The East Village skydiving facility, once a hub for adrenaline enthusiasts, is slated to transform into affordable housing, thanks to the City Council's green light. The site at 1401 Imperial Ave., now currently functioning as the City's Homelessness Response Center (HRC), will soon provide 164 affordable apartments. The City of San Diego reports that the agreement with Father Joe’s Villages passed with the City Council's approval, marking a significant shift towards addressing housing affordability.
Last year's Request for Proposals, initiated by the City, sought a developer willing to buy and convert the building into an affordable housing project. Father Joe’s Villages was selected from the two proposals received due to their impressive proposal, including a greater number of affordable homes and their known success in affordable housing development. As per the City of San Diego, Mayor Todd Gloria emphasized, “We’re transforming City-owned property into affordable homes, because that’s what this moment demands.”
Acquisition and redevelopment of the property will be managed by 1401 Imperial Limited Partnership, a branch of Father Joe’s Villages. They plan to buy the building in its current condition for $7.9 million, including a $2.9 million loan from the City. The development aims to cater to households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income, providing a mix of studio and one- and two-bedroom homes, with a 55-year restriction on income eligibility. Additionally, Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, representative of Downtown, told the City of San Diego, “Today’s action moves us closer to transforming an underused building in my district into urgently needed affordable housing.”
Moreover, Father Joe’s Villages plans to encompass wrap-around services to help residents achieve self-sufficiency. Services will include physical and behavioral health care, social supports, and employment services. Deacon Jim Vargas, president, and CEO at Father Joe’s Villages, highlighted the critical nature of the project, as told to the City of San Diego: “This project, and the many other affordable housing units Father Joe’s Villages has built, is critical to helping people exit homelessness and find housing stability." He further emphasized the necessity for creative solutions in addressing the housing crisis.
