Head Commissioner Kelly Moden Reluctant to Meet With Neighbors of her 91-Unit Project
By Kate Callen
If you’ve ever wondered whether powerful developers like Kelly Moden have functioning moral compasses, Roy Machado can fill you in.
Moden is Chair of the San Diego Planning Commission, appointed to the panel by Todd Gloria in 2022. She also is President and CEO of cREate Development, one of two finalists for the lucrative city contract to redevelop the 101 Ash Street complex.
Given her prominence, you might think Moden would demonstrate a commitment to public interest and a willingness to engage with communities where she builds.
Not so, say Machado and other neighbors of The Minn, Moden’s colossal project at 1905 Broadway, in Golden Hill.
The 8-story monolith would be a blight in any part of Golden Hill, an older neighborhood of mainly modest homes and quiet streets.
But the site for Moden’s project is stunningly heartless. When finished next spring, the Minn will loom over an enclave of historic homes that were carefully moved there from other areas.
The 900 block of 20th Street has long been a Golden Hill architectural jewel box. It boasts two Carriage houses from the 1880s, two Victorians and a Queen Anne from the 1900s, and three Craftsmans from the 1910s.
Machado, a vintage home preservationist, learned about the Moden project when heavy equipment started excavating the property next to his restored Craftsman.
“This was done under the radar,” he said. “We were never notified.” `
“The property was zoned for 14 units. The Minn will have 91 units, six times that. And it’s being built just 15 inches from my property line.”
Moden was reluctant to meet with Machado. When they finally sat down to talk, she was implacable. “She told me she was doing everything ‘by the book,’” Machado recalled. “She showed no feeling for the neighborhood. Her attitude was, ‘This is how it’s going to be.’”
Developer intransigence is nothing new. But Moden’s attitude seems out of step with political and business affiliates who suddenly feel queasy about in-your-face development.
This anxiety was captured by Michael Smolens in his December 15 Union-Tribune column on “YIMBY Expansion, Overreach — and Backlash.” [Subscription only]
As Smolens reported, Congressman Scott Peters, State Senator Toni Atkins, and Mayor Todd Gloria are opposing the infamous 23-story “Pencil Tower” project in Pacific Beach.
Are these YIMBY tribal elders newly concerned about density’s harmful impact on neighborhoods? Not a chance. They’re newly concerned about how harmful optics could turn public opinion against them.
Peters, who is widely expected to run for mayor in 2028, is worried that the proposed tower will be a “poster child for those who resist all new housing.”
And Building Industry Association CEO Lori Holt Pfeiler fears that the project will trigger “a huge backlash.”
“What does that do for our industry in the long run?” said Holt Pfeiler. “That’s building anti-housing sentiment.”
YIMBY leaders have cause to be jittery. Anti-density activist groups are mobilizing in communities across the city. They are sophisticated, and they are teaming up.
Politicians and builders will always be driven by self-interest and profit. But wouldn’t it be nice if they also felt some compassion? Couldn’t they modify their massive projects to soften the impacts on surrounding neighborhoods?
Enter the Golden Rule.
Throughout human history and in every world religion, the Golden Rule has been civilization’s moral compass. The universal precept is awesomely simple: Treat other people as you want other people to treat you.
Here’s a moral challenge for Moden and Holt Pfeiler and our YIMBY politicians: Take a long hard look at the picture of Machado and his Craftsman next to the gargantuan project and ask yourselves three questions.
How would you feel if someone who has more power and money than you do (think: Elon Musk) bought the land next to your home and began constructing a massive bunker inches from your property line?
How would you react if that person dismissed your concerns and told you, basically, to suck it up?
How would you adapt when the finished complex blocked sunlight and fresh air from your home, tanked its market value, and crammed your street with more residents and more cars?
Machado posed such a question to one of Moden’s partners. To reach the upper heights of the Minn, construction cranes are whirling over the roof of his Craftsman in a clear violation of his air space.
“I asked him how he would like it if a construction boom kept sweeping over his house,” Machado recalled. “He didn’t have an answer. What could he say?”
this is excellent reporting an commentary. thx very much for sharing this info with us
Thank you, Kate Callen, Ron Machado and Paul Krueger , for airing the inequity, hypocrisy, and fear that so many San Diegans feel. In solidarity.
