San Diego Office Tower: $26 Million Conversion to Affordable Housing

A developer bought the 19-story office tower at 610 W. Ash in San Diego for $26 million in September. The purchase was made by an LLC linked to Vintage Housing, according to county property records. The company intends to convert the structure into a multifamily residential project with affordable housing restrictions.

Richard Gonor, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, stated that the developer aims to provide units to households with specific income limits and age restrictions. Gonor explained that the goal is to offer residents a central location with amenities at a lower cost than other parts of Little Italy. He noted that affordability is often associated with rural areas, but this project brings those benefits to the downtown center where people can walk to restaurants and transit.

Vintage Housing is not the only entity pursuing this strategy. The developer also plans to convert 707 Broadway into a 200-unit affordable housing building located less than a mile from the W. Ash tower. Other nearby sites targeted for similar conversions include 101 Ash Street, Tower 180, and 530 B St.

Gonor described these projects as part of a wider movement to add price variety in a high-demand area. He pointed to an early recovery in the downtown office market as a factor in these developments. Currently, none of the identified conversion projects have completed their renovations. They are in various stages of planning and execution.

Local businesses in the immediate vicinity view the change positively. Andres Mejia, who works at Patrini’s on the ground floor of the W. Ash tower, said the conversion should bring more foot traffic and customers to the restaurant. He expressed excitement about the potential for increased business activity on the upper floors.

Alan Kholos, who worked in the building approximately 20 years ago, commented on the impact of repurposing existing structures. He emphasized the importance of using available assets to create affordable living spaces close to jobs and small businesses. Kholos believes this approach supports the local economy by keeping residents near established commercial areas.

Vintage Housing reached out to media outlets for a statement regarding the project but had not responded as of the time of reporting. The conversion of the 610 W. Ash building marks one of several recent attempts to address housing shortages in San Diego through adaptive reuse of vacant office space.