Imperial Beach senior affordable housing project breaks ground

Construction began Thursday on a 50-unit affordable housing community for older adults in Imperial Beach, with half of the homes reserved for seniors transitioning out of homelessness.

The Haven on Palm is a three-story, $48 million development being built on the former site of the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church. The project will be adjacent to the new Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center, which provides food assistance and other support services to residents.

The Haven at Palm will feature indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a landscaped courtyard and garden, resident community room, computer lounge, on-site management and secure building features with 25 homes designated for seniors who have experienced homelessness.

Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. is developing the project and will manage the property and lease the apartments.

First envisioned 10 years ago by the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center (IBNC), the new campus will bring together essential neighborhood services and affordable senior housing to support the health, stability and well-being of Imperial Beach residents.

The new IBNC facility will expand the organization's capacity to provide food distribution, wellness programs, gathering spaces and other essential resources while partnering with local organizations to address food insecurity, homelessness and the needs of seniors, youth and families.

The development is being financed through a combination of public, private and community funding. San Diego County contributed $6 million and 25 housing vouchers toward the project.

The Haven on Palm is expected to be completed in early 2028.

Since 2017, the county has invested more than $330 million in affordable housing, including loans through its Innovative Housing Trust Fund. The investments have helped create more than 3,900 new homes, with nearly 2,200 additional homes in development.