San Diego City Council approved the largest redevelopment project in San Diego's history with the City's first Community Benefits Agreement. The agreement includes the creation of new affordable housing, first-source hiring of local residents and ex-offenders, living wage commitments, an on-site hiring center and environmental Green Building standards.

The victory resulted from a broad coalition of community groups, housing advocates, environmental groups, and labor unions. Non-stop negotiations took place over a 5-week period led by the San Diego Organizing Project (a PICO affiliate) and the Center on Policy Initiatives. The full negotiating committee included the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, MAAC Project, the United African American Ministerial Action Council, Community Housing Works, Affordable Housing Coalition, the San Diego Labor Council and the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council.

• Environmental Green Building (LEED) standards at the certified level for over 1.5 million square feet of development. This will be the first high rise residential tower in the U.S. using LEED standards.

• A commitment to build 200,000 square feet of family-sized affordable housing to families earning from 30% to 60% Area Median Income.

• Commitments for housing units to be targeted for downtown workers and displaced residents of nearby areas.

• $1.5 million to seed an affordable housing project in neighborhoods adjacent to downtown.

• 35,000 square feet of on-site for-sale affordable housing for families earning 100% Area Median Income

• A first source hiring agreement with targeting local residents and ex-offenders for first access to new jobs

• $1.5 million paid to establish a pre-apprenticeship training program and commitments to recruit into apprenticeship programs and construction jobs from low-income communities surrounding downtown and from the ex-offender community.

• The commitment to arranging presentations by advocates of Ex-offenders to future businesses on site about the benefits to society by hiring Ex-offenders

• A commitment to a recruiting a grocery store as an anchor tenant that will pay living wages and provide healthcare

• Adoption of San Diego's new Living Wage and Responsible Contractor ordinances for subcontracted on-site permanent jobs

• Protection of nearby Maritime industry by way of Marine Terminal Easements and support of a vibrant industrial Port

• A permanent, on-site job placement center for on-site businesses to give notice to the community about new job opportunities.

For more information visit www.sdop.net.