The Bel, an 80‑unit affordable housing complex in Hillcrest, leased up in roughly five weeks and left more than 1,000 people on a wait list. The project held its grand opening on Friday, even though many residents had already moved in months earlier. For tenants and city planners, the brisk lease‑up is both a relief and a stark reminder of how few deeply affordable homes are available in San Diego.
As reported by 10News, David Allen, principal of Trestle Development, said the building was "100% full" and that the wait list topped 1,000 when doors officially opened. The outlet noted that residents were allowed to move in well before the public celebration. One tenant told the station they initially thought the deal was "too good to be true" before they actually secured an apartment.
The Bel's apartments are reserved for households earning between 30% and 50% of area median income. For a single person in San Diego County, that translates to roughly $36,750 and $61,250, respectively. The idea is to reach households that the regular rental market typically leaves behind, not middle‑income renters. The county’s income limits and AMI chart lay out the thresholds used to determine eligibility, per San Diego County.
Design and who built it
Studio E Architects describes The Bel as an eight‑story, U‑shaped building with 80 affordable homes tucked onto a compact 12,000‑square‑foot site. Units range from roughly 420‑square‑foot studios to 1,250‑square‑foot three‑bedrooms. Residents share a courtyard, community room, laundry facilities and an eighth‑floor co‑working lounge with views toward Balboa Park. The design and project details are laid out on the architect’s project page, according to Studio E Architects.
How the project fits Plan Hillcrest
The Bel opened as San Diego rolls out the Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment, adopted in July 2024, which establishes a policy framework to add more housing near transit and neighborhood services, per City of San Diego. Councilmember Stephen Whitburn said a building like this "allows people to stay in the communities where they've grown up, that they love, and be able to afford to stay here," a point reported by 10News. The plan aims to balance added housing capacity with measures to preserve neighborhood character and local services.
What the demand means
Developers have framed The Bel as an example of how to deliver income‑restricted homes in high‑cost neighborhoods. Trestle Build notes on its website that the firm focuses on bringing affordable financing tools to the market, which can help projects like this pencil out. City leaders and housing advocates say demand for income‑restricted units still far outstrips supply, and projects like The Bel are likely to be watched closely for lessons on lease‑up, tenant services and long‑term affordability.
For now, The Bel adds a rare batch of deeply affordable apartments to Hillcrest and leaves a long line of people still waiting for their chance. As the city moves forward with Plan Hillcrest, officials say the real test will be whether more projects of this kind can be delivered quickly enough to keep up with local demand.
