2 SITES EYED FOR HOMELESS HOUSING

S.D. considering closed Serra Mesa library, park and ride in Scripps Ranch

SAN DIEGO

The closed Serra Mesa Library could become housing for homeless youths and a Scripps Ranch park and ride could become housing for homeless veterans and seniors under a plan announced by San Diego city officials Friday.

“There is a great need in our community for housing that gives folks a real chance to have a place of their own, but also the support system they need to stay housed,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said in a news release. “This public-private partnership will help transform these vacant city-owned properties into opportunities that will change the lives of so many of our fellow San Diegans for the better.”

The two sites are among eight publicly owned vacant properties the city identified as potential housing opportunities in May 2019, and both would have supportive services to help tenants overcome issues related to homelessness.

Community Housing Works has been conditionally awarded the bid to develop the 0.336-acre Serra Mesa Library site at Sandrock Road and Hurlbut Street into 26 units for chronically homeless youth and young adults. YMCA Youth and Family Services would provide on-site case management with a targeting opening date of August 2023.

San Diego Community Housing Corporation has been conditionally awarded the bid to develop the 1.42acre Scripps Ranch Park and Ride at 12016 Scripps Highland Drive into 60 units for veterans and seniors. San Diego Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, better known as San Diego PACE, would provide on-site case management with a targeted opening date is January 2024.

The city issued competitive requests for proposals to develop the properties in February, and the City Council may consider the two leases and development plans in the coming months.

“After a comprehensive review,