Project rendering (Rodriguez Associates)

Within the cliffs of central Chula Vista’s Telegraph Canyon—an area which has long been short of affordable housing options—a brand new affordable development has been proposed. The Paseo Del Rey Apartments is a planned four-story 96-unit apartment complex, with 48 of the 96 units designed to house those experiencing homelessness.

The project originated in March 2024, when the City of Chula Vista issued a request for proposals for a permanent supportive housing project in the city. Wakeland Housing and Development took up the offer and proposed a 96-unit affordable development on a three-acre site at the corner of Telegraph Canyon Road and Paseo Del Rey, originally occupied by the Canyon Community Church founded in 2005. While the Canyon Community Church eventually ceased existing as an organization, the church building itself still stands and is now affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

In a City of Chula Vista staff report from June 11, 2024, the City approved up to $4 million in funding for the project. An additional $8 million was awarded by the County of San Diego in January of that year. The site is located in a “low-resource area,” with much of Chula Vista west of and adjacent to the I-805 historically consisting of much lower-income communities compared to newer eastern communities like Otay Ranch and Eastlake. However, the site also has access to some amenities, with both the Canyon Plaza shopping center and Paseo Del Rey park nearby; as well as access to public transit via MTS Route 704 at nearby Oleander Avenue.

Site plan (Rodriguez Associates)

As part of this planned development, supportive services such as mental healthcare, substance dependency treatment, medication management, and more would be provided to residents in need. The existing church will most likely remain as-is according to the site plan.

The most notable thing about this project is that the surrounding area suffers from a lack of affordable housing, with the city report noting that the only other affordable development nearby is the 132-unit senior-oriented Villa Serena Apartments near the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. Building this project will help fill in that gap and provide families and individuals in need with housing that they can afford.

As of writing in April 2026, it is currently unknown when construction on the project will begin.

Further reading

City of Chula Vista Citizen Access -  Record BR25-0386

City of Chula Vista - Approve up to $4 Million for a Permanent Supportive Housing Development to be Located at 610 Paseo Del Rey

California Tax Credit Allocation Committee -  2026 AFFH Mapping Tool