By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–Housing advocates and local leaders joined together Thursday to open doors at Serenade on 43rd, a new affordable housing community in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood that thoughtfully blends the rehabilitation of existing affordable homes with new construction to create a welcoming, mid-century-inspired community.
Developed by local nonprofits Wakeland Housing and Housing Innovation Partners (HIP), the $40 million development transformed a 0.68-acre site into a unified community of 65 affordable homes, combining 45 new apartments with the rehabilitation of 20 existing units of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing. The result is a cohesive, beautiful campus that honors the neighborhood’s history while providing high-quality, affordable homes for both low-income working families and individuals exiting homelessness, with onsite services and spaces designed to foster stability, health, and connection.
Wakeland Housing and HIP built Serenade on 43rd to tackle two of San Diego’s most pressing challenges – rising housing costs and homelessness – integrating 33 affordable homes for low-income working families with 32 supportive housing apartments for individuals exiting homelessness. Rents range from $1,737 to $2,481, and residents pay approximately 30 percent of their income toward rent – freeing up their household budgets to cover other essentials, such as healthcare, food, and transportation.
“Affordable housing has the power to transform lives and neighborhoods,” said Rebecca Louie, President and CEO of Wakeland Housing. “At Serenade on 43rd, we’re not just providing homes – we’re building opportunity. By preserving existing affordable housing and adding new homes with integrated services, this development gives residents a foundation for health, stability, and hope while strengthening the City Heights community for generations to come.”
While living at Serenade on 43rd, residents receive a wide range of support services provided at no charge by HIP and County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, including on-site healthcare, behavioral health care, and case management. The development’s human-centered design features mid-century-inspired architecture, open courtyards, a community room with a kitchen and computer lab, and family-friendly amenities such as a tot lot and barbecue area – all designed to foster connection and well-being.
“Housing is just the first step in successfully breaking the cycle of homelessness and housing insecurity. We see real transformation when residents can access meaningful services where they live,” said Jon Walters, Associate Director of HIP. “At Serenade on 43rd, residents are offered person-centered care, counseling, skill-building, and community connection in a beautiful environment they can truly call home. This is what recovery and stability look like in practice.”
Residents are already experiencing life changes since moving in. “Now that I’m in affordable housing, I can plan for my future,” said new resident Robert Collins, who previously lived unhoused. “I can start working, I can open a bank account and save money, and start working on the dreams that I had when I was younger.”
Architecturally, Serenade on 43rd blends seamlessly into the surrounding City Heights neighborhood. The community was designed by Dahlin Group Architecture and built by Sun Country Builders, creating a modern, welcoming environment that encourages connection among residents.
The development includes four buildings – two rehabilitated two-story structures, one new four-story apartment building, and a standalone community building – that together form a cohesive campus centered on shared outdoor spaces. The design emphasizes open courtyards, natural light, and flexible community spaces that promote health and belonging.
Serenade on 43rd was built to Green Point Rated standards, with energy-efficient appliances, eco-friendly materials, and water-wise landscaping that contribute to long-term sustainability. Designed for longevity, the property will remain affordable for decades, offering residents stability and dignity while contributing to the neighborhood’s revitalization.
Themes of recovery and hope through music are woven throughout Serenade on 43rd in multiple ways. The development’s name draws inspiration from Tom Waits’ “San Diego Serenade,” reflecting the community-building and healing power of music while celebrating the artist’s San Diego roots. The property features a series of murals led by the ArtReach Mural Program, designed by local artist Josué Baltézar, and painted in collaboration with City Heights residents. Together, they transformed three large exterior walls into a visual narrative celebrating home, safety, nature, resilience, and music. These public art elements reflect themes of harmony and renewal that inspired the name Serenade on 43rd, turning the property into both a home and a visual celebration of community pride.
“Affordable housing creates stability, and art deepens that stability by nurturing connection and hope,” said Izzy Halpern, Mural Program Manager at ArtReach San Diego. “At Serenade on 43rd, residents came together through the mural project, sharing their stories and helping paint the artwork to build a shared sense of belonging. That creative process is part of the healing and community care that makes this place so special.”
Serenade on 43rd was made possible through strong partnerships with public and private funders. Financing partners include:
- California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
- California Community Reinvestment Corporation
- Wells Fargo Bank
- California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) – Infill and Infrastructure Grant
- County of San Diego – No Place Like Home Program
- City of San Diego – Bridge to Home Program
San Diego Housing Commission, which provided a loan and 32 Project-Based Vouchers to subsidize rents for residents exiting homelessness.
The development also represents a solid partnership between the co-developers. HIP originally purchased the parcels for use as affordable housing and to preserve the Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, and partnered with Wakeland Housing for their expertise to bring the site to its full potential.
Serenade at 43rd is fully leased up, but people who think they may qualify for affordable housing can go to wakelandhdc.com/leasing-information to find a list of other properties that they can call to inquire about vacancies. People who are experiencing homelessness should call 211 to connect with housing resources.
