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Plans are in the works to alleviate the high housing costs that are driving home sales to a record low.

Why it matters: While the city is building more apartment buildings in the urban core, there still aren't enough neighborhood "middle housing" options for families, officials and experts told Axios.

The big picture: The city's Neighborhood Homes for All of Us plan, launched last year, encourages more construction of cottages, duplexes and townhomes, which would be bigger than apartments but smaller than detached homes.

In addition to focus groups to collect feedback, the city held its first technical working group meeting last month, per city spokesperson Peter Kelly. 

Architects, urban designers, economists and other building industry experts discussed regulations to encourage neighborhood homes.

The city is hosting public workshops this spring.

The overall idea would be to reduce or eliminate lot size requirements so that more than one house could be built on a single lot.

By the numbers: Getting rid of minimum lot sizes could lead to homes costing $600,000 or $700,000 rather than the median $950,000, according to a study by real estate adviser Gary London.

"We're not talking about affordable housing here; what we're talking about is attainable housing," he told Axios.

Between the lines: San Diego is building more homes but primarily apartment buildings in urban areas, per a KPBS and Voice of San Diego analysis of permitting data from 2018 to 2024.

That works for people in their 20s and older people, but not people in their 30s and 40s with families, London said.

Meanwhile, the number of San Diegans in their 30s and 40s is slowly shrinking, according to data from SANDAG.

The Neighborhood Homes for All of Us plan aims to help fill that gap.

London said townhomes and smaller cottages in neighborhoods like Clairemont would better fit that demographic's needs, making them less likely to leave the region.

Zoom in: San Diego county is years ahead of schedule to meet a state requirement to build a certain amount of housing, per Spencer Katz, spokesperson for Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer.

He pointed to Lawson-Remer's efforts to streamline housing construction, including letting developers self-certify small parts of projects.

The county permitted 6,577 homes — 98% of its target — in the last four years, he said.

The bottom line: London said San Diego is in a moment akin to what appears on HBO's "The Gilded Age," where mansions on the Upper East Side of Manhattan began to transform into apartments.

"San Diego is … now growing up to a community that is more dense, and more interesting and vibrant," he said.

San Diego plan targets housing gap as families leave

Officials say more "middle housing" could help residents afford to stay in San Diego.

Illustration of a welcome mat at the edge of the ocean.

Plans are in the works to alleviate the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high housing costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/22/median-earners-priced-out-san-diego-real-estate-market-homes" data-vars-content-id="1506b5d4-7e53-4d23-9c26-171cab6cc373" data-vars-headline="San Diego plan targets housing gap as families leave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/22/median-earners-priced-out-san-diego-real-estate-market-homes" target="_self">high housing costs</a> that are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="driving home sales to a record low" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/20/san-diego-home-sales-fell-to-their-lowest-level-in-recorded-history-to-start-2026/" data-vars-content-id="1506b5d4-7e53-4d23-9c26-171cab6cc373" data-vars-headline="San Diego plan targets housing gap as families leave" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/20/san-diego-home-sales-fell-to-their-lowest-level-in-recorded-history-to-start-2026/" target="_blank">driving home sales to a record low</a>.Why it matters: While the city is building more apartment buildings in the urban core, there still aren&#x27;t enough neighborhood &quot;middle housing&quot; options for families, officials and experts told Axios.

Neighborhoods

News

Spring has definitely sprung and there's plenty to do to celebrate Easter this weekend.

The big picture: From hip-hop brunches to traditional egg hunts, there are activities for all ages.

🥂 Hop, Sip & Bloom Spring Brunch — Spring garden party vibes with Aperol spritz specials, live music, local vendor pop-ups, adoptable bunnies and a full brunch menu. 

Saturday 11am-1pm at Wild Hare Bar Garden, Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.

🥚 Rancho Bernardo Spring Fling Egg Hunt — Free community event with multiple egg hunts, raffles, face painters, arts & crafts, food trucks and a bounce house. 

Saturday 9am–noon at Glassman Recreation Center.

🐋 SeaWorld Dine with Orcas — Plus a a visit from the Easter Bunny! Reserve for Saturday or Sunday.

🍳 Easter Brunch at Andaz San Diego — Rooftop brunch with extended service until 2pm on Sunday. 

🏰 Hotel del Coronado Easter Brunch — Buffet includes breakfast dishes, seafood, sushi, carving stations and a dessert spread. Sunday from 10am–3pm in the Crown Room.

🌊 Humphreys Half Moon Inn Easter Brunch — Easter buffet on Shelter Island with bay views. Sunday 11am–4:30pm.

⛵ Flagship Cruises Easter Brunch Harbor Cruise — A two-hour cruise with bottomless Champagne and mimosas, fresh local seafood, a carving station, live music and spectacular harbor views. Boards 11am Sunday.

🐣 Omni La Costa Easter Eggstravaganza — One of the region's largest Easter egg hunts, with 15,000 eggs, a special appearance by the Easter Bunny and brunch. Sunday 10am.

🚂 Easter Bunny Train — A 45-minute ride through the backcountry on restored 1920s rail cars at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Departures at 10:30am, 1pm and 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday.

🐰 Free City Egg Hunts — Multiple free city-run egg hunts at recreation centers including Montgomery-Waller, Allied Gardens and North Clairemont.

Flagship Cruises Easter Brunch Harbor Cruise

Top Easter events in San Diego

From free egg hunts to waterfront brunches, here's how to celebrate Easter in San Diego.

Illustration of an egg being dipped in dye, and coming out in swirly colors. 

Illustration of a painted Easter egg with the Axios logo on it

Spring has definitely sprung and there&#x27;s plenty to do to celebrate Easter this weekend.The big picture: From hip-hop brunches to traditional egg hunts, there are activities for all ages.

Things to Do

An option for weddings on a budget is available at San Diego's downtown library.

The big picture: The library is offering one-hour weekday weddings with up to 12 guests for $500.

Zoom in: Weddings are held on the library's Epstein Bayview Terrace, which has views of the bay and skyline.

The events have to be pretty bare bones, with no food or drink, no live music, and outdoor vendors limited to one officiant and one photographer.

Time slots are on select Mondays and Tuesdays of each month.

Yes, but: The idea is to provide a budget-friendly option, Misty Jones, the San Diego Public Library director, told Axios.

"It's for people who don't want to do the whole big, huge ceremony, but then also don't want to go down to the courthouse," she said. "Who want to have something that's a little special, a little different, and I think we have one of the best views in town."

The library also offers event space for much bigger events.

The intrigue: Jones said she's thinking about becoming ordained so she can offer the full package.

San Diego library offers budget wedding option

Say "I do" at the downtown library with skyline views — no frills, just a simple ceremony.

Illustration of a bride holding a bouquet of roses made out of money.

An option for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weddings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/03/taylor-swift-wedding-trend-travis-kelce" data-vars-content-id="4fb33563-08b0-4a43-bc54-db8f0dfbbc5c" data-vars-headline="San Diego library offers budget wedding option" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/03/taylor-swift-wedding-trend-travis-kelce" target="_self">weddings</a> on a budget is available at San Diego&#x27;s downtown library.The big picture: The library is offering <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one-hour weekday weddings" data-vars-click-url="https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/1-hour-weddings" data-vars-content-id="4fb33563-08b0-4a43-bc54-db8f0dfbbc5c" data-vars-headline="San Diego library offers budget wedding option" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sandiego.librarymarket.com/1-hour-weddings" target="_blank">one-hour weekday weddings</a> with up to 12 guests for $500.

Culture

City Hall is using AI for basic tasks like summarizing emails and meetings and generating slides, but also has bigger ideas for the future, according to officials and records reviewed by Axios.

The big picture: While many businesses grapple with how to use AI safely, government agencies are also factoring in the need to protect public information and maintain human oversight.

Follow the money: The city agreed to pay Planet Technologies $300,000 in 2024 to roll out Microsoft Copilot as a pilot AI use project, according to the contract obtained by Axios through a public records request.

City employees are now using Copilot and Google Gemini in daily tasks like gathering questions from email threads, creating slide decks for council presentations and assigning tasks after meetings, city CIO Jonathan Behnke told Axios.

The city also trained Gemini, Azure and Amazon chat bots to analyze the city's intranet documents, Behnke said on the Urban AI YouTube series.

Meanwhile, they're exploring using AI for broader projects, including:

Transcribing and analyzing council meetings so staff can easily see if their departments are mentioned

Fulfilling public records requests and making redactions

Answering calls on the police department's non-emergency line

State of play: The only AI technology that interacts with the public right now is the My eCISO project.

An AI chatbot talks with small business owners and gathers information on their cybersecurity strategies and operations to give a report card on their security threat level.

The city's AI policy requires a human to always be in the loop to check whatever AI is doing, Behnke told Axios.

What they're saying: As the city approaches this brave new world, officials should be transparent about AI use and ensure public data is protected, Ebrahim Tarshizi, director of the Applied Artificial Intelligence program at the University of San Diego, told Axios.

"If I'm implementing any type of AI, and if one of my customers, which is my citizens, comes and asks me a question about how the AI works, there should be somebody in any organization to explain," he said.

AI is a powerful tool that could make the city government more efficient, he said.

Case in point: Autonomous vehicles scanning city streets for potholes could be a potential use, he said.

Yes, but: AI can be risky if deployed without oversight, which means lots of training for the employees using it, he said.

"It shouldn't be one workshop, but constantly training by online courses, or a monthly meeting," Tarshizi said.

Threat level: Tarshizi said city employees shouldn't be worried about being replaced by AI, even if they have a repetitive job that could be picked up by a computer.

