The 126-unit Kindred community will bring affordable intergenerational housing to the heart of downtown San Diego’s Cortez Hill neighborhood
SAN DIEGO (April 29, 2025) – BRIDGE Housing, the leading nonprofit affordable housing owner and developer on the West Coast, joined San Diego County leaders, Mayor Todd Gloria, other dignitaries and community members today to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new intergenerational affordable housing community in San Diego.
Kindred will provide 125 affordable apartments and one manager’s unit in the city’s dynamic Cortez Hill neighborhood. The transit-oriented community will serve as a gateway to the Central District Core on Sixth Avenue, providing easy access to San Diego Trolley and MTS bus lines and connecting residents to job centers, schools, parks, cultural centers and other amenities. BRIDGE Housing is developing the eight-story development on the County-owned site of the former Family Court of San Diego, which was relocated to make the site available for much-needed housing.
“Access to affordable housing helps children succeed in school, empowers adults to contribute to their neighborhoods, and allows seniors to age with dignity. But the cost of housing in San Diego is simply out of reach for too many individuals and families,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “We are proud to break ground on BRIDGE Housing’s 13th affordable community in this thriving region, in collaboration with the County of San Diego and other partners. Providing these high-quality homes and resident services will meaningfully advance the mission that has guided us for the past 42 years.”
“Kindred represents a model for how we can meet our region’s housing needs while honoring the dignity and humanity of every resident,” said County of San Diego Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe. “By creating affordable homes for families with low incomes and permanent supportive housing for older adults who have experienced homelessness, we are turning public investment into meaningful impact. The transformation of this former courthouse site underscores our commitment to addressing the housing crisis with compassion and fostering long-term stability for our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Kindred will provide 62 one-, two-, and three- bedroom apartments that are affordable to households earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). In addition, 63 one-bedroom units will be reserved for formerly homeless seniors supported by the PACE program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which provides medical and social services to enable older adults to remain in their homes. Services for all residents and the PACE program will be provided by San Ysidro Health, a local non-profit providing innovative care in San Diego County since 1969.
“By transforming a former public facility into 126 affordable homes for families and formerly homeless seniors, we’re showing what’s possible when local government and nonprofit partners like BRIDGE Housing work together to address our housing crisis,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Every new home we create brings us closer to the San Diego we know is possible: one where everyone has a roof over their head at a price they can afford.”
Financing for Kindred has been provided by a range of sources, including the County of San Diego, San Diego Housing Commission, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, Greystone Housing Impact Investors, and Western Alliance Bank. The architect is AVRP Studios, and the general contractor is VCC Construction Corporation.
“The San Diego Housing Commission looks forward to Kindred Apartments becoming an affordable, intergenerational community that will help our community thrive,” SDHC President and CEO Lisa Jones said. “The rental homes they can afford at Kindred Apartments will be life-changing for seniors who have experienced homelessness and families struggling financially in San Diego’s high-cost rental market. With our loan and rental housing vouchers supporting this development, SDHC values the collaboration among many partners working together to make this project a reality.”
“We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to achieve financial stability, and we know that’s hard to do without access to affordable housing,” said Lisa Gutierrez, Affordable Housing business development director at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, the community development financing subsidiary of U.S. Bank. “We’re proud to be involved as equity investor and lender on this project, helping ensure those who live here will have the comforts of home, in a safe and affordable environment.”
San Diego County is facing a significant affordable housing crisis, with a single person needing to earn nearly three times the minimum wage, or $47.67 an hour, to afford the average monthly rent, according to the San Diego Housing Federation. Kindred will increase BRIDGE Housing’s impact in the San Diego region to more than 2,000 affordable apartments open or under development.
Amenities at Kindred include outdoor courtyards, ground floor community areas and management offices, and approximately 4,400 square feet of commercial space. Situated along one of San Diego’s major thoroughfares, the building has been designed to match the scale and character of the surrounding community. The Cortez Hill neighborhood is a vibrant, walkable residential area near many highly sought-after amenities including public transportation, Balboa Park, museums, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo.
“At BRIDGE, we believe that all people regardless of income deserve a safe, affordable place to call home,” said BRIDGE Housing Board Chair Ken Novack. “This groundbreaking is a testament to the fact that, even in one of the nation’s costliest housing markets, we can make a difference when we work with committed partners like the County and City of San Diego toward a common goal.”
About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing Corporation is a leading nonprofit owner, developer, and manager of high-quality affordable housing on the West Coast, with a mission to strengthen communities and improve lives. Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has participated in the creation of more than 22,000 affordable homes in California, Oregon and Washington, with a total development cost of $5.8 billion. Its current $4 billion portfolio totals more than 14,000 apartments that are home to more than 30,000 residents, with more than 10,000 additional units in the development and acquisition pipelines. More than 2,000 units are open or under development in San Diego County. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.
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