La Sábila, an 85-unit affordable apartment community for older adults in Vista, is set to open its doors on Feb. 25, giving local seniors a rare shot at new income-restricted housing. About half of the apartments, roughly 42 units, are reserved for seniors who have experienced homelessness, and the complex is built around on-site supports meant to help residents live on their own for the long haul. The opening comes as housing advocates and developers continue to sound the alarm about a shortage of affordable homes for lower-income seniors across the San Diego region.
Funding and partners
To get La Sábila off the ground, Wakeland Housing pulled together a mix of public and private dollars. Wells Fargo’s Community Lending and Investment group provided a $30.5 million construction loan and roughly $27.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity, according to Connect CRE. The deal also includes a Freddie Mac permanent loan and about $11 million in county support, with local reporting placing total development costs near $48.5 million, according to the San Diego Business Journal.
Who the homes are for
On its leasing page, Wakeland bills La Sábila as “Affordable 55+ Living,” listing a Vista address along with an online tenant interest form for would-be residents. The property site highlights accessible design and on-site resident services as core features rather than extras, and prospective tenants can join the waitlist and review basic building details through La Sábila's leasing site. Opening-day logistics and application instructions are laid out through the property’s online portal.
Services and design
Local coverage notes that La Sábila will pair apartments with on-site case management, behavioral-health supports and participation in West PACE to help residents stay healthy and socially connected. The community is set to feature a community room, laundry facilities on each floor, a landscaped courtyard and energy-related touches such as solar power and EV charging, and half of the homes are reserved for seniors exiting homelessness, according to The Coast News. Project renderings credit DAHLIN Architecture for the building’s design.
How it fits the regional shortfall
La Sábila is arriving in the middle of a broader affordability crunch countywide. A RentCafe analysis cited by the San Diego Business Journal found the metro added roughly 4,064 affordable units from 2020 through 2024 and ranked 22nd nationally. The same reporting identified San Diego as the only California metro where the share of new construction going to affordable housing has actually slipped. Developers like Wakeland contend that developments such as La Sábila, backed by a steady pipeline of similar projects, are crucial if the region wants to close that gap rather than just talk about it.
What’s next
Wakeland says it has built thousands of affordable homes across California and continues to advance projects throughout San Diego County, with more developments at various stages of leasing and construction. “Every senior deserves a safe home and a supportive community,” Wakeland CEO Rebecca Louie told The Coast News, as the organization urges community partners to help furnish units and support move-in services for new residents. The developer’s broader project pipeline and tenant interest lists are available on its housing pages for those tracking upcoming openings and waitlists.
