In a move that could be a game-changer for Del Mar residents, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is throwing her weight behind a new affordable housing initiative. Spearheading a proposal to build housing units at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, she's seeking a green light from her fellow board members. According to a FOX 5 San Diego report, this could see the rise of 61 affordable homes as part of a broader county goal to develop 10,000 homes on public land by 2030.
Caught in the early stages of what could be a transformative project, discussions with Del Mar’s Mayor and the 22nd District Agricultural Association will take place over the next 24 months to pinpoint where these homes might be constructed. "The city and fairgrounds will be working together over the next 24 months to determine a mutually agreeable location on the fairgrounds property where housing can be built," Mayor Dave Druker informed FOX 5 San Diego, with an eye on untapped potential at this event-loved site.
Lawson-Remer expressed enthusiasm for the location due to its proximity to essential amenities. "The fairgrounds is an amazing location for affordable housing for so many reasons. It’s close to services within a one-mile radius such as groceries, schools, parks, trails, transportation and jobs," she remarked on her office's Facebook page.
Public response has been varied but cautiously optimistic. Justine Broberg, a Del Mar local, applauded the plan in an ABC 10News interview, saying, "I thought it was a great idea just because there's a lot of land ... that's underutilized. And housing is expensive in San Diego County." Conversely, other residents like Suren Dutia, expressed concerns about the actual affordability quotient, "If the goal is to build affordable housing, then it needs to be truly for people who aren't going to be able to live here," she pointed to ABC 10News.
While optimism hangs in the air, the Del Mar Fairgrounds affordable housing idea remains just that for now - a proposition with miles of negotiation and planning. The DAA Vice President Michael Gelfand has already prefaced expectations in his comments to FOX 5 San Diego, emphasizing the complexity of the undertaking. "Particularly doing so in a way that doesn’t impede our master planning efforts. So we don’t yet know if affordable housing will really work here," he said, threading the needle between development and the existing fairgrounds operations.
