California’s First Tiny Home Megaproject Ignites Fury in Idyllic Beach Town

by Justin Choi

New plans for a controversial ADU housing project in Southern California were released in hopes of gaining community support after serious doubt.

The developer of the massive ADU project called Chalcifica is planning on building the homes in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego.

After facing concerns over culturally sensitive land, developers relocated the project and revised the plan from 136 units down to 125 units spread across six buildings. Parking zones, however, will increase from 70 spaces to 126 spaces.

The sensitive land is associated with the Kumeyaay Nation, the indigenous people native to the San Diego region.

This all comes after a judge granted a preliminary injunction on the original project back in December.

Architectural hand-drawn perspective sketch showcasing a multi-story Tuscan-style residential building with tiled roofs and courtyard parking. — New plans were revealed following an initial backlash from the Pacific Beach community. (Infill Innovation)

Aerial satellite view of a suburban hillside development parcel surrounded by residential homes and mature foliage. — The developer of the massive ADU project called Chalcifica is planning on building the homes in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego. (Infill Innovation)

Pacific Beach neighbors sued the city and the developing company, arguing that the plan risked “irreversible harm to the City’s environment” and endangered “public safety by circumventing requirements intended to mitigate wildfire risk.”

“Our goal is to move forward with a project that adds much-needed attainable housing units in Pacific Beach while addressing concerns so everyone can benefit,” the CEO of Infill Innovation Brian Doyle told Times of San Diego.

Illustrated architectural site plan layout detailing multi-unit building locations, parking distribution, and community amenities. — Parking spaces will increase from 70 spaces to 126 while housing units will shrink from 136 units to 125. (Infill Innovation)

“We want to turn the page from the past. In many ways, I understand the neighbors’ frustrations, but this is a new company with a new direction and expereinced leadership driving it. We want to work with neighbors and the city to bring something that everyone can benefit from,” he continued.