June 8, 2026
Grand Opening Celebrates 79 New Affordable Rental Apartments in Hillcrest
The San Diego Housing Commission authorized Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds to support the development of The Bel
SAN DIEGO, CA — The grand opening of The Bel, built in collaboration with the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC), celebrated a new development that provides opportunities for households like Justin and his partner to afford to live in the Hillcrest community, as housing costs rise.
“The rents are becoming higher and higher and higher for people that actually work in the neighborhood, and we’re getting priced out. Most of the people that work here can’t afford to live here,” Justin said. “It’s meant everything to us to have a place here at The Bel because, again, we almost had to leave San Diego, and Hillcrest is our community. It’s where our friends are, where our life is, where our work is.”
Rise Urban Partners LLC, doing business as Trestle Build, developed The Bel, which consists of 79 affordable rental apartments and one manager’s unit.
“I really appreciate the fact that the apartments here are affordable, and deeply affordable at that, and that fills such a need in our city,” said City Councilmember Stephen Whitburn, whose district includes The Bel. “When I hear from residents in my district and around the city, the biggest concern is the cost of living, and the biggest component of people’s cost of living is the cost of housing. The Bel is going to make it affordable for many people to afford housing.”
SDHC authorized the issuance of $21.6 million in tax-exempt Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds toward the financing to develop The Bel. The San Diego City Council, in its role as the Housing Authority of the City of San Diego, approved the bonds. SDHC, the City of San Diego, and the Housing Authority are not financially liable for the bonds. Private sources of funds, such as revenue from the development, are used to repay the bonds.
“At the San Diego Housing Commission, we want everyone in the City of San Diego to have a home they can afford,” SDHC Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development Colin Miller said. “The Bel makes that possible for decades to come for families with very low income in our community by providing studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that will remain affordable at 30 to 50 percent of Area Median Income for the next 55 years.”
City of San Diego housing policies contributed to making the development of The Bel possible, including the City’s Complete Communities, off-site density bonus, and Affordable Housing Permit Now programs.
“Complete Communities, at its core, is about being able to walk to work, to walk to the grocery store, to be able to walk to school. Instead of spending time in your car in traffic, spending time with your loved ones after work,” said David Allen, Principal at Trestle Build. “That’s what Complete Communities is all about. And what a shining example The Bel is of that.”
The San Diego Housing Federation has advocated for the housing policies that supported development of The Bel.
“The seniors and the kids have been priced out of this community in very real ways. I’ve seen it change. It’s been over 40-some years that I’ve lived or worked in this community,” said Stephen Russell, President and CEO of the San Diego Housing Federation. “So personally, this is important that we’re starting to rebuild strongholds, where folks don’t have to be dislocated, where people can live and work here.”
Amenities at The Bel, previously known as 8th Avenue Family Housing, include a rooftop terrace, children’s play area, a resident services room, communal lounge areas, and bike storage.
CONAM Property Management serves as the property manager. Those interested in living at The Bel may visit https://www.livethebel.com/ to join the interest list.
Connect with SDHC on social media:
###
Media Contact:
Scott Marshall,
Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
scottm@sdhc.org
