The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce has called on the city of San Diego to speed up the processing of affordable housing permits. The organization released a 90-day housing action plan on Jan. 28.
The chamber announced that increasing the availability of affordable work-force housing will be its primary goal in 2005.
In addition to speeding up permits, the chamber’s plan calls on the city to reform regulatory procedures, such as providing additional funds and personnel to expand the city’s Affordable Housing Expedite Program, float a bond to help fund critical infrastructure projects and create a housing “czar” or commissioner position in the mayor’s office that would oversee housing issues.
The chamber unveiled its plan Friday afternoon at the corner of 11th Avenue and Broadway, the site of the future “Smart Corner” , a planned 19-story, mixed-use, transit-oriented development project that will play a role in linking Balboa Park to San Diego Bay , one of the city’s goals.
The chamber specifically requested that City Councilman Scott Peters and Mayor Dick Murphy consider the housing plan for discussion and action.
Heather Bergman
