It’s hard to miss the sight of cranes and construction crews at work Downtown and for a good reason. The area has seen a recent spike in new housing projects after the City of San Diego took action to streamline permitting and expand incentives to address the regional housing crisis.

In Downtown, 2024 was a banner year for housing. Across five projects, nearly 1,900 homes were completed, making it the strongest year for housing Downtown since 2021 and more than double the number of homes in 2023. Across nine projects currently under construction, another 1,696 homes are on the way, with even more presently under review by the City’s Development Services Department.

“San Diego has been a leader in advancing housing reforms that have resulted in thousands of new homes all across the City,” said Mayor Todd Gloria.  “Nowhere has this been more evident than in Downtown San Diego, where during the past four years, dozens of new Downtown-specific pro-housing policies have been implemented, making it easier to build more housing.”

Over the past decade, more homes – and more income-restricted affordable homes – have been constructed Downtown than in any other community in San Diego, largely because Downtown has a number of unique construction incentives. Through these programs, most development in Downtown is allowed by right, with no limits on density or height. To find out more about these housing incentive programs visit the Downtown Development Toolkit.

“It’s important that we continue to innovate City policies to make it easier to build housing, employment opportunities and enhance public facilities in Downtown San Diego” said Brian Schoenfisch, Deputy Director of the Development Services Department’s Urban Innovation Division. “The City will continue to prioritize the creation of more housing and new public amenities in an effort to enhance the urban fabric of Downtown.”

Currently, Downtown has more than 34,000 homes, including more than 5,700 income-restricted affordable homes. Another important factor in Downtown’s success has been the construction of new improvements that enhance residents’ experience, including a comprehensive system of cycleways and greenway streets, as well as several new parks and public spaces. Downtown’s largest park, East Village Green, is set to be completed by the end of 2025.

For more on development, and to keep up efforts to make San Diego’s Downtown vibrant for all of us, please visit the City’s Downtown Development page.