Sol Haus
07.02.2026 // New apartment complex on a twenty-year vacant lot
Maxwell Gergen, Writer & Advocacy Lead
Render from Kire Builders
In the neighborhood of Lincoln Park in South East San Diego, a new apartment complex is taking shape. Sol Haus, consisting of four buildings and 147 total units, is a new take on a garden-style apartment complex. The developer, Kire Builders, focuses on "middle density” projects in National City and San Diego, and with Sol Haus is developing an apartment complex that looks towards the sun.
Built on the site of a former YWCA property on the corner of Euclid and Logan Avenues, which has historically been an ignored corner of San Diego, the original building on the property was demolished in the mid-to-late 2000’s before being abandoned for decades. By the end of 2025, however, construction of the first apartment building finally started.
Construction at Sol Haus (Maxwell Gergen / BuildSD) 06/10/26
Kire Builders partnered with the CONAM group on this development, and together they were awarded a 35 million dollar loan from the JP Morgan workforce housing development loan program for its construction. This is because Sol Haus is 100% affordable, with 6 units at 60% AMI and the remaining 141 units at 80% AMI, all of which are dead restricted for 55 years—thus allowing it to qualify for California’s Property Tax Welfare Exemption. So instead of paying typical accessed value taxes, Sol Haus would be exempt from ad valorem property taxes, functionally exempting the development from the bulk of its assessed tax value. As rents in Lincoln Park are lower than the San Diego average, 80% AMI housing is likely the best path for a development like this regardless.
Image from JP Morgan workforce housing development, note this development is not in Downtown
With a unit mix of studios, one, and two bedroom units, Sol Haus is designed primarily for middle income families and individuals, which is a market that Kire Builders specializes in. They have built several apartment and townhome style buildings across National City—however, Sol Haus and Platform 25 are their first developments in the City of San Diego proper.
Both developments utilize recent changes to the city’s zoning laws. While Platform 25 uses Complete Communities, Sol Haus uses the Affordable Housing Permit Now Program. Signed in 2023 as an executive order by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, this program allows 100% affordable developments, supportive housing, or homeless shelters to have a streamlined 30 day time limit on the permitting process. This means that the development must be permitted or given corrective action within 30 days by San Diego's planning department. This applies to building permits, engineering permits, as well any ministerial permits such as grading. In this case, Sol Haus used this program for things as simple as lot line adjustments, to building permits, and everything in between.
Construction at Sol Haus (Maxwell Gergen / BuildSD) 03/15/26
Sol Haus is designed with one prominent goal in mind, to maximize solar power. Sol Haus “looks towards the sun” literally by sloping their roofs in a sawtooth pattern to the south to maximize access for direct sunlight all day long. This is a proven strategy to reduce electricity costs, according to National Core, an affordable housing developer. Their developments can “generate enough electricity to provide all the power needs of residents and common areas” which dramatically lowers operations costs. Kire Builders is doing the same here with Sol Haus.
Render from Kire Builders
Another element of the design is the layout: while there are no publicly available plans as of writing, there are 4 buildings, 1 of which is 3 stories, the rest 4 the layout of the buildings creates two large open spaces, akin to a garden apartment complex. These courtyards will have lots of community space with seating, trees, other greenery, and small pieces of exercise equipment. On the edge of the property is a pool, hot tub and clubhouse on the narrow frontage with Euclid Avenue. The common area and ground floor retail space abuts Logan Avenue.
Render by Studio E Architects
The location is ideal for public transit. The corner of Euclid and Logan has access to many frequent bus routes: routes 3, 12, and 13, the latter of which is the highest ridership bus route in San Diego. There is also access to the relatively new Euclid Avenue Bike Lanes. In the future this corner will feature a stop on the 625 Rapid, a new MTS Rapid line going from southern Chula Vista to SDSU.
Sol Haus is a new take on a garden style apartment complex, with a great location, working class prices, and many great amenities, Kire Builders is using many new laws and policies to make this development possible: filling in an often overlooked corner of the city.
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SOURCES:
https://kirebuildersinc.com/portfolio/147-san-diego/