Excellent and very factual reporting on the behind closed doors far too many department heads Gloria appointed to do his dirt. Cat duty…… Gloria dug the holes, did what cats do in holes, and is now covering it up with dirt. The voters put him in the position to keep doing what he likes to do in his efforts to destroy SD. And Goofy Gav in Sac is providing the open door for Gloria with his mandates. Very sad. There is NO transparency in the City of San Diego, and the dirt that’s being done to the taxpayers and residents.
I guess this gives us an idea of what the City Planning Commission stands for. What a terrible clunking monstrosity imposed on a charming neighborhood.
Wake up San Diego! This is coming to each and every one of your neighborhoods.
Conflict of interest? Nah, doesn’t matter
Care and concern for neighborhood aesthetics? Nah, doesn’t matter
Care, concern and respect for neighbors? Nah, doesn’t matter
Attention to loopholes? Sure as hell matters.
Care, concern and attention to profits? Thats what matters
Developers like Moden, lob their incendiary devices into a neighborhood, obliterate it, cash grab (picture the money tanks at the fair) as much as they can and move on to the next.
We HAVE to get smarter! They are finding the loopholes made by the city, WE have to find equally destructive (to them) loopholes to fight back on this madness.
My heart goes out to Machado and others who have to live next to this bs crap.
Nah. It’s not coming to ALL San Diego neighborhoods. The ones with money and larger homes are not being affected by this wild building spree. Check out La Jolla, Scripps Ranch, Carmel Valley, to name a few. They’re also where much of the fund raising was done to get our mayor reelected.
Sad. Sad. Roy will lose privacy, light, sky, view – the same thing is now happening in
South Park, though so far we see only three stories sitting almost on the backyard property line. The view from those second and third stories will be of many neighbors’ backyards, rear doors, windows, patios, decks. Goodbye privacy and light and sky. Sad. Bad luck to you, owner/builder. Overheard and saw you talking on the third floor, telling construction crew “awesome” – not awesome at all, new neighbor. Just sad. Hope you enjoy all of your views.
Gloria uses our tax money to pay Moden to destroy our neighborhood, how ridiculous!
I was curious what the regulation was about distance from property lines in residential zones. I read that it is 4 feet. So I looked up the permits for the monstrosity in South Park and discovered the owner/builder got an exemption and has built 3 feet from the rear and adjacent property lines. In addition to that playing a role in the feeling of incursion, the site elevation of the new construction is substantially higher than that of properties to the south (all the 1915 Craftsman homes were built on grade). Thus, even from several lots away, it is possible to look right into the new first, second, and third stories.
This is exactly what we need with our housing crisis. Stop opposing new housing in every neighborhood.
Circulate SD has spoken like a true developer lobbying group. Thanks Paul Jamason.
Contrary take:
Those of us fortunate enough to have been able to purchase property decades ago in San Diego — or even as recently as 5 years ago, really — ought to thank our lucky stars for how blessed we are to have gotten in when we did, back when things were a lot more affordable, and accept inevitable change as the cost of choosing to live or stay in a large city like San Diego.
No single building is going to “tank” a home purchased for $30,000 that is now worth $2,000,000. Decades of underbuilding across San Diego relative to demand got us where we are today, and building our way out of it is painful but unfortunately necessary if we want the next generation to thrive here like we have.
Every neighborhood has to take on its fair share, and “nothing” simply can’t be considered anyone’s fair share.
Can you link me to that $30K home (say, bought about 25 years ago) now worth $2M?
In South Park, 25 years ago, a nice Craftsman was ~$120K and is now ~$800K-$1M. And interest rates were >13%!!!
These numbers are not accurate at all. We purchased our recently rehabbed home in South Park 20 years ago for $850k. It’s now worth about $1.6m. Houses in this area were not selling for $30k at that time.
