SAN DIEGO — Dozens of homeless advocates rallied Saturday against Mayor Todd Gloria's proposal for a mega homeless shelter in Middletown on Kettner Blvd and Vine St. Concerns have risen about the cost and logistics of the shelter while the city works to address San Diego's homelessness crisis.
Mayor Gloria wants to transform a nearly 65,000 square foot warehouse into a mega homeless shelter that could hold 1,000 people. That equates to about one third of the homeless population in the City of San Diego. He's proposing a 30 year lease at the site on Kettner and Vine, called Hope @ Vine.
However, homeless advocates argue the mega shelter would not provide the support and resources the unhoused community needs.
"We're warehousing people like cattle, we're not treating them humanely at all," Patty Ducey-Brooks said. "Sit down with the community, sit down with service providers, put a good plan together that is countywide, citywide, that allows us to look at the individuals needs individually."
San Diego's Independent Budget Analyst released its review of the proposal in July. It said the city would be overpaying to refurbish and rent the warehouse.
The report found about $18 million would be needed for renovations and yearly management costs could be more than $30 million. Over the course of the 30 year lease, San Diego would pay $72 million in rent. The first 19 months would be free, but there would be a 3.5% annual rate hike every year after.
San Diego Mayoral Candidate Larry Turner joined the rally Saturday, saying more needs to be done for the unhoused community.
"It's a 65,000 square foot building, and you want to put 1,000 people in there. That's basic math, that's 65 square foot a person before you build showers, a kitchen, offices, all that," Turner said.
A spokesperson for the mayor's office told CBS 8 in a statement:
“Negotiations with the property owner for Hope @ Vine are ongoing. The Mayor has been clear: The status quo on homelessness is not acceptable -- we must get people off the street and connected to the care they need. The administration will continue to pursue shelter opportunities like Hope @ Vine, because leaving people on the streets or in canyons and riverbeds is unsafe both for people experiencing homelessness and the surrounding community.”
After hours of discussions with City Council in July, Mayor Gloria said the proposal will be brought back to the table in September.
WATCH RELATED: San Diego City Council to delay vote on proposed Middletown mega shelter