San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria
San Diego Recognized as National Leader in Housing Innovation in New Mayoral Report
Capital One Insights Center, Bipartisan Policy Center, and U.S. Conference of Mayors highlight San Diego’s infill development program to expand housing supply as a blueprint for American cities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov
SAN DIEGO — Bipartisan work to develop underutilized land near public transit is positioning San Diego as a national leader on innovative, bipartisan solutions to build more housing supply and address the challenge of affordability. That’s according to the latest research on housing affordability by the Capital One Insights Center in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC).
The second annual Mayoral Housing Report details the success of the Complete Communities Housing Solutions program, which aims to expand higher-density and infill development. Initiated under former Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) and expanded by current Mayor Todd Gloria (D), the program streamlines permitting and incentivizes developers to include affordable units. San Diego’s bipartisan approach highlights the importance of reducing regulatory barriers and strengthening construction capacity to build housing.
“When I became mayor, I made a simple commitment: San Diego would stop talking about the housing crisis and start building. We've cut red tape, modernized our zoning, streamlined permitting, and invested in affordable housing at every level. Those efforts have created capacity for more than 134,000 new homes, accelerated approvals for affordable projects to days instead of months and positioned San Diego as one of the most pro-housing cities in America. Our experience proves that when local leaders are willing to reform outdated systems and focus on results, we can build more homes, lower costs, and create opportunities for more families to achieve the California Dream,” – said Todd Gloria, San Diego, CA, Mayor and U.S Conference of Mayors President.
Findings from last year’s Insights Center, BPC and USCM survey of 68 mayors underscore the urgency of addressing the housing affordability challenge:
80.9% - Share of mayors who said their residents are dissatisfied with the state of housing affordability.
66.2% - Share of mayors who believed the current economic environment would worsen housing affordability in their city in the next year.
51.1% - Share of mayors who believed that housing affordability will worsen in their city in the next year.
“We know that lasting solutions to the housing crisis are often developed and tested at the local level,” said Shena Ashley, President of the Capital One Insights Center. “Across the country, mayors are advancing innovative approaches that are increasing housing supply and helping more families access affordable housing. Mayor Gloria and San Diego’s Complete Communities Housing Solutions program is a great example of this. Capital One is proud to elevate these success stories and create a platform for sharing proven, replicable strategies that can inform efforts in communities nationwide.”
The most common challenges to housing affordability identified by mayors in the 2025 survey were the direct costs of housing development (materials, labor, and land), as well as the ability to secure funding to build that housing (private capital, federal funding, and local funding).
“Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing communities across the country, and there is no single solution,” added Dennis Shea, Executive Vice President for Housing at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “This report shows that local leaders are advancing practical, bipartisan approaches to expand supply and lower costs—and that progress doesn’t require waiting for Washington. Those examples offer a roadmap policymakers at every level can learn from and build on.”
“Mayors across the country are on the front lines of the housing affordability challenge and are working every day to deliver real solutions for their residents,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “What this report shows is that when leaders come together across party lines, they can take meaningful steps to expand housing supply and make their communities more affordable.”
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