Design and Construction Report staff writer
San Diego Unified School District is preparing to negotiate development agreements that could add more than 1,500 units of affordable workforce housing to five district-owned properties.
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. on whether to authorize district staff to begin negotiations with three development teams selected from 15 proposals reviewed by a cross-functional evaluation committee.
“We are ready to take the next step toward building affordable housing to support our educators,” Superintendent Fabi Bagula said in a statement. “Our schools are at their best when the people who teach, support and care for our students can also call this community home.”
The proposals would allow the district to retain land ownership while receiving ground lease payments over terms of up to 99 years. No district funds would be required for construction.
The following projects could be approved Wednesday:
Eugene Brucker Education Center, 4100 Normal St.
- Developer: Affirmed Housing Group
- With 943 units, the development would create new pick-up and drop-off area for Birney Elementary; preservation and improvement of Annex 1 and Annex 2, including a preschool facility.
Revere Center, 6735 Gifford Way
- Developer: Decro Corporation
- 220 housing units with a 3,585-sq. ft. childcare center and outdoor play area for district use.
Fremont/Ballard Center, 2375 Congress St.
- Developer: Bridge Housing Corp.
- Renovations within the Harold J. Ballard Parent Center would create 140 housing units and a 6,500-sq. ft. facility for district use.
Instructional Media Center, 2441 Cardinal Lane
- Developer: Decro Corporation
- 107 units
Commercial Street Property, 2101 Commercial St.
- Developer: Decro Corporation
- 4,800-square-foot childcare facility with a secure outdoor play area for district use.
District officials said the plans aim to provide affordable housing for at least 10 per cent of San Diego Unified’s workforce over the next decade.
Lee Dulgeroff, the district’s senior executive director of facilities planning and construction, said the review process was “thoughtful and transparent,” incorporating educator and community input as well as third-party financial analysis from LeSar Development Consultants and Keyser Marston Associates.
If negotiations fail with any of the selected developers, the district may begin talks with the second-ranked proposer.
More information is available in the meeting agenda on the district’s website.
