SDSU breaks ground for first affordable housing at Mission Valley campus site

San Diego State University and developer Chelsea Investment Corp. broke ground Wednesday for the first affordable housing on the university’s expanding Mission Valley campus.

The Addison will be a 126-unit mid-rise building located east of Snapdragon Stadium in what is now the stadium’s Orange Lot.

The building will offer a range of one- to three-bedroom apartments, with 99 reserved for families averaging 50% or less of the San Diego area’s medium income — around $82,700 for a family of four. First occupancy is expected as early as 2028.

The Addison is also the first affordable housing development under the 2024 Faculty and Employee Housing Act authored by San Diego Assemblymember Chris Ward. University employees who meet the income requirements will be prioritized for tenancy.

“Addison represents a defining moment for SDSU Mission Valley and for our university,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “This is where our vision becomes reality; a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood where students, university employees and the broader San Diego community can live, work and thrive together as we continue to build and serve this region for generations to come.”

The project is part of a wave of new development at SDSU Mission Valley. AvalonBay Communities broke ground on a market-rate residential development in August 2025.

The Mission Valley site will ultimately include 80 acres of parks and open space, up to 4,600 market-rate and affordable housing units, 1.6 million square feet of research and startup space, 95,000 square feet of retail space and a hotel.