Tracking Irresponsible Development
Columbia Street High-Rise Project
Project Location
Address: 3677 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA
Neighborhood: Middletown / Mission Hills Hillside
Project Overview
A corporate developer has proposed a 14-story, 172-foot tall apartment building on the narrow hillside of Columbia Street in San Diego’s historic Middletown neighborhood. The project would include 161 apartment units but seeks to bypass key zoning and safety regulations.
Why This Project Matters
NFABC is tracking this project as a case study in irresponsible urban development that puts investor returns ahead of neighborhood safety, affordability, and long-term livability.
Top Concerns With This Development
-
The developer is seeking multiple waivers to exceed base zoning requirements for height and setbacks, ignoring existing planning rules and the surrounding scale of the neighborhood.
-
The plan removes 3 existing affordable units and replaces them with 155 market-rate apartments and just 6 "affordable" units. The developer may relocate these off-site—offering no actual benefit to the local community.
-
Columbia Street is a one-lane, divided road. According to the International Fire Code, this street does not meet minimum standards for emergency response access. Yet, the developer is requesting exceptions.
-
The project includes no parking for residents, motorcycles, or bicycles. This will severely burden an area already struggling with parking and traffic bottlenecks.
-
The City of San Diego is enabling this development to move forward without public review, favoring developer profits over the concerns of residents and small businesses.
-
The project is openly marketed to investors with a promise of "exceptional returns"—not as a solution to housing or neighborhood well-being.
"This is like squeezing a full-grown adult into Barbie clothes—it's just not going to fit."
— Megan, San Diego resident
"We’ve lived here for generations. This is not what responsible development looks like."
— Anthony F. Giacalone, Resident
What you can do
Sign the Petition: Change.org Petition →
Email Your Elected Officials: Let Councilmembers Jennifer Campbell, Joe LaCava, and Mayor Todd Gloria know where you stand.
Attend a Public Meeting: Stay tuned to our Events page for updates.
Spread the Word: Share this page with your neighbors and community groups.
Our Vision
We support responsible, community-first development that preserves the character of our neighborhoods, improves safety, and adds real affordable housing—without exploiting legal loopholes or silencing resident voices.