Department of Motor Vehicles office in Hillcrest (By Frank Sabatini Jr.)
Development, Affordable Housing, Hillcrest

All Eyes Are On the Hillcrest DMV

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

A push to force the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to redevelop its aging field office in Hillcrest, and to include affordable housing in the redesign, has intensified on both the political and community level.

Assemblymember Chris Ward initiated the idea through his recent introduction of AB-1635, which puts pressure on the DMV to move forward on redeveloping the 3-acre parcel of land. The property currently embodies an administration office that serves the public, plus ample parking lots on the building’s north and south sides.

The assembly bill has set a deadline of July 1, 2026 for the DMV’s land management agency (the Department of General Services) to settle on a plan with the San Diego Housing Commission that will include affordable housing for low-income citizens.

Just recently, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) jumped into the effort by sending a letter of support to Ward on behalf of the association’s 1,300 small-business members.

It stated in part: “The HBA has been an advocate for the redevelopment of this property for many years and believes that new housing on the property will be transformative for Hillcrest. Building a mix of housing types that cater to a range of incomes is critical for the future of our neighborhood.”

The letter was signed by HBA board president, Ryan Bedrosian.

Also, in a recent Facebook post by the HBA, it bluntly referred to the DMV building as “old and ugly.”

Those interested in learning more about the redevelopment crusade and other initiatives occurring throughout Hillcrest are encouraged to attend HBA’s first open house and mixer of the year at 5 p.m., Feb. 20, at 1035 University Ave.