BLACK mobile logo

california

education

Behind the Green Curtain of Emerald Hills

January 26, 2026

The historic KFSD radio towers in San Diego's Emerald Hills neighborhood face demolition for a 123-unit housing development by D.R. Horton, despite the city's recent repeal of a controversial zoning provision that enabled high-density construction in disadvantaged areas. The San Diego Planning Commission approved the project in November 2025, though it has been appealed by local community planning groups, and environmental reports acknowledge significant unmitigated impacts on transportation, air quality, and noise. Community advocates led by former planning group chair Andrea Hetheru propose an alternative vision to preserve the hilltop site as a public destination park rather than allow development by a company with a documented history of construction defects and regulatory violations.

Who is affected

  • Residents of Emerald Hills and Encanto neighborhoods in southeastern San Diego
  • Students and staff at Horton Elementary School, Gompers Academy, Millennial Tech Middle School, and Johnson Magnet School (all within or near one mile of the site)
  • Chollas Valley Community Planning Group
  • Long-time residents including Cecili Williams (50-year resident), Dr. Michelle Thompson (40+ year generational resident), and Kenney Key
  • San Diego Unified School District (facing potential need for expanded school capacity)
  • Black, Latino, and Asian American homeowners in the historically redlined neighborhood
  • D.R. Horton Los Angeles Holding Company Inc. (developer)
  • Users of Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library and Euclid Avenue Trolley Station

What action is being taken

  • The Chollas Valley Community Planning Group has appealed the Planning Commission's approval to the City Council
  • Andrea Hetheru is leading the "Hold the Hill, Build the Park" community advocacy campaign
  • Voice & Viewpoint is canvassing the neighborhood and speaking with residents
  • The holdthehill.org website is collecting sign-ups for alerts about the City Council appeal hearing date

Why it matters

  • This development represents ongoing environmental justice concerns in a historically disadvantaged, redlined neighborhood where discriminatory housing covenants once restricted where Black families could live. The project highlights tensions between addressing San Diego's housing needs and protecting vulnerable communities from what residents consider dangerous development that their aging infrastructure cannot support. The Environmental Impact Report acknowledges significant unmitigated impacts on transportation, air quality, and noise, while multiple agencies including CalTrans and San Diego Unified School District have raised concerns about freeway congestion and insufficient school capacity. The controversy also raises questions about whether city officials are prioritizing developer interests over resident welfare, particularly given D.R. Horton's documented history of construction defects, safety violations, and regulatory penalties nationwide.

What's next

  • A City Council appeal hearing will be scheduled to review the Planning Commission's approval (date not yet set)
  • Residents can visit holdthehill.org to sign up for alerts about the hearing date
  • Community members are being encouraged to attend the appeal hearing to voice opposition

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint