San Diego-based nonprofit affordable housing developer Community HousingWorks (CHW) celebrates the opening of Puesta del Sol Apartments, a new development with 59 apartments for adults 55 years and older.
A recent San Diego Union-Tribune article illustrated the challenge of seniors paying for housing on a fixed income, reporting that “55.8% of older adult renters in San Diego County don’t have enough money to keep up with their bills.”
With the opening of Puesta del Sol, CHW aims to reduce the number of seniors who experience homelessness. Puesta del Sol apartments are reserved for households earning 30%-60% of the Area Median Income and the community has been awarded 59 project-based vouchers to ensure access for the most income-vulnerable residents.
Additionally, six of the 59 vouchers will serve chronically homeless individuals supported by wrap-around services to ensure their housing success.
Affordable Housing at Puesta del Sol Apartments
Built adjacent to CHW’s Amanecer Apartments on Ulric Street, Puesta del Sol completes the combined intergenerational community in San Diego’s Linda Vista neighborhood. Together Puesta del Sol and Amanecer represent the first new affordable housing construction in Linda Vista.
Located near public transportation, parks, the Linda Vista public library, and numerous retail and employment centers, Puesta is designed for the needs of older adults. The community only offers one-bedroom apartments, plus a two-bedroom manager unit. On-site amenities include a multi-purpose room with a kitchen, a large outdoor courtyard and barbecues, a computer room, a rooftop terrace, and a centralized laundry room.
It was announced at the event that a second-floor “flex room” will be dedicated later this year to former long-time CHW team member Kelly Swanson. Swanson passed away in 2023 and had served CHW as a Senior Project Accountant for more than 12 years.
CHW President and CEO Sean Spear explained the idea behind the community’s creation: “When CHW started the work to build [Puesta del Sol and Amanecer] on Ulric Street, our intent was to provide housing for vulnerable community members who had a critical need for affordable housing. Our hope is that these two communities will really interact with each other as an intergenerational community within Linda Vista.”
In his remarks at the opening celebration City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria highlights the inclusion of vouchers specifically for formerly homeless individuals and explains, “What I love most about [Puesta del Sol] is the role it plays in our comprehensive approach to homelessness.”
RELATED
- Top 10 trends in senior living facilities for 2024
- Top 80 Senior Living Facility Architecture Firms for 2023
- Senior living construction poised for steady recovery
The San Diego Housing Commission provided a below market rate loan and project-based vouchers for the development. Additional funding was provided by construction and permanent lender Chase Bank (as a successor to First Republic Bank), and investor limited partner is Red Stone Equity Partners; the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee provided 9% tax credits, and the city of San Diego waived $144,000 in permit fees.
On-site services for residents are provided by CHW services partner, LifeSTEPS. The locally based development team included general contractor Sun Country Builders, architectural firm Studio E Architects, civil engineering firm Project Design Consultants, and landscape architect Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
Puesta del Sol resident Marian Sewell also shared her story at the opening celebration. She moved to San Diego from Miami, Florida, in the mid-1970s and worked for the Department of Defense and later worked in retail. “I paid into social security since I was 18 years old ... I thought I had it made, but inflation happened. As it turns out I didn’t even have enough money to rent an apartment on a fixed income.” Sewell continues, “I’m so thankful and grateful to be here at Puesta del Sol Apartments. I’m so grateful to CHW for building the community and for being here for the people that need them.”
The opening ceremony took place Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 2601 Ulric Street in San Diego at 10 a.m. Speakers included San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Raul Campillo, San Diego Housing Commission Board Vice Chair Ryan Clumpner, Puesta del Sol resident Marian Sewell, Community HousingWorks President and CEO Sean Spear, Board Chair Don Ambrose, Senior Project Manager Simon Fraser, and Senior Vice President of Housing and Real Estate Development Kevin Leichner. The San Diego Women’s Chorus performed.
About Community HousingWorks
Founded in 1988, Community HousingWorks is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops, rehabilitates, preserves, and operates affordable apartment communities in California and Texas. In addition to providing working families and seniors with stable homes in healthy communities, Community HousingWorks layers in powerful programs, services, and connections to resources. These tools help people attain financial stability, improve their health and overall well-being, and set up school-age children for success in the classroom and beyond. Community HousingWorks owns over 4,200 apartments in 48 communities statewide, serving nearly 12,000 working families, children, and seniors. Community HousingWorks is an exemplary ranked member of the national NeighborWorks Network®, an award-winning affiliate of UnidosUS and a member of the prestigious Housing Partnership Network. To learn more, visit chworks.org
On the Building Team
Developer: Community HousingWorks
Architect: Studio E Architects
Civil Engineer: Project Design Consultants
Landscape Architect: Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
General Contractor: Sun Country Builders
Related Stories
Senior Living Design | Aug 7, 2023
Putting 9 senior living market trends into perspective
Brad Perkins, FAIA, a veteran of more than four decades in the planning and design of senior living communities, looks at where the market is heading in the immediate future.
Senior Living Design | Aug 7, 2023
7 lessons learned from 40+ years planning and designing senior living environments
Brad Perkins, FAIA, a pioneer of senior living design in the U.S. and globally offers his advice for creating the optimal living experience for the world’s aged population group.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 31, 2023
6 multifamily housing projects win 2023 LEED Homes Awards
The 2023 LEED Homes Awards winners in the multifamily space represent green, LEED-certified buildings designed to provide clean indoor air and reduced energy consumption.
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 27, 2023
Number of U.S. adaptive reuse projects jumps to 122,000 from 77,000
The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).
Multifamily Housing | Jul 13, 2023
Walkable neighborhoods encourage stronger sense of community
Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 29, 2023
5 ways to rethink the future of multifamily development and design
The Gensler Research Institute’s investigation into the residential experience indicates a need for fresh perspectives on residential design and development, challenging norms, and raising the bar.
Urban Planning | Jun 15, 2023
Arizona limits housing projects in Phoenix area over groundwater supply concerns
Arizona will no longer grant certifications for new residential developments in Phoenix, it’s largest city, due to concerns over groundwater supply. The announcement indicates that the Phoenix area, currently the nation’s fastest-growing region in terms of population growth, will not be able to sustain its rapid growth because of limited freshwater resources.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 15, 2023
Alliance of Pittsburgh building owners slashes carbon emissions by 45%
The Pittsburgh 2030 District, an alliance of property owners in the Pittsburgh area, says that it has reduced carbon emissions by 44.8% below baseline. Begun in 2012 under the guidance of the Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Pittsburgh 2030 District encompasses more than 86 million sf of space within 556 buildings.
Industry Research | Jun 15, 2023
Exurbs and emerging suburbs having fastest population growth, says Cushman & Wakefield
Recently released county and metro-level population growth data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the fastest growing areas are found in exurbs and emerging suburbs.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
