Nearby residents say a 20-story apartment building proposed for Bankers Hill is too tall, would damage neighborhood character and cast shadows on a prime part of Balboa Park.

Supporters say the 223-foot, 204-unit building would help solve San Diego’s housing crisis and help the city meet goals for reducing greenhouse gases because the project is near transit, bike lanes and job centers in downtown and Hillcrest.

The residents call the proposal “a rogue project” that would be an anomaly because of its height. They also worry it could set a precedent for additional buildings in Bankers Hill of the same height – or even taller.

Neighborhoods battling against high-rise projects is increasingly common in San Diego, as city officials seek to add housing in existing neighborhoods to avoid the traffic congestion and pollution that come with sprawl.


The Planning Commission approved the project in a 4-0 vote on Nov. 8. But opponents are expected to appeal the approval to the City Council, and they’ve also threatened to sue on environmental grounds.

The apartment tower is proposed next to iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral at the corner of Olive Street and Sixth Avenue, just west of the park and a few blocks north of the El Prado entrance at Laurel Street.

The tower would feature ground floor commercial space that would become home to the administrative offices for St. Paul’s, which is selling part of its property to a developer to strengthen the finances of the 149-year-old church.

The project would include a five-level, underground parking garage, a rooftop terrace with a pool and other amenities.


It would also include 18 units reserved for people who earn less than 50 percent of the area’s median income: $34,100 for a family of one, $38,950 for a family of two and $43,800 for a family of three.

Business and environmental groups praised the project during the Nov. 8 hearing.

“We believe this is a very positive project that will add housing stock, help achieve our climate action plan goals and include new affordable units in a city that desperately needs them,” said Stefanie Benvenuto, a policy analyst for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Matthew Vasilakis of the nonprofit Climate Action Campaign said the project is as close to perfect as his organization has seen.


“We must do everything we can to support more homes in the right places for the right people,” he said.

Colin Parent, executive director of transit advocacy group Circulate San Diego, said state and city “density bonus” laws create incentives for developers to include income-restricted units by allowing them to build more overall units when they do.

“You’re seeing the market respond and this is a great example of that response,” said Parent, suggesting city approval of the 20-story tower would encourage more developers to propose similar projects.

Omar Rawi, a senior official for developer Greystar, said the neighborhood concerns about height are overblown.


“Height can be interesting, height can be beautiful and height serves a purpose,” he said.

The Rev. Penny Bridges of St. Paul’s said she empathizes with residents about the height, but said the project should be viewed as a compromise.

“I know that the planned height of the building is somewhat controversial, but it is our conviction that the benefit of additional rental housing, especially affordable housing, is a worthwhile trade-off,” she said.

Leo Wilson, a longtime community leader speaking on behalf of residents in Bankers Hill and the adjacent Park West neighborhood, said allowing such a tall building would be a dangerous precedent.


“If it’s 225 feet, what about 250 or 300,” he said.

He also complained that the building would cast dark shadows on Balboa Park, contending that would damage the experience of the millions who visit the park each year.

“When do we look at Balboa Park and say the interests of the million people there don’t apply,” he said.

The residents would like a building no taller than 170 feet, with either a wider base so there could be the same number of units, or smaller units that would have lower rents because they would have less square footage.


They also said the project wouldn’t do much to solve the local housing crisis because all of the units except the 18 with income restrictions would be “luxury” units because Bankers Hill is a relatively expensive neighborhood.

Planning Commissioners said the taller building would make the skyline along the west side of the park more interesting, potentially marking the border of the park in a striking way like Central Park in New York City.

They also downplayed the concerns about height.

“I don’t care about height if it’s done right,” Commissioner James Whalen said.


Opponents have until Monday to file an appeal to the City Council.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick