A long-planned redevelopment around the E Street Transit Center is moving ahead with a new affordable housing component after the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System approved an agreement with Eden Housing, Inc.
The MTS Board of Directors has signed off on a disposition and development agreement that clears the way for a 7-story, 101-unit affordable housing project on agency-owned land adjacent to the transit center. The site is steps from the UC San Diego Blue Line and several regional bus routes.
The housing project is part of a larger transit-oriented development plan between MTS, the City of Chula Vista, and private partners that has been evolving for several years. The broader 10-acre vision for the site includes additional housing, commercial space, a hotel, and public park areas, though only the affordable housing portion has been approved so far.
“This project demonstrates how MTS can use its land to deliver real community benefits beyond the transit service we already provide,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board chair and San Diego City Councilmember. “By partnering with the City of Chula Vista and Eden Housing, we’re expanding housing options while strengthening access to reliable transit.”
Mark Olson, director of marketing and communications for MTS, said the agency is emphasizing the role transit-oriented development plays in addressing regional housing needs.
“The main takeaway for people right now is that we’re here to be a good partner with the housing community, and that affordable housing is a significant need in the San Diego region, and it’s something MTS is working to help with, particularly near transit,” Olson said.
Under the agreement, Eden Housing will construct the project on a 99-year ground lease at no cost to MTS. The development includes 105 residential parking spaces, while MTS will retain 240 commuter parking spaces at the transit center
Planning for the E Street Transit Center redevelopment dates back to 2018, when MTS and the City of Chula Vista began coordinating long-term transit-oriented development opportunities for the site. Bayview Point LLC has been selected as the master developer and has held an exclusive negotiating agreement with both agencies since 2022.
City officials say the project fits into a larger transformation along the South Bay waterfront, where major public and private investments are reshaping the area around the Chula Vista Bayfront, including the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, new parks, and expanded pedestrian access.
“The E Street Transit Center is the northern gateway for Trolley access to the newly opened Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center and the new parks, walking trails, and restaurants along the Chula Vista Bayfront,” said Cesar Fernandez, MTS Board Member and Deputy Mayor of Chula Vista. “Activating the transit center builds on regional and public investments in the Bayfront by creating additional opportunities for residents to live, work, and connect to the rest of the region.”
The affordable housing development is still several years from breaking ground. Officials estimate construction could begin in 2028, once financing and final approvals are secured, followed by an estimated 30-month buildout.
While the affordable housing component is the only portion approved to date, the larger site plan continues to include a proposed hotel tied to the nearby resort and convention center, along with market-rate housing, commercial space, and public park elements.
If fully built out, the project would significantly change the role of the E Street Transit Center, shifting it from a commuter parking-focused station toward a mixed-use hub anchored by housing and transit access.
MTS officials emphasized the site’s transit-oriented advantages and regional need for housing.
“The E Street Transit Center is one of South Bay’s most connected stations, making it an ideal location for a transit-oriented development. It sits directly along the UC San Diego Blue Line, which carries more than 25 million passenger trips a year, and is served by multiple bus routes, giving residents seamless regional access without having to rely on a car,” said Sean Myott, MTS Manager of Real Estate Assets.
On housing demand, Myott said, “The entire San Diego region is challenged with a lack of affordable housing. That’s why MTS is focused on an approach that aligns housing development with transit access, creating housing communities designed to serve both residents and the broader region.”
He added that MTS has been steadily converting transit-adjacent properties into housing developments, citing projects completed and under development across the system.
And on benefits to residents living near the Blue Line, Myott said, “Living steps from the UC San Diego Blue Line will give residents direct and reliable access to major destinations across the region, including recreational areas, employment centers, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. This could significantly reduce transportation costs and shorten commute times for residents, as well as improve access to opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to reach.”
