“A” Street Project: What’s Happening and Why It Matters

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The “A” Street Project is a proposed 8-story, 180-unit apartment complex slated for development in the heart of South Park/Golden Hill — one of San Diego’s most historic and community-centered neighborhoods.

While we support the need for housing, this project was introduced with minimal community input and bypasses established planning norms. Its scale and scope raise serious concerns about livability, infrastructure, and transparency.

Who is Behind the “A” Street Project?

This project is a project of CEDARSt, a Chicago-based developer that sees their ability to secure $40 million in equity capital with Bridge Investment as “underscoring the strength and opportunity of the San Diego market” Read more here

Add Your Name. Strengthen Our Voice.

Unsafe density is threatening the safety and character of Greater Golden Hill. Your signature helps us demand smarter planning, real safety reviews, and responsible development. Sign today—let city leaders know our community is watching.

Fire Safety & the “A” Street Project

Fire safety is a growing concern for residents in Greater Golden Hill—especially with large-scale developments like the proposed 8-story A Street project. In this video, you’ll hear directly from local residents and experts about the risks these dense, oversized buildings pose in a neighborhood with narrow streets, limited access, and aging infrastructure. As the Deputy Chief Fire Marshal has already raised concerns, it's critical that new developments prioritize emergency access and community safety—not just developer profits.

A Development Too Big for Our Neighborhood

Want to understand the full story behind the “A” Street high-rise project—and why neighbors are sounding the alarm?

This community-driven presentation breaks down the facts, exposes misleading claims, and highlights the real impacts this oversized development will have on our historic neighborhood, schools, infrastructure, and safety.

Inside you’ll find:

  • What the developer says vs. what’s actually planned

  • How loopholes are being used to bypass community input

  • The risk to fire safety, evacuation routes, and local schools

  • What we can do together to stop unsafe overdevelopment

👉 View the Full Presentation
PROXIMITY TO AEA ELEMENTARY
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Negative Impacts of the “A” Street Project

Community Process & Planning Violations

  • Lack of community engagement: Neighbors were not consulted early or meaningfully.

  • Zoning and loopholes: The developer is using “Complete Communities” incentives to exceed height and density limits, while offering little benefit to affordability — only 4% of the units (8 out of 180) are designated as affordable housing.
    It also bypasses the Greater Golden Hill Community Plan, which outlines smart development—3 stories in keeping with the historic scale and style of the neighborhood.

Mismatch with Neighborhood Scale and Design

  • Oversized design: The 8-story structure is incompatible with the surrounding 3–4 story architecture and community scale.

  • Displacement: The project threatens to displace working families by raising rents, reducing affordability, and accelerating gentrification.

Health & Safety Risks

This project is being fast-tracked under Mayor Gloria’s Complete Communities Executive Order, which allows expedited approval if a project “maintains protections for public health and safety and complies with applicable regulations.”

The A Street Development does the opposite — it introduces serious new risks to our neighborhood:

  • Overlooks a local elementary school: The project would tower over a nearby school playground, raising serious concerns around safety, privacy, and student well-being.

  • Flight path safety: Its proximity to the flight path raises risks, especially during low-visibility months like May and June.

  • High fire risk: The site borders Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, worsening evacuation challenges in a dense area with narrow roads.

  • Traffic and parking stress: Increased density will exacerbate traffic congestion and strain limited street parking.

  • Risks to walkability and street safety: Heavier traffic flow undermines pedestrian safety, especially for children and seniors.

  • Strain on aging infrastructure: The added population will put additional pressure on already overburdened utilities and emergency access routes.

Limited Affordability

  • Not truly affordable: Fewer than 8% of units meet affordability standards — offering little relief to those most in need.

Community Response

Residents are organizing to pause this development until it can be fully understood and properly evaluated. We’re calling on elected officials and city planners to prioritize meaningful input, equity, and sustainability.

How You Can Take Action

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28th Street Canyon