Following the announcement of the cancelation of the proposed 1,000 bed unhoused shelter at Kettering Boulevard and Vine Street in Midtown last week, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Stated that her office is evaluating three alternative locations for long-term shelters for the unhoused:
• Second Avenue Property: A privately owned site requiring lease negotiations.
• Old Central Library (820 E Street): A vacant city-owned building comprising five floors and approximately 150,000 square feet. Renovation costs are estimated at $86.8 million.
• City Operations Building (1222 First Avenue): A five-story structure totaling about 217,000 square feet, set to be vacated this spring. Refurbishment is projected to cost $45.2 million.
These proposals will be presented to the San Diego City Council on February 10, with Mayor Gloria emphasizing the urgency of expanding shelter capacity, stating, “Getting people off the streets and out of the riverbed and canyons is not optional. That is why we are continuing to push forward with real solutions, identifying new sites and taking the necessary action to bring more people indoors.”
Additionally, the city plans to open a new Safe Parking Program lot on Harbor Drive near San Diego International Airport, aiming to nearly double the program’s current capacity. Officials are also considering a partnership with the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego to establish a semi-congregate facility providing up to 210 beds, with a proposal scheduled for a vote by the San Diego Housing Commission on February 14.
