San Ysidro is witnessing the start of a new chapter in affordable housing with the groundbreaking of Avanzando San Ysidro. This initiative promises to deliver 101 affordable rental apartments for low-income families. The development, a collaborative effort featuring the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) and local organizations, marks a significant step toward addressing the city's housing crisis. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria highlighted the project's importance during the ceremony, saying, "Projects like this one are about how we are working to make San Diego a city of belonging," as per the San Diego Housing Commission.
Avanzando San Ysidro's approach integrates housing solutions and a commitment to sustainability and improved infrastructure. The development located on two properties in San Ysidro, less than a half mile apart, is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the area with a transit-oriented design that syncs with Casa Familiar's La Semilla Climate Resiliency Center. As described by County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, "All buildings are designed to meet green building standards, ensuring environmental energy and health benefits," which she discussed during the groundbreaking event, per SDHC.
The financial structure supporting the initiative is a tapestry of federal, state, and local funds, with a notable $4.12 million loan from SDHC, including a significant portion of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the City of San Diego's Affordable Housing Fund. Furthermore, the State of California's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has directed over $6 million towards the project through its Infill Infrastructure Grant Program – Catalytic Qualifying Infill Area, detailed further by SDHC officials.
Avanzando's financial support does not stop there; the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has put forward more than $63 million in bonds, coupled with $43.41 million in Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Equity, providing a robust economic foundation; developer Ginger Hitzke of Hitzke Development Corporation aims to create real, true, genuine spendable equity for low-income households, a vision she shared amid the ceremony, emphasizing the potential for generational wealth. These fiscal commitments enable Avanzando to serve households earning up to 60% of San Diego's Area Median Income (AMI) for the next 55 years, with some units reserved for families earning as low as 30% of AMI.
