Located at 845 15th St., San Diego, the approximately 60,000-square-foot, six-story building will be converted into affordable housing with roughly 4,700-square-feet of ground-floor retail space, designed specifically for SDCCD students with partners and/or dependent children. Conversion of the building is expected to take approximately two years, with occupancy anticipated in 2028.
“The current conceptual design envisions one-and two-bedroom apartments priced between $1,000 and $1,500 per apartment, per month,” said Joel Peterson, vice chancellor and executive operations officer. “This is far below the average rent of $2,600 for a single-bedroom efficiency apartment in San Diego.”
Under a build-to-suit arrangement with L2HP, an HP Investors-affiliated entity, the district will enter into a 25-year lease at $2.28 per square foot, per month, and will have the option to acquire the property during the first five years of the lease term. By adaptively reusing an existing building, the district can deliver housing more quickly and cost-effectively than a traditional ground-up development.
This represents the district’s second major student housing initiative and builds upon the momentum of the nearly 800-bed affordable non-family student housing community currently under construction at San Diego City College. Together, the two housing initiatives represent a broader strategy to address housing insecurity and support student access and achievement across the district.
The new housing also advances the goals of Measure HH, the 2024 voter-approved $3.5 billion bond program to modernize facilities, expand educational opportunities, and support student success. Student housing has become an increasing focus for the district as rising housing costs continue to affect students’ ability to enroll, persist, and complete their education. District leaders say student parents often face some of the greatest challenges, underscoring the need for affordable family housing as a critical component of student support.
“Housing insecurity remains one of the greatest barriers to educational attainment for many students,” said SDCCD Chancellor Gregory A. Smith. “For student parents and caretakers, the challenges can be even greater. When students and their loved ones have a safe and affordable place to live, they can stay enrolled, complete their programs, and build a foundation for lifelong prosperity.”
The new housing community will provide student families with access to affordable housing close to educational programs, public transportation, employment centers, and essential services. District leaders believe the project will help improve student retention, completion, and workforce participation while supporting families seeking greater economic mobility.
“Community colleges have long been gateways to opportunity, and today that means addressing the real-life challenges that can prevent students from reaching their goals,” said SDCCD Board of Trustees President Geysil Arroyo. “This is about more than housing. It is about creating stability for student caretakers, expanding access to education, and helping ensure that parents who are working to improve their lives through education have the support they need to succeed.”
About Measure HH
Approved by voters in November 2024, Measure HH provides $3.5 billion to modernize district campuses, create workforce training facilities, replace aging infrastructure, improve student support services, and expand access to innovative learning environments. The measure builds upon the success of previous bond programs while maintaining strong fiscal accountability and taxpayer oversight.