If there's a job that was done by five people, and thanks to AI only requires two people, the remaining three people "can be used at a higher level, and they can do more complex things," he said.

How San Diego is using AI — and what's next

From drafting emails to analyzing meetings, AI is already part of city operations.

Illustration of a keyboard with a robot-shaped key in the middle

City Hall is using AI for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="basic tasks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/sponsored/the-push-to-modernize-government-with-ai" data-vars-content-id="a3060e9b-c119-4657-be98-bf959b2daeb4" data-vars-headline="How San Diego is using AI — and what&#x27;s next" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/sponsored/the-push-to-modernize-government-with-ai" target="_self">basic tasks</a> like summarizing emails and meetings and generating slides, but also has bigger ideas for the future, according to officials and records reviewed by Axios.The big picture: While many businesses grapple with how to use <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI safely" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/ai-race-safety-guardrail" data-vars-content-id="a3060e9b-c119-4657-be98-bf959b2daeb4" data-vars-headline="How San Diego is using AI — and what&#x27;s next" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/03/ai-race-safety-guardrail" target="_self">AI safely</a>, government agencies are also factoring in the need to protect public information and maintain human oversight.

Politics

San Diego parents are spending thousands of dollars a month to pay for child care — if they can even find it.

We asked readers and experts for tips on how to manage the rising costs, and they offered some helpful guidance beyond applying for financial support.

Reader Rachel S. rerouted income typically put into a 401K to pay for child care, understanding that it's a "temporary expense and we can start investing more again when they start school," she said.

"The important part is to actually remember to invest that part of your income again when you're no longer using it for child care!" she added.

Take advantage of a Dependent Care FSA if your employer offers one, said Courtney Baltiyskyy, a policy analyst with the San Diego YMCA.

That allows you to contribute tax-free to an account that can be used for child care, including summer camps and after-school programs.

🧩 Stack child care options and lean on your village

As a single parent, Dianne O. said she put her daughter in a church preschool and then had a private provider cover care for the rest of the afternoon. Still, that combo cost about a third of her salary.

Now retired, she takes care of a neighbor's child from 6am–8:30am, and then another person takes that kid to elementary school.

"I understand this single parent's pain and stress," she said, so she generally just charges "perks like an avocado or a small bag of veggies from the farmers market."

The YMCA preschool programs take state subsidy vouchers and offer scholarships, Baltiyskyy said.

Families who don't qualify for a state voucher or are on the waiting list can still apply for scholarships.

Kim McDougal, senior vice president of social services at YMCA of San Diego County, encourages parents to talk to their employers about setting up a child care benefit program and flexible scheduling.

The business community should help solve the local child care crisis as they benefit from reliable, focused and present employees, she said.

The Trump administration expanded tax credits and reimbursements for businesses' child care expenses, which could also incentivize companies to make on-site facilities.

Case in point: The YMCA helped March and Ash dispensary build a program that gives all staff members $4,500 a year toward the cost of any type of child care, including summer camps, McDougal said.

The San Diego YMCA is the county's designated resource and referral provider, which means their website lists all available licensed and home child care providers.

Baltiyskyy said they will also make phone calls to find child care for anyone in the county — for free!

"It's really a choose-your-own adventure and how we can help you find child care that meets your needs," she told Axios. "The language you'd like your provider to speak, the types of curriculum or methodology that are being used, the geographic distance from home or work and the cost. Our navigators actually take on the responsibility of contacting providers that have an open slot that meet that family's need, and we'll call and see if the family can stop by."

To get started, call 800-481-2151, Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm.

You can also pull state inspections of any child care provider and sign up for alerts for new inspections here.

💭 Our thought bubble: Get started on the search as soon as you find out you're pregnant, and consider in-home day cares, which are typically more affordable.

How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs

From tax-free spending to help finding care, here's some guidance from parents and experts.

Illustration of a stroller with money inside of it.

San Diego parents are spending thousands of dollars a month to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pay for child care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-map-zip-code-infant-preschool-rates-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-map-zip-code-infant-preschool-rates-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">pay for child care</a> — if they can even <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="find it" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-deserts-two-thirds-families-ymca-map?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">find it</a>.We asked readers and experts for tips on how to manage the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rising costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-infant-preschool-prices-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-costs-infant-preschool-prices-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">rising costs</a>, and they offered some helpful guidance beyond applying for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="financial support" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-subsidy-waitlist-7000-families-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="f558f57d-bbeb-47cb-b628-8854d7725740" data-vars-headline="How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/18/san-diego-child-care-subsidy-waitlist-7000-families-ymca?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sandiego&amp;stream=top" target="_self">financial support</a>.

Claire Trageser

Featured stories

San Diego plan targets housing gap as families leave

Top Easter events in San Diego

How San Diego is using AI — and what's next

How San Diego parents navigate soaring child care costs

San Diego library offers budget wedding option