SDSU, Chelsea Investment break ground on the first affordable housing at SDSU Mission Valley
Addison will be a 126-unit development of one- to three-bedroom apartments; eligible SDSU faculty and staff will have priority access.
What was once a parking lot is becoming a neighborhood. San Diego State University and Chelsea Investment Corporation (CIC) have broken ground on Addison, a 126-unit affordable housing development at SDSU Mission Valley, advancing the university’s decade-long vision to reimagine 80 acres along the San Diego River.
As the first affordable housing development at SDSU Mission Valley, Addison is located east of Snapdragon Stadium in the existing Orange Lot and will offer a range of one- to three-bedroom apartments within a walkable neighborhood at the heart of one of San Diego’s most ambitious urban redevelopment efforts. The project will also feature public art and is being designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, underscoring the university’s commitment to sustainability.
Addison will remain affordable for 55 years. Across all 126 units, 99 will be reserved for households with incomes averaging 50% of the San Diego Area Median Income — around $82,700 for a four-person household in 2025. Other units will be reserved for households averaging 30% and 60% of AMI. In partnership with the San Diego Regional Center and California’s Department of Developmental Services, a total of 20 units will be for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Addison also marks a landmark moment for the California State University system as one of the first affordable housing developments advancing under the 2024 Faculty and Employee Housing Act. Authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D, San Diego), university employees who meet the income requirements will be prioritized for tenancy in Addison, which will offer high-quality, affordable apartment homes near the transit-oriented community just three trolley stops from the SDSU campus.
“Addison represents a defining moment for SDSU Mission Valley and for our university,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “This is where our vision becomes reality; a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood where students, university employees and the broader San Diego community can live, work and thrive together as we continue to build and serve this region for generations to come.”
As part of the purchase of the land from the City of San Diego in 2020, SDSU committed to developing ten percent of the units on site as income-qualified affordable housing.
“San Diego needs more housing, and that means building in places connected to jobs, transit, education, and opportunity,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Addison at SDSU Mission Valley is exactly the kind of housing our city needs — affordable homes in a growing, transit-connected community that will help more San Diegans afford to stay here and build their futures.”
Chelsea Investment Corporation, a San Diego-based developer with decades of experience, is leading the project. “We’re proud to be part of SDSU’s bold vision for Mission Valley and excited to help bring this new community to life,” said Charles Schmid, CEO, Chelsea Investment Corporation. “This project is a catalyst for the vibrant, connected neighborhood that’s taking shape here. At Chelsea, we believe that great communities start with great homes, and Addison is going to be something truly special for San Diego.”
Addison joins a growing wave of development at SDSU Mission Valley as AvalonBay Communities broke ground on their market-rate residential development site in August 2025. To support construction of the new development, portions of the Orange Lot are fenced off for construction. Stadium parking will remain available in other sections of the lot, and visitors are encouraged to make use of the trolley on event days for a smoother commute.
First occupancy is expected as early as 2028.
At full build out, SDSU Mission Valley will include 80 acres of parks and open space, up to 4,600 market-rate and affordable housing units, 1.6 million sq. ft. of research and innovative space, 95,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and a hotel.
Additional information about the development is available on the SDSU Mission Valley website.
