San Diego is taking another step toward tackling its long-standing housing crisis with the announcement of The Becker, a new affordable housing community now under construction in Mission Valley. This 190-unit development is the first phase of the Riverwalk San Diego master-planned community, which will eventually bring over 4,000 homes and a new trolley station to the area.
The project is part of the city’s Bridge to Home initiative, which just received an additional $15 million in funding—$10 million from former redevelopment funds and $5 million directly from the City of San Diego. This latest round of funding will support 24 affordable housing projects and help build more than 2,000 affordable homes across the city.
Why It Matters
Rebecca Louie, CEO of Wakeland Housing (the developer behind The Becker), highlights the importance of building affordable housing in job-rich areas like Mission Valley.
“We’re in a huge housing crisis here in San Diego. If you look around Mission Valley—retail, hotels, hospitals—these are jobs filled by people who can’t afford to live here.”
The Becker is designed to serve those workers, with units targeted toward low-income households. Move-ins are expected to begin in 2027.
Barriers to Building
San Diego’s housing shortage is no accident. As local journalist Bella Ross explained in a recent interview with KPBS, multiple factors have contributed to the worsening affordability crisis:
- Outdated zoning ordinances that favor single-family homes
- Regulatory barriers, like the now-reformed California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- Opposition from residents resistant to neighborhood change
- High labor and construction costs
Much of the region is zoned for single-family housing, limiting the potential for higher-density, transit-friendly developments like Riverwalk.
A Shift Toward Density
To address the crisis, lawmakers in Sacramento have begun upzoning reforms to make it easier to build multifamily housing in existing neighborhoods. These changes aim to reduce sprawl, ease traffic, and create walkable, transit-connected communities.
Ross emphasized that even when new housing developments are luxury projects, they can still help stabilize rents in the surrounding area by increasing the overall housing supply.
“While it may seem counterintuitive, even luxury developments can help lower or stabilize rents compared to areas where no new housing is built at all.”
Looking Ahead
The Becker represents more than just 190 affordable units—it symbolizes a shift toward smart, inclusive growth in San Diego. With additional funding now secured and major reforms underway, the city is moving—albeit slowly—toward real, systemic change in how and where it builds housing.
