Today, San Diego Unified School Board Trustee Shana Hazan announced that the San Diego Unified School District is moving forward with a landmark plan to develop nearly 2,500 units of affordable workforce housing for educators and staff across five district-owned properties. At board meetings on December 10, January 26, and January 27, Hazan and the Board of Education voted to authorize negotiations with five development partners whose proposals were selected from a competitive pool of 15 submissions.
This is a major step forward in ensuring district employees can live in the communities they serve and a milestone in the district’s goal of providing 10% of its workforce with affordable housing over the next decade.
“Our educators deserve to live in the communities they devote their lives to,” said Trustee Hazan. “When teachers, school staff, and support professionals can build stable lives in the neighborhoods where they work, our students, families, and communities all thrive. This plan is a transformational investment in the people who make our schools strong — and an investment in our communities — and I’m proud to support moving it forward.”
The district expects to receive significant long-term lease revenue, and all housing projects will be built at no cost to taxpayers while delivering community benefits, including childcare centers, a community pool, play spaces, dog parks, and a community garden — along with shops, restaurants, and improved pedestrian infrastructure — across the five proposed sites: Eugene Brucker Education Center, Revere Center, Fremont/Ballard Center, Instructional Media Center, and 2101 Commercial Street. The nearly 2,500 planned units, which include three and four bedroom apartments to accommodate staff with children, will more than double the total number of educator housing units statewide.
Hazan has been a leading champion of affordable workforce housing throughout her tenure. This effort builds on her record of pursuing innovative solutions for students and families. Most recently, she spearheaded the district’s Safe Parking Program to help families with children experiencing homelessness find safety, stability, and a path to permanent housing.
Since joining the Board, Hazan has been a driving force behind improvements in student wellness, academic achievement, and college and career readiness. Her leadership in implementing the Student Outcomes Focused Governance model has contributed to measurable gains in English Language Arts, mathematics, graduation rates, and college- and career-preparedness. Under her leadership, the district has increased accountability and transparency so that every decision it makes is centered on improving outcomes for kids.