San Diego unveils drastic plan to build affordable housing on library properties

San Diego’s public libraries could soon become the landing spot for affordable housing units if a dreamed-up plan becomes reality.

The City has developed an Affordable Home Development Master Plan based on the Home Opportunity Framework, which evaluated 400 City-owned sites for residential developments on public land.

The framework initially identified 20 locations best suited for affordable home development, which boiled down to 11 most promising sites including seven public libraries in University Heights, University City, Allied Gardens, Mira Mesa, Linda Vista, North Park and Clairemont.

Authorities said that the master plan “establishes a high‑level framework for how the City could use its land to continue providing critical City services, such as libraries, while also identifying opportunities to add future housing.”

The City will now study these 11 sites and figure out how essential services can operate at each location along with the addition of new affordable homes.

“Any potential development at a candidate site with an existing library would include both a replacement library and housing, consistent with the Library Master Plan,” the City of San Diego said.

The City is seeking community feedback on the potential redevelopment of city-owned properties. Residents are invited to complete an online survey, which remains open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28.

In San Diego, City-owned properties fall under the regulations of California’s Surplus Land Act, which mandates that any public property that is no longer needed for municipal operations must first be offered for affordable housing development before considering other uses or private sales.

Not everyone is onboard with the idea and residents have already started questioning the city officials for not prioritizing libraries as much as affordable housing.

San Diego resident Sam Chandna said that the city must work on affordable housing, but raised concerns over including libraries in the redevelopment plans.

“Why does it have to be the one resource that serves the community, that can teach ESL classes, that can be a safe haven for kids after school,” Chandna told NBC.