The Wolf is At The Door: New Housing Developments May Be Closer Than You Think
- Susan Heavilin
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
The County News Center published an article yesterday titled "Additional Affordable Housing Headed to South Bay".
"Since 2017, the County has invested more than $334 million into affordable housing, using excess land, its Innovative Housing Trust Fund alongside other state, federal, and local funding sources administered by the County. Those funds have helped open doors to over 3,400 homes with 2,600 more on the way."—Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office
If you didn't catch it, the County is nearly MATCHING its current housing pocketbook with new "affordable housing."
Is Affordable Housing Really "Affordable"?
Here are the average rents in San Diego County. Would you call this "affordable"?
Can the avevage high school or college graduate afford these rates? Lets see, a one bedroom apartment would could you $27,600 a year. Would that be do-able along with food, gas, utilities, clothing and entertainment on a first year salary?
According to statistics, the average first year salary is $34-35,000 ($16.44 hour) in San Diego. I guess you could survive if you rode your bike to work, didn't have a pet, ate one meal a day in the dark and only watched Netflix. Forget having a girlfriend, you can't afford it.
The average family (3-bedroom apartment) would pay approximately $60,000 a year to have a roof overhead. Not much left over at the end of the month.
The cost of living in these places doesn't seem that economical. I've heard of plenty of 30- somethings moving home with Mom and Dad.
This could explain why you see so many houses around your neighborhood with five or more vehicles. No one can afford their own place. Many homes have become multi-generational living spaces.
So the prices are astronomical and what are you getting if you do pay the price . . . NOTHING. You're not building any equity to put toward your own starter home one day. Your landlord is making all the big bucks.
So is the government really helping you or grabbing every bit of money you can possibly make?
So Long California!
Many people just throw in the towel and move to a more inexpensive state. California ranked second after New York for leaving.
Here are some numbers from a moving company:
County-Restricted Affordable Housing
So, to repeat, the plan is to nearly double the current housing. You've probably noticed all the six-story housing going up in Mission Valley and Eastlake, to name just two.
So why am I on a rant? Above is the most current map for Affordable Housing. The teal color is existing housing, the tan color is under construction, the purple is the ever-expanding City of Chula Vista and that little uncolored area is Bonita-Sunnyside.
The Wolf is at the Door . . .
Chula Vista has already started gobbling up our little rural town. The thunderhead in the center of Bonita-Sunnyside is the beautiful Rohr Park which is under much discussion right now. Parks and Recreation Director Frank Carson—who is in charge of the renovation of the park—has already stated that he didn't care about our community or its needs, that his responsibility was to the residents of Chula Vista.
Bonita-Sunnyside is the little bit of South Bay the article is talking about . . . the last piece before you get into the unbuildable Mt. Miguel mountain range.
Unless you are planning to move to the city—or rather have the city move to you—residents need to be on the alert. We are the prime real-estate all the urban areas are interested in acquiring.
Read the County's article, stay vigilant.
We will need to be watchful and keep pushing back if we are to retain the last bit of our unspoiled, bucolic lifestyle.
Why so much buliding? every 1 already left!