A groundbreaking ceremony held on April 29 marked the beginning of the construction of Kindred, an affordable housing complex, in San Diego. As the shovel hits the ground, the building will soon start rising and is slated for completion in 2027.
Highlights
- Construction of the Kindred apartments in downtown San Diego has begun as the groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday.
- The affordable housing complex will add 126 units to the city’s inventory and will help seniors who had been previously homeless and low-income families.
- A collaboration between the City of San Diego, the county, and a private partner is behind the funding of the $102 million Kindred project.
Kindred to Bring Much-Needed Affordable Housing in San Diego
City officials gathered to break ground for Kindred at the plot of land in the Cortez Hill neighbourhood that previously housed the County’s Family Court building. The complex is being built on the County surplus property at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Beech Street in downtown San Diego.
The project will have an estimated cost of $102 million. As per the officials, apartment units in the building will be offered to those whose household incomes are less than 60% of the city’s median income for a minimum of 99 years. The median income in 2025 in San Diego for a family of 4 is $99,240 per year.
Monica Montgomery Steppe, supervisor of San Diego County at the groundbreaking ceremony, said, “We are here celebrating this site that was once a family courthouse and temporary migrant shelter – it will now become a space of hope, healing, and opportunity.”
Steppe continued to state, “Today’s groundbreaking is more than just the start of construction. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for this community and so many people who will benefit from this space.” She went on to say that by investing in permanent supportive housing for seniors and affordable homes for families, the city is expanding a future of possibilities for all San Diegans to thrive regardless of income.
The San Diego Housing Commission has granted 84 housing vouchers for the Kindred apartment. Among them, 63 will go to seniors who had been homeless previously, and the rest of the 21 vouchers will go to eligible low-income families.
A Look at the Plan for the Affordable Housing Community
Kindred will be a mixed-use development that will have 126 affordable housing units along with 4,400 square feet of commercial retail space. The housing options will come in one, two and three-bedroom options. One manager’s unit at the market price will also be part of the development.
The location of the apartment building ensures that it is pedestrian-friendly and offers easy access to transit options like the San Diego Trolley and MTS bus lines. Residents will have shopping and dining options, parks, and libraries within a short walking distance.
As part of the San Diego Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, San Ysidro Health will provide supportive services to senior residents as well. All residents will receive case management and social services as well.
A Public-Private Collaboration Brings the Project to Life
The City of San Diego has partnered with the county and BRIDGE Housing to develop the project. To fund the project, SDHC has provided a loan of $7.9 million, and the county has invested $4 million from its Innovative Housing Trust Fund. The county’s surplus land that is being used for the project is worth about $6.9 million as well. Funding has also been pooled in from other sources.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria spoke about the project at the groundbreaking ceremony, saying “Today is proof of what can happen when the city and the county work together with our nonprofit partners to get big and bold things done, and I look forward to more collaboration to make sure that we’re continuing to serve our shared constituents to the best of our respective abilities.”
Colin Miller, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development at the SDHC, said, “The Kindred Apartments development will transform this site into a vibrant community that brings seniors and families together and provides housing stability in a shared place to call home.” The rental homes that will be built will be life-changing for seniors who have experienced homelessness and families struggling financially in San Diego’s high-cost rental market, he added.
As families and seniors struggle to find affordable housing, the initiative by the county and city is highly welcomed by the community. That said, the housing inventory remains low on homes that the average San Diego resident can afford.
