UPDATE: The San Diego Unified School District is set to provide over 2,388 housing units for its staff, following decisive actions taken at two board meetings this week. The San Diego Unified Board of Trustees has authorized negotiations for four key sites, aiming to address a critical housing shortage impacting educators and their families.
This urgent initiative comes as the district seeks to offer subsidized housing for 10% of its workforce by 2030. The need is pressing, with California grappling with a statewide housing crisis that affects school personnel’s ability to live where they work.
During the meetings, trustees pushed for developments to include multi-bedroom units to accommodate families, a crucial factor in countering declining enrollment rates in the district. Board President Richard Barrera emphasized, “Our dual big challenges are recruiting and retaining quality educators and declining enrollment of students.”
Among the contentious discussions was the proposal for the district’s current headquarters at 4100 Normal Street. Over 50 public commenters voiced their opinions, with some advocating for more housing options while others raised concerns about the project overwhelming the neighborhood.
Marc Johnson, a member of the Community Coalition of University Heights, expressed his reservations: “It would overwhelm the neighborhood.” In contrast, Wesley Morgan, a local resident, urged the board to maximize building heights for better green space, saying, “Please maximize height so you can create real green spaces.”
Trustees expressed a strong preference for childcare facilities on-site and for designs that avoid a “sterile” appearance, aiming for inviting environments that contribute positively to the community.
The four approved sites include:
– **Eugene Brucker Education Center in University Heights**: A plan from Protea + Malick for 1,500 subsidized units for individuals earning between $57,900 and $109,800 annually.
– **2101 Commercial Street in Logan Heights**: A plan from Mirka Investment featuring 174 units for incomes ranging from $34,750 to $92,700 annually.
– **Fremont/Ballard Center in Old Town**: A project from Monarch/Eden with 420 workforce units, available from 30% of median income to market rate.
– **Revere Center in Linda Vista**: A plan from Community Housing Works offering 294 affordable units for incomes between 30% and 120% of median income.
In addition, plans for the Instructional Media Center were also previously approved, bringing the potential total to 2,495 units.
Barrera highlighted the importance of ongoing negotiations with developers, stating that these conversations help clarify the board’s intentions, thus enhancing the quality of the proposed projects. “The projects are going to be better, and the public has had much more of a chance to see what’s being proposed and weigh in,” he remarked.
The district’s commitment to workforce housing has been evolving for nearly a decade, and the scale of this latest initiative reflects the urgent need for solutions in a housing market that continues to challenge educators.
As the San Diego Unified School District moves forward with these developments, families, educators, and community members are eagerly watching to see how these plans will unfold and impact local neighborhoods.
