La Mesa's trolley-lot homes break ground as Oktoberfest riders are sent to other lots
Sept. 25, 2026 — Construction began Friday on Spring View Apartments at the Spring Street trolley station in La Mesa, and the homes will go to the people the project promised to serve. All but two of the 147 units, reserved for on-site managers, are restricted for 55 years to households earning 30% to 60% of area median income. The County is adding $8.5 million and 40 rental vouchers, including four for veterans.
The $106 million project by Affirmed Housing, about $721,000 per unit, sits on Metropolitan Transit System land under a long-term lease. MTS approved it in 2023 expecting construction to start in February 2025; state tax-credit records later said May 2026. No reason for the delay has been given. It was cleared under SB 35, a state law that streamlines approval of qualifying housing.
The first big weekend with the lot closed arrives quickly. La Mesa Oktoberfest runs Oct. 2-4 along La Mesa Boulevard, a short walk from the site, and the Spring Street lot is open only for disabled parking during construction. MTS and the city are directing festivalgoers to free trolley parking at Massachusetts Avenue, Grossmont Transit Center, Amaya Drive and El Cajon Transit Center.
Riders will also pay more. MTS fares rise Oct. 1, with the adult monthly pass going from $72 to $85, as a new low-income fare program begins. MTS's joint-development policy aims to build ridership on its land, and the finished site will keep 159 transit parking spaces.
The wall: The ground lease's payments to MTS and the reason for the delay were not found.
Tier: Confirmed (figures sourced; per-unit cost and delay computed)
Sources
- San Diego County News Center
- CTCAC staff report
- CEQAnet filing (SB 35)
- MTS 2023 approval (Mass Transit)
- City of La Mesa Oktoberfest alert
- MTS Oktoberfest rider page
- SANDAG fare structure
- MTS Joint Development Program
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