News Summary
San Diego City officials are moving forward with plans to sell or lease the old Central Library at 820 E Street, following a unanimous vote to designate it as surplus land. In accordance with the California Surplus Land Act, developers must include affordable housing in their proposals. The library, which closed in 2013 and has been a temporary homeless shelter, is recognized as a historic resource. The city anticipates starting the solicitation process for redevelopment proposals in the summer of 2025.
San Diego is stepping forward with plans to market the old Central Library located at Eighth Avenue and E Street for either sale or lease. This decision follows a unanimous 3-0 vote by the Land Use and Housing Committee to designate the library at 820 E Street as surplus land. This designation indicates that the city no longer requires the facility and eliminates other potential uses, such as transforming it into solely low-income housing. As a result, San Diego City officials are preparing to sell or lease the site for redevelopment, complying with the California Surplus Land Act.
The Surplus Land Act mandates that any bidders for the property must allocate at least 25% of proposed residential units for affordable housing, specifically targeting low- and very-low-income families whose income is 80% or less of the area median income. Although members of the committee showed support for Mayor Todd Gloria’s initiative to sell the library, there was hesitance in granting him the authority to pursue bids without further discussions on policy. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera highlighted the need for more guidance from the city council regarding the notice of availability document for potential bidders.
The old Central Library, which opened its doors in 1954 and closed permanently in 2013, is recognized as a locally designated historic resource. It has been utilized intermittently as a temporary homeless shelter beginning in 2023. Over time, various alternative uses for the library have been considered, such as a cancelled proposal for a 42-story apartment tower by Bosa Development, which was shelved in 2018. Additionally, city officials assessed the option of converting the library into a homeless shelter but deemed it nonviable due to estimated renovation costs of $86.8 million.
The request from the mayor to market this library property originates from March 2023 as part of a broader strategy to monetize San Diego’s Civic Center real estate. Initially, council members suggested grouping the library with surrounding Civic Center properties for marketing purposes; however, city staff recommended evaluating the library as an independent entity. Unfortunately, other Civic Center lots, which were offered under the Surplus Land Act, garnered no interest from prospective developers.
Once the full council grants approval, San Diego will begin the process of soliciting interest in the old Central Library in accordance with the Surplus Land Act. The law, amended in 2019, prioritizes affordable housing in the sale or lease of government-owned land. The solicitation process starts with a notice of availability, which triggers a 60-day period for interested bidders to submit their redevelopment proposals. Following this period, the city is obligated to engage in a 90-day negotiation with the respondents, focusing on those providing the highest number of affordable housing units.
The notice of availability for the old Central Library’s redevelopment is anticipated to be published in the summer of 2025, pending discussions within the council. Proposed conditions within the notice may include adherence to guidelines for redeveloping historic properties, due to the library’s historical significance. Councilmember Raul Campillo has indicated a preference for the inclusion of on-site childcare and larger residential units aimed at families in the redevelopment plans.
Real estate analyst Gary London has raised concerns about imposing too many conditions on redevelopment in the current weak real estate market, noting that such constraints may deter potential bids. The city council is expected to discuss overall development obligations as part of the bidding process to ensure continued interest in the project. Council members Kent Lee, Elo-Rivera, and Campillo supported the decision to classify the library as surplus land, while Councilmember Vivian Moreno was absent during the committee vote.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego Preparing to Put Downtown’s Old Central Library on the Market
- San Diego Magazine: San Diego Downtown Future Revitalization Projects
- NBC San Diego: Mayor Gloria Proposes Locations for Long-Term Homeless Shelters
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Homelessness
- Fox 5 San Diego: San Diego Considers New Homeless Shelter Options
- Google Search: San Diego Central Library
