Cheaper rent, a reduced lease term and a “significant investment” in necessary improvements to the property are on the table, a spokeswoman for the owner told NBC 7Plans for the controversial 1,000-bed homeless shelter proposed for the Middletown area are expected to be discussed by San Diego City Council Monday in a closed session, after the building's owner adjusted his terms.
"A reminder: It is more expensive to leave folks unsheltered than it is to pay, to make the investment in facilities like this one …," Gloria added. Charles Modica, the city's Independent Budget Analyst, shared in an interview that, at the time, his office reviewed the project as part of new checks and balances put in place following the city's failure to conduct sufficient due diligence in previous property acquisitions.
Hamm realized the multi-level site, with indoor and outdoor space, in a primarily industrial area, could be an opportunity for the city to have a long-term homeless shelter. Mayor Todd Gloria announced a plan to create San Diego's largest long-term shelter for people experiencing homelessness, with a capacity for more than 1,000 people. And, a sex trafficking sting conducted last month in San Diego and National City led to 46 arrests, the California Attorney General's Office announced. Plus, the Chula Vista City Council is holding a special meeting to fill the vacant District 4 seat.
Rolland added that, once a “final deal is reached, it will go on the agenda for the next meeting.” He also said, “In addition to our work to prevent homelessness and build more affordable housing, opening a large-scale homelessness service complex, such as what the mayor is proposing for the commercial property at Kettner and Vine, is a critical piece of a successful comprehensive strategy aimed at getting upward of 1,000 more people off San Diego streets and on a path to stable housing.