San Diegans are invited to participate in a once-in-a-generation planning effort as the City of San Diego releases the first draft of the Mid-City Communities Plan Update, the first comprehensive update in more than 25 years.

Mid-City includes the neighborhoods of City Heights, Eastern Area, Kensington-Talmadge and Normal Heights and the City is seeking feedback from community members on the draft.

The draft plan establishes a long-term vision for land use, mobility, parks, public facilities, open space, sustainability and climate resilience that will guide future growth while supporting the City's General Plan and Climate Action Plan and preserving the unique character of Mid-City’s neighborhoods.

Two years of extensive community engagement helped inform the first draft of the plan. More than 3,000 community members participated through more than 100 outreach events, providing over 9,300 comments that helped shape the draft. The release of the draft plan provides an opportunity for continued feedback.

“San Diego needs more homes people can afford, and Mid-City is an important part of meeting that need,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “This plan creates opportunities for thousands of new homes, including townhomes, cottages and other options that can help families and first-time homebuyers put down roots in our city. And as we add homes, we must plan for the parks, safer streets, better transportation and public facilities that strong neighborhoods need. I encourage Mid-City residents to review the draft, make their voices heard and help us get this right.”

To help address San Diego's housing shortage and affordability challenges, the draft plan would create capacity for approximately 30,000 additional homes over the next 30 years in areas with access to jobs, transit, schools, parks and everyday services. The draft plan also expands opportunities for a wider range of housing types, including townhomes, cottages and other smaller-scale housing types, creating more options for families, first-time homebuyers and San Diegans of all income levels.

The new housing capacity identified in the draft plan represents long-term opportunities that could occur over the coming decades as neighborhoods evolve. The draft plan provides a framework for thoughtfully planned growth to occur alongside needed infrastructure, public facilities and neighborhood improvements.

“Mid-City’s future should be shaped by the people who live, work and raise their families here. This first draft reflects years of community input and is an important step toward more housing choices, safer ways to get around, and the cleaner air, parks, libraries and public spaces our neighborhoods deserve,” said City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. “As this process moves forward, growth must be aimed at creating a healthier community where San Diegans can see a future for themselves and the people they love. That means the infrastructure and public investment needed for every Mid-City resident to thrive. I encourage the community to review the draft and keep making their voices heard.”

The draft plan also includes opportunities to enhance quality of life throughout Mid-City, including:

• Nine neighborhood parks and mini-parks, eight trailhead parks and 24 pocket parks.
• Capacity for higher housing density near El Cajon Boulevard, Fairmount Avenue, Federal Boulevard and University Avenue, with more moderate-density opportunities near Adams Avenue, Euclid Avenue and College Grove Drive.
• Potential for a new Oak Park library and a new Kensington-Normal Heights library.
• Expanded habitat preservation and open space connections.
• Wider sidewalks, additional shade trees and improved lighting to create safer, more comfortable spaces for pedestrians.
• More ways to travel throughout the community with improved transit connections, planned Bus Rapid Transit service and safer bicycle infrastructure.

"The first draft of the Mid-City Communities Plan Update is the result of years of collaboration with community members, local businesses and community organizations to create a shared vision for Mid-City’s future," said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. "This is an important step, but it is not the final step. We encourage everyone who lives, works or spends time in Mid-City to review the draft, share their feedback and continue helping shape a plan that reflects the community's priorities for generations to come."

The City will continue gathering community feedback before preparing a second draft later this year. Additional workshops, focus groups, open houses and meetings with community planning groups, advisory boards, the Planning Commission and the City Council’s Land Use & Housing Committee will provide opportunities for community members to continue participating before the plan is considered by the City Council, which is anticipated in spring 2027.

Community members are encouraged to review the draft plan, submit comments and sign up for email updates about future engagement opportunities by visiting the Mid-City Communities Plan Update webpage.