National City opens 94 affordable and veteran apartments at Union Tower

The County News Center reported Nov. 10, 2026 that Union Tower, at 2312 F Ave. in National City, opened 94 apartment homes for low‑income households and veterans.

The county said the $85 million development, built by Wakeland Housing and Development, replaces two aging apartment buildings with two new structures ranging from four to seven stories; the project offers one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments for households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income.

The county said it invested $3.5 million through the Innovative Housing Trust Fund and provided 24 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing project‑based vouchers to keep rents affordable for veterans. Seventy homes are reserved for National City residents and 24 apartments are designated for veterans who have experienced homelessness. A Wakeland advisory forwarded by the county on Nov. 12 said those 24 units are fully furnished, with free wraparound services provided by Housing Innovation Partners, including case management, physical and mental health care, and resident service coordination.

Union Tower is all‑electric and sited near public transit, shopping and community services; the complex features high‑efficiency heat pumps and energy‑efficient windows. Amenities listed in the county announcement include air conditioning, on‑site laundry, a computer lab, Wi‑Fi, a playground, outdoor gathering spaces with barbecue grills and picnic areas, and a community room with a shared kitchen.

More than half the apartments have adaptable features, the county said, including 15 mobility‑accessible units and 10 communication‑accessible units. The county said it has invested more than $343 million in affordable housing infrastructure since 2017 and, through surplus county land and the Innovative Housing Trust Fund, has helped create more than 3,900 new homes with nearly 2,200 more in development.

Tim McClain, a group communication manager for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, told The Golden Coast Journal on Nov. 12 that Wakeland, the operator of the property, is responsible for leasing the building. The Wakeland advisory he forwarded said move-ins began in May 2026 and the community was 100% leased by October 2026, with rents from $408 to $2,728. The county and the advisory did not say what happened to residents of the two buildings the project replaced, or whether any of them had first claim on the new apartments.

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