opened on Aero Drive. The building was repurposed for storage until 2019. In 2020, the City issued a request for proposals.
To support the development, the City Council also approved a $4 million Bridge to Home loan. This program, launched by Gloria in 2021, directly invests in affordable housing projects to assist with financing.
The Bridge to Home program has funded 17 projects, totaling 1,353 affordable homes. Six additional projects are expected to go before the City Council later this year.
