In a series of unanimous votes on Tuesday, March 25, San Diego Unified School District’s board moved forward with a housing package that would bring housing to 10% of its staff within the next decade by building 1,500 units.

Developers can now submit proposals for building housing on any of five district-owned sites, including the district’s headquarters in University Heights at Eugene Brucker Education Center at 4100 Normal St. The other four sites are Revere Center (6735 Gifford Way) and Instructional Media Center (2441 Cardinal Ln.) in Linda Vista; Fremont/Ballard Center (2375 Congress St.) in Old Town; and 2101 Commercial St. in Sherman Heights.

The property in University Heights is the largest publicly-owned parcel of land in San Diego’s urban core at 13.48 acres. Initial plans call for 500 units of housing on the site. It garnered the most comments in the meeting, with members of the public urging the board to be more ambitious in its plans for the site, which could include more units; less focus focus on parking in the walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood; and public amenities like a park.

Some members of the University Heights Historical Society and other groups urged the board to return to more conservative plans based on community input which began in 2018, before the latest Uptown Community Plan was approved with its allowances for much higher density.

Based on comments from University Heights resident Andrew Bowen, the board updated its goals to clarify they were seeking projects with the highest number of affordable units rather than the highest rate of affordable units.

“You could have a 50-unit project that’s 100% deed-restricted or a 150-unit project that’s 50% deed-restricted — one of those projects providing more affordable housing,” Bowen said. Others also spoke in favor of mixed-income housing as deed-restricted affordable housing only can be hugely challenging to get funded.

The board signaled they supported mixed levels of income at sites, especially since it would mean classified and certified staff would be able to reside next to each other. Likely only classified employees qualify for deed-restricted housing based on Area Media Income (AMI). Even teachers who are middle income can struggle to find housing costing less than 30% of their income near where they work in the current housing crisis.

Board president Cory Petterson noted declining enrollment at San Diego Unified is not due to a turn to private school or other options, but rather due to the housing crisis pushing families out of San Diego’s core and coastal areas. “We have essentially failed completely to keep up with the demands of our community members for housing,” he said.

The district opened Livia last year, a housing site in Scripps Ranch for staff with 20% affordable units. Despite community opposition at first, the completed project has been warmly received.

Teacher unions are in support of the project, including the union for paraeducators who assist special education students. A representative for that union gave testimony that several of its members are homeless, yet still show up each day for the students.

“[They] still give 100% of themselves to these children yet it’s still falling short on them to have their own basic needs be met… This initiative is what is necessary to keep our amazing educators, amazing classified employees, here in San Diego to make these students be the best version of themselves,” said Issa Martinez.

A survey of over 2,000 staff members found most had considered leaving the district because of high housing costs.

The final part of the housing package was to create a Regional Housing Finance Authority with San Diego Community College District (SDCCD).

Trustree Richard Barrera, who represents District D covering much of Uptown and Downtown, noted efforts to create joint affordable housing finance authorities in the past had failed due to bureaucratic issues. Last year’s Senate Bill 440 makes the process of two or more local governments creating a housing authority simpler.

Barrera said partnering with SDCCD “just makes sense” due to working close. SDCCD board of trustees will have to also vote to join the housing authority at their next meeting.

CAPTION: During a press conference at the Eugene Brucker Education Center, Board of Education members unveiled three policies to be discussed during the March 25 meeting. (Photo credit: sandiegounified.org/)