Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) officials today toured the construction of Pacific Village, a former hotel in Midway that the City of San Diego and County is turning into a 62-unit affordable housing development with supportive services for formerly unhoused people.

The County of San Diego pledged up to $42 million in capital loans to the City and SDHC for this project, along with others, and committed to providing behavioral health services for residents. Last month Supervisor Lawson-Remer and the Board of Supervisors received an update ( click here) on the Pacific Village property, located in Supervisor Lawson-Remer’s district. Since Homekey launched in 2020, the City has committed more than $47 million to Homekey projects, including $5.9 million for Pacific Village. SDHC has committed more than 550 rental housing vouchers to assist residents at Homekey-funded properties to pay their rent, including 62 vouchers for Pacific Village residents.  

“We’ve been clearing homeless encampments, and moving people into stable, supportive housing situations. This redevelopment of an old hotel into 62 new places people can afford is another example of our County’s commitment to combating rising rental costs and getting San Diegans housed,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “I am excited for these units to open early next year!”

Construction activities underway or completed include kitchenette installations for each apartment, new stucco, paint, roof, windows, HVAC, plumbing, solar, fire sprinkler, and alarm system. 

Fifteen units are being set aside for veterans who have experienced homelessness.  

The County, City of San Diego, and SDHC have partnered on Project Homekey three times, resulting in 608 affordable housing units with supportive services. If not for this partnership, the funding would have gone to other parts of the state. Project Homekey is a California state program designed to provide permanent housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. 

“Our goal for every San Diegan we move out of street encampments is ultimately to get them into stable housing with supportive services that help them succeed in restarting their lives and staying housed. Project Homekey creates precisely those housing opportunities,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego. “I’m grateful for the partnership the City and our Housing Commission have forged with the state and county on the most effective measures to address our homelessness crisis.”

“The rehabilitation of Pacific Village will provide essential housing for our unhoused neighbors more quickly than would have been possible with new construction. The San Diego Housing Commission thanks the County Board of Supervisors, Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera and the City Council, and the State for collaborating with us and investing the funds necessary to make this crucial housing possible,” SDHC Deputy CEO Jeff Davis said.

BREAKDOWN OF 608 HOMEKEY AFFORDABLE UNITS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTY, CITY, SDHC

o   Homekey Round 1 (County-provided Behavioral Health Services)

§  142 unit 5400 Kearny Mesa

§  190 unit 1865 Hotel Circle South

o   Homekey Round 2 (County provided $10MM capital + services)

§  40 units El Cerrito Project 

o   Homekey Round 3 (County provided up to $32 MM capital + Behavioral Health Services)

§  62 units 3737 Midway

§  13 units Abbott Street Apartments 

§  161 units Presidio Palms

This project is funded in part with HOME Investment Partnerships Program Grant (HOME) American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Funds and Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program funds provided to the City of San Diego by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development, respectively, and administered by SDHC.