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National City authorizes consultant to study city parcels for affordable homeownership; draft RFP expected in March
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to hire a consultant to run an RFQ/RFP and feasibility study for six city‑owned infill parcels as part of a push to create affordable for‑sale housing.
The City Council voted unanimously to hire consultant KMA to carry out a full RFQ/RFP process and feasibility study aimed at producing affordable for‑sale housing on city‑owned infill parcels. City staff told the council they have identified roughly six parcels for study and are pursuing environmental reviews, zoning assessments and financing models before issuing a draft request for proposals.
City Housing Director Carlos Aguirre told the council the housing authority has spent nearly $500,000 in non‑city funds to prepare parcels and that the consultant contract (authorized tonight) will help the city complete complex feasibility, underwriting and procurement steps. Aguirre said the team’s target schedule calls for a draft RFP to come to council in March, an evaluation of proposals in summer and awards in the fall, but he stressed that feasibility and developer interest will ultimately determine whether any parcels are built.
Councilmembers pressed staff about how many units might be produced. Staff said modeling to date targets roughly 100–200 units across the parcels, but cautioned that site constraints and required gaps in financing could change that number. Councilmember Rodriguez and others reiterated that any homeownership opportunities should prioritize National City residents and guard against investor capture.
Action taken: the council authorized the KMA agreement to proceed with the RFQ/RFP and feasibility work. Staff will return with the draft RFP for council review and with more detailed feasibility findings.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this item include Director Carlos Aguirre and Councilmember Rodriguez.
Notes: The council framed the contract as a two‑phase approach: (1) feasibility and optimization of city parcels, and (2) solicitation and evaluation of developer proposals. Staff repeatedly emphasized that the RFP does not guarantee construction: if proposals are infeasible or if developers decline to respond, the city will report that back to council.