Really, absolutely. There weren’t any homes for sale for $30K 20, 25, 30, or 40 or 100 years ago. South Park had different stages of development. The earliest houses, possibly the nicest, were built on the eastern boundary of the subdivisions comprising South Park. In later years, ~1911-1915, the western subdivision homes were built. There was a sawmill on the canyon edge at Bancroft and Elm then, used by a Michigan man/construction builder and his sons to build, one-by-one, the homes in the San Diego Property Union. SDPU was actually patented by two wealthy San Franciscans in 1873. They gave up trying to sell lots when the Panic of 1873 shut down banks and a lot of the economy. When the SDPU homes were first sold, they went for about $3000 (193-1915).
This pearl clutching over building new housing is disgustung and it has to stop. Do you really care so much about hundred year old houses and sky-high property values that you aren’t able to feel empathy for the young?
I feel empathy for the young, but not for the multimillionaire buyers who are using every exemption to add a bit more profit to the rental units they are jamming into back yards of >100-yo homes. And I’d feel even more empathy for the young renters who pay that rent in wonderful old Craftsman-filled neighborhoods if they saved their disposable income a bit better (instead of on Starbucks lattes and expensive mobiles, cars, and pets). They could rent in cheaper neighborhoods, and they, too, would save enough for a down payment in years ahead. That’s what I did. Rented in a low-cost hood, didn’t blow $$ on costly food, takeouts, clothes, pets, cars, or phones, and worked my butt off for 7 or 8 years and added to savings. I see these young renters walking by, sipping takeout, talking on mobiles, restraining big, expensive dogs on pricey leashes…figure it out.
Good point.
Many of us were quite frugal as were our parents, grandparents, great grandparents and extended families. We focused and saved. We started small businesses and worked additional and/or odd jobs (side-hustles). My first home purchase was far from where I grew up – very far. I understood that being frugal, having focus and, as well, sweat equity were part of growth and fulfillment.
I feel empathy for the young, but not for the multimillionaire buyers who are using every exemption to add a bit more profit to the rental units they are jamming into back yards of >100-yo homes. And I’d feel even more empathy for the young renters who pay that rent in wonderful old Craftsman-filled neighborhoods if they saved their disposable income a bit better (instead of on Starbucks lattes and expensive mobiles, cars, and pets). They could rent in cheaper neighborhoods, and they, too, would save enough for a down payment in years ahead. That’s what I did. Rented in a low-cost hood, didn’t blow $$ on costly food, takeouts, clothes, pets, cars, or phones, and worked my butt off for 7 or 8 years and added to savings. I see these young renters walking by, sipping takeout, talking on mobiles, restraining big, expensive dogs on pricey leashes…figure it out.
The appreciation and overinflated home prices are increasing faster than anyone can save. Anyone who doesn’t already own a home is just getting further and further behind.
You sound like a bootstrapping boomer that is out of touch with the current market. Check the zillow estimated montly cost on your home and ask yourself if you could’ve afforded that amount, plus the downpayment.
kh is right! The developer’s have made home purchase LESS available. A developer will pay anything to get the property that he wants; he has investors ready to tear it down. So the communities like Golden Hill, Linda Vista, etc. have had increased sales to developers at higher prices.
Corruption rules! Until the people wake up and fight, fight, fight against it!
Paul and Kevin – Either of you familiar with the term “in scale”?
No, I didn’t think so. just build build build, pile pile pile, congest congest congest, crapo crapo crapo.
got it. message received.
Kevin, a house submerged in darkness on one side by a mid-rise on the property line won’t be easy to sell. Would you buy such a house? Would you want to live in it? Developers can modify building design — cutouts, setbacks, landscaping — to avoid overpowering nearby homes. But that would mean sacrificing some profit.
Your contention that opponents of extreme density want “nothing” built is specious. Cindy is right — this is about scale. And one inevitable thing about housing in San Diego is that you literally can’t build enough to supply demand. This is a highly desirable place to live. People with money have always come here to live in a warm climate near the ocean. That’s why global developers and corporate investors have been swarming in and buying up land.
Paul, great to hear from you! I always feel gratified when something I’ve written provokes you to react.
Kate, you challenge the “morals”of the developers but I think the moral question lies with the politicians that created the opportunity for the developers. Politicians are the ones appointed by the public to create and operate the framework within which our community functions. “Morals” are not enforceable as our society functions within a legal system and that is all that can be expected from any members of our community. I wish they could be enforced but we do not seem able to agree on what is “moral”. The laws that our elected officials have enacted over the last ten years have created the environment that the developers are now operating within. Are we on the wrong track when we keep reelecting politicians like Todd Gloria by large margins? Doesn’t that lead to us being responsible for this?
