Harrington Heights
East Village // Fully affordable housing development in northern East Village
Harrington Heights Rendering. (Royal Property Management)
Harrington Heights is a 15-floor, 273-unit affordable housing building in the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, on the north side of Broadway between 13th and 14th streets. The building occupies the site of a used car sales lot.
Harrington Heights was developed by Carlsbad-based Chelsea Investment Corporation, and designed by San Diego-based architecture firm JWDA. The design is very contemporary, with grayscale volumes cascading up the building’s facade. A dash of color is visible in the terracotta shade structures on non-north-facing windows.
Harrington Heights, ground level. (JWDA Architects)
270 of the 273 apartments at Harrington Heights are guaranteed to remain affordable for “at least 55 years for households earning 25 percent to 50 percent of San Diego’s Area Median Income, or approximately $37,200 to $74,450 per year for a three-person household.” In addition, 40 of those 270 apartments “are set aside for individuals with developmental disabilities.” The final 3 apartments are for building employees.
The building was financed in multiple ways. The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) loaned $8 million to support the development. The City of San Diego loaned $10.1 million. The California Department of Housing and Community Development facilitated a $39.7 million loan from multiple sources. The California Department of Developmental Services loaned $4.25 million - “the department’s largest award in the state for a development with units set aside for individuals with developmental disabilities.” The San Diego Housing Commission also “authorized the issuance of up to $68.7 million in tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and $36.2 million in taxable bonds toward the development of Harrington Heights.”
Harrington Heights, side view. (JWDA Architects)
To assist in rent payment for Harrington Heights residents, SDHC also awarded 115 federal rental housing vouchers: 75 of which were designated for households that have experienced homelessness, and the remaining 40 for those who are “extremely low income” but have not experienced homelessness. Additionally, Harrington Heights is partnered with the Alpha Project, a San Diego-based nonprofit that will operate the outreach, recovery, and sustainability programs within the building.
The building was built by Level 10 Construction, and was opened on October 8, 2025 to much fanfare including an appearance from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
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SOURCES
https://www.jwdainc.com/post/harrington-heights-celebrates-grand-opening
https://sdhc.org/news-release/harrington-heights-grand-opening/