After a year of negotiations and multiple hearings, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced the city is abandoning its proposal to establish a 1,000-bed homeless shelter at the intersection of Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street in Middletown. The decision comes after months of discussions with the property owner and the City Council, leading to the conclusion that the proposed shelter campus is no longer feasible.
The ambitious project aimed to convert a 65,000-square-foot commercial building into a shelter providing on-site security, meals, housing navigation, case management services, and space for 1,000 beds. However, the plan faced skepticism from neighbors concerned about the shelter’s size and the financial terms of the lease agreement. The city’s Independent Budget Analyst also advised caution, warning that the deal could lead to another costly real estate misstep similar to the 101 Ash Street controversy.
In light of these challenges, Mayor Gloria stated that alternative solutions will be presented to the City Council on February 10. These include a privately owned property on Second Avenue that would require lease negotiations and two city-owned properties: the Old Central Library and the City Operations Building.
