As part of Mayor Todd Gloria’s Homes for All of Us initiative, the city of San Diego is taking a significant step toward increasing affordable housing.
A long-term ground lease with a nonprofit developer will transform the vacant former Serra Mesa Library site into 100% affordable housing. Half of these homes will prioritize 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 (AMI). Thirty of the units will be specifically designated for veterans in need of stable housing.
“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. “This 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 the city’s control.
District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo emphasized the importance of this transformation. “The conversion of the old Serra Mesa Library into 59 affordable homes is a positive step that will provide housing to those who desperately need it in order to stay off the street,” he said. “Those who served our country should never have to worry about having a safe place to call home. Thank you to all community members who offered input on this project and to Community HousingWorks for carefully considering and addressing community concerns.”
The new development will offer residents 22 parking spaces, a lobby, community room spaces, a computer lab, laundry facilities, leasing offices, 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. “These new homes and their central proximity in Serra Mesa will enjoy the convenience of access to public transit, grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, and community parks.”
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, inviting organizations to lease the property for permanent supportive housing and services.
To support the development, the City Council also approved a $4 million Bridge to Home loan. This program, launched by Mayor Gloria in 2021, directly invests in affordable housing projects to assist with financing. During the same meeting, the City Council also approved a $3.1 million Bridge to Home loan for the Navajo Family Apartments, a separate project that will add 44 more affordable units. Eleven of these will be reserved for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
With the approval of the Serra Mesa Apartments and Navajo Family Apartments, the Bridge to Home program has now funded 17 projects, totaling 1,353 affordable homes. Six additional projects are expected to go before the City Council later this year. Prior to these approvals, the most recent recipient of funding was The Grant at Mission Trails, which received $2.5 million in financing on Feb. 25. That project will feature 47 affordable homes, including 14 reserved for individuals at risk of homelessness.
San Diego continues to make strides in addressing the housing crisis, ensuring that lower-income families and veterans have access to stable, affordable living in thriving communities
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