Local housing efforts seem to be quickly gaining ground. The latest annual progress report unveiled by the County suggests that we're ticking the boxes faster than expected when meeting state housing mandates. A summary provided to the Board of Supervisors yesterday revealed that through 2024, the County had made significant strides, specifically aiming for a balance across various income levels.
According to the County of San Diego, it has completed 84% of its goal, reaching 6,700 total housing units within eight years, leading up to 2029. Despite the clear progress, the numbers also suggest work yet to be done, especially in providing for the very low-income populace. While these figures do not include the units currently stuck in the approval pipeline—a hefty 4,500 still awaiting their turn—they are a beacon showing the County's commitment to housing development.
The trends in building and numbers have seen fluctuations largely because of economic influences. A comparison with last year's stats underscored this, showing a drop of 11% in permitted homes and a more concerning dip of 24% in completed homes. However, there's an encouraging uptick in the rise of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) projects, which now make up 45% (489 units) of the permitted housing units, reflecting a shift towards more compact, and perhaps, affordable housing options.
