SAN DIEGO — Amid San Diego’s housing crisis, some residents are raising concerns over where new affordable housing is being built. People living in southeast San Diego say adding more low-income housing in the area is concentrating poverty.
Multiple affordable housing projects are coming to southeast San Diego. Housing for veterans on 47th street in Chollas View, a 137 unit apartment on Market Street for seniors, more than 100 new units coming to Naranja St, newly renovated senior housing on Logan Avenue and the Encanto Gateway Project.
"We should be looking at areas of highest opportunity so they can flourish and live their best lives," said Robert Campbell who lives in Encanto.
He says bringing more low-income housing into the area isn’t going to help.
“There was only certain types of people that could purchase in Encanto for many years and underinvestment in infrastructure as well," Campbell said.
The state defines Chollas View and Encanto as “low resource” areas. They have higher poverty rates and lower employment levels.
Meanwhile, the county has told CBS 8 that areas such as 4588 Market Street in Chollas View is appropriate for affordable housing. Andrea, who lives in the area, fears the impacts of concentrating poverty.
“It’ll be another generation of children who will not have the aspirations and not increase their income or wealth opportunities. It will not only maintain the cycle but make it worse," Andrea said.
She says neighborhoods with a mix of income levels and mix of housing prices foster a much better quality of life.
"We have this new policy, Complete Communities, which is concentrating poverty the same way redlining did," she said.
San Diego's Complete Communities policy aims to increase housing options by allowing higher density development in certain areas. The Chair of the Community Planners Committee told CBS 8 this could involve converting some commercial spaces into residential units. However, residents have expressed concerns that this might lead to a loss of essential businesses, including grocery stores, which could exacerbate existing food desert issues.
“We definitely do need more resources," said Griselda Arroyos, a Rosemont resident.
Developers are allowed to build affordable units offsite. They get extra density bonuses and some fees waived when building 100% affordable projects. The city waived more than $400,000 in fees from the project being built on Naranja Street.
“I essentially have a lot of affordable housing," said Henry Foster, city councilmember for District 4.
He brought up concerns over the concentration of poverty during a city planning meeting.
“Do you have anything in place or how is this managed to ensure we’re not developing these per say concentration of poverty which does make my community upset," he said.
City staff said they’re planning for affordable housing in all communities. The San Diego Housing Commission shows a list of affordable housing projects under construction. There are projects coming to Rancho Bernardo, Clairemont and San Ysidro.
When it comes to where low-income housing is built, the county says excess land is prioritized for affordable housing.
“I know the county has land north, I know the city has land in high resource areas. It’s a matter of having to pay a little bit more to use that land to give those families an opportunity there," Campbell said.
CBS 8 reached out to the county and the city about resident concerns. The county recommended reaching out to the city. San Diego Housing Commission said to reach out to the mayor’s office. The mayor’s office hasn't responded.
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