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San Diego City College’s new affordable housing project remains under construction months after work began in the fall 2025 semester.
A sneak-peek celebration event gave students, faculty and local media a preview of the seven-story, all-electric mid-rise last November. It will bring 283 apartment-style homes and just under 800 student beds to San Diego City College.
Guests toured the planned spaces through virtual reality renderings, viewed architectural designs and spoke exclusively with project leaders, architects and student representatives.
Among those in attendance were San Diego Community College District Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management Joel Peterson, Board of Trustees President Geysil Arroyo and City College President Ricky Shabazz.
SDCCD Chancellor Greg Smith said the project highlights the district’s commitment to addressing housing affordability for students.
“In a city like San Diego where the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $2,300 a month,” Smith said, “this is going to be a huge investment for students to be able to have access to our educational programs, persist through to completion, and move on to upward socio-economic mobility.”
Developed in partnership with the Michaels Organization and designed by TCA Architects, the new housing community is said to offer below-market rental rates, making on-campus living more affordable and attainable for City College students.
The development will feature study rooms, tutoring spaces, a fitness and wellness center, outdoor courtyards, and a rooftop lounge area that overlooks downtown San Diego.
Swipe the images below to view renderings.
The $3.5 billion Measure HH bond, approved by San Diego voters in November 2024, is helping fund the development.
Measure HH provides resources to modernize SDCCD campuses, improve workforce training facilities, replace aging infrastructure and expand access to learning environments.
City Associated Student Government president Celina Martinez echoed students’ desires for more access to affordable housing on campus.
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“(The importance of) affordable housing is to live in the heart of San Diego without having to go through financial insecurity,” she said. “We expect students to live in an environment that is stable and secure without worrying about where to sleep at night, so we just see many great things happening to our students.”
The project is the first student housing development in SDCCD’s history. District officials say it underscores the district’s ongoing efforts to improve student outcomes through access, affordability and sustainability.
Construction at the Lot 5 parking site is anticipated to be completed by fall 2028.
Update, Feb. 24: Story updated to include audio embed.
