New affordable housing opens in Clairemont, adding 228 units to community

Part of the new housing that has opened on Mt Etna Drive Photo courtesy of County News Center via YouTube Regional leaders on Tuesday marked the grand opening of two affordable housing developments in Clairemont for families with lower incomes The buildings with affordable units are the latest phase in the transformation of the former site of the San Diego County Sheriff s crime lab The aim is to develop an intergenerational area on Mt Etna Drive Mt Etna is part of a bigger story one where every week every ribbon that we cut we are seeing real progress in our shared effort to ensure that all San Diegans have a place to call home Mayor Todd Gloria mentioned The buildings Modica Apartments and Taormina Family Apartments were developed by Chelsea Resources Corporation along with the city and county of San Diego San Diego Housing Commission and others According to the developers rents will remain affordable for years for households with lower incomes This is a big step toward reducing San Diego s housing shortage by providing affordable high-quality housing for all of our city residents Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell announced The county leased the land to Chelsea for years and granted funding from its Innovative Housing Trust Fund In the current era we are seeing the second and third properties open doors at this location where land was offered by the county through its initiative to use excess county sites to develop affordable housing County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe announced This is also a first step toward various more projects to come A total of units at the Modica and Taormina properties are set aside for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities Amenities include roll-in showers grab bars reversible shower seats and vinyl corner guards among other features The San Diego Regional Center will provide services for the residents along with Southern California Housing Collaborative The housing commission awarded loans and rental vouchers for the projects A stable affordable place to call home is an essential foundation that families need to thrive at work in school with their healthcare and in region connection commission President and CEO Lisa Jones stated The Modica and Taormina developments will provide that foundation for decades to come for families with lower incomes In addition to the developments that opened Tuesday the Paul Downey Senior Residence opened in January at the Mt Etna Drive site providing affordable housing units for seniors with low income A fourth improvement at the site Terrasini Senior Apartments is under construction When finished it will consist of additional affordable rental homes for seniors with low income The new openings at Mt Etna add to affordable housing projects that were celebrated in the past week including Pacific Village in the Midway and Harrington Heights in the East Village