The former campus of Central Elementary School in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood is poised for a transformative redevelopment. What was once a bustling hub of elementary education will soon become a beacon of affordable housing, thanks to a $166 million project spearheaded by Affirmed Housing. This plan aims to create 270 apartments for low- to middle-income families.
Pending final approval by the San Diego Unified School District, the redevelopment of the 5.68-acre site at 4063 and 4135 Polk Ave. will also include a secondary $3 million project for senior housing. Following the construction of the family apartments, this phase will add 57 apartments designed specifically for seniors. Both projects are designed by Pleasanton, Calif.-based DAHLIN Architecture.
The site will offer housing and integrate community-oriented spaces. A portion of the permanent school structures will be redesigned for the TRACE Alternative School program, which serves young adults aged 18 to 22 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, the development will feature meeting spaces for local nonprofits and an indoor and outdoor area for the Fern Street Circus performing group.
The project at Central Elementary exemplifies a broader trend highlighted by Sean Whitacre, principal and senior architect at DAHLIN. “We’re seeing a lot of opportunities to develop excess properties owned by school districts,” Whitacre noted in a San Diego Business Journal report. With declining enrollment rates in public schools statewide, school districts are exploring ways to monetize surplus properties while addressing critical community needs, such as affordable housing for teachers and staff.
The redevelopment plan emphasizes community integration. An 80-foot-wide walkway/plaza will bisect the site, providing space for a farmer’s market, outdoor activities by the Fern Street Circus, and other community events. The family housing, a five-story, 250,000-square-foot structure, will include a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments, each designed to cater to families earning between 30 percent and 100 percent of the Area Median Income.
The senior housing component will feature studio and one-bedroom apartments, along with a two-bedroom manager’s apartment. The site’s strategic location enhances its appeal: it is adjacent to a transit center on University Avenue and connected to Teralta Park via an existing bike path. Teralta Park, notable for being the first park built as a freeway cap in California, adds to the site’s recreational value.
If financing and final school district approval are secured, construction could commence in 2026, with completion anticipated by 2028. The project will be constructed by HA Builder Group, an El Cajon-based general contractor with extensive experience in similar developments.
The redevelopment of Central Elementary’s former campus is a promising example of innovative urban planning and community development. By converting an underutilized school property into a multifaceted housing and community space, the project addresses pressing housing needs while preserving the site’s historical significance and enhancing its utility for future generations.