Thanks Kate
Thank Kate for a great write up. I just wanted to mention that the Craftsman see in the above picture was saved from demolition. It was in Mission Hills on Fort Stockton St and I had it moved 20 years ago the current location in Golden Hill. It was completely restored . Only to be dwarfed by a 91 unit 8 story box. It was important to me to put an architecturally equivalent structure in this neighborhood.
And now Todd Gloria and the city council is handing her 101 Ash St. How is this not a conflict of interest when she is the chair of the city planning commission?
I agree. VOSD has the story in their morning report but doesn’t mention she is chair of the SD Planning Commission. The SDUT points out the connection.
And sadly Times of San Diego didn’t mention Moden or her connection in their report. Have persons flagrantly abusing their public office by self-dealing become just not newsworthy anymore?
Exactly, David. Welcome to San Diego, City of Grift
Corruption. It plagues our “public servants”. Forget about draining the swap. Flush the toilet!
Questions for YIMBYS:
Does anyone actually think developers are motivated by altruism?
Those choosing to build out-of-character high-density projects in historically low density areas are purchasing properties who’s value is pegged to the existing neighborhood (comps: comparable properties) rather than the value of land zoned for mid-rise high-density. Do they pass on this cost savings to the future residents of their projects? Little to no chance of that – proformas for investors, lenders, partners, etc. are pegged to market rents for the types of units they’ll build – they need to show significant profit to attract money. To do this they need the project to have as many units as allowable, and with the rules now in place they don’t even need the bonus density for inclusion of affordable housing. Whether these projects yield any gain in housing affordability is entirely dependent on market competition – competition pegged to rents in existing comparable properties – the other recently built, amenity filled, high rent apartment buildings.
Will this increase in supply actually create more affordable housing?
Regulations now in place leave only much older apartment buildings affordable. They prevent keeping up with market rate rents and increasingly leave the building owners with insufficient financial resources to adequately maintain the properties. When they fall into disrepair, affordable housing becomes substandard; the low rents and poor conditions devalue the properties; eventually leaving them vulnerable to purchase at prices that make redevelopment into new high-density projects pencil out (be profitable). Then tenants get ousted to create more units they can’t afford.
My money says that almost of those commenting in favor of Kelly Moden and her projects are living safely in La Jolla or similar, and have no intention (nor threat) of being included in “everybody take their share.” The loss of light and charm and privacy are only a part of the equation. What’s really at stake is the loss of belief in any amount of equity in our lives for anyone but the rich and well connected. So much for a first ever gay person of color being in charge and bringing something different. Voters across the country need to pay attention to this reality as they buy into the idea that the identity politics us vs them has anything whatsoever to do with race, gender, orientation etc. It’s about greed, and lust for power. These people come in every form.
It wasn’t long ago, when a person’s business rose in stature by earning client trust. With employees, it was teamwork. There was an art to making sure you made your employees feel like part of the team, so they could share in the pride. If any part of that team mis-representing or disgraced the team, they were out. Period.
The Kelly Moden type of business model is the exact opposite. Shameful.
Bring back the sanity that our leaders removed. We had laws and codes that protected property owners from this. The codes provided safe construction & safety with fire inspections, electrical inspections, soil inspections…. Not now with Todd’s “Complete Communities”. (Word to the wise. Don’t buy one of those!!) We need housing, so lower the bar, but safely, carefully and thoughtfully. The way our city leaders did it, is a free for all, where only their builder friends win, not people that live & work here that need homes! Nobody needs 85 accessory dwelling units in their backyard! We need apartments & condo’s, but we also need homes and duplexes, where young families can raise children, with yards, animals & sunshine. That’s still possible. This rampant overbuilding of cheap tiny boxes is just ruining our once beautiful city. It is raping the land. A few years ago you could still see Mission Valley. Now it is gone forever. In a few years, when those out of town builders have cashed in and gone back to where they came from & the warranties are out dated, we’ll be stuck with tall buildings of trash..