A century-old hotel, destroyed by a fire in 2004, has been restored and is giving a new lifeline to low-income, mentally disabled adults who are at risk of homelessness.
San Diego city leaders gathered Thursday morning to celebrate the restoration of The Mason hotel located on Fifth Avenue.
The 17,740 square foot facility is now home to 16 residents, including Dallas Edge, who said it’s the first time in 13 years that he’s had a key to his own home.
"It's wonderful, and it's got everything," he said. "It’s a community minded building, I feel very safe, I’ve got access to all the major buses and trolleys, access to downtown San Diego."
Each studio unit has a bedroom area, kitchenette and private bathroom. A community room on the lower level has computers, couches, TV and a kitchen.
Residents will also receive mental health supportive services.
The Mason, funded in part by a $2.7 million loan from the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) is just one of many low income housing units around downtown San Diego being developed for at risk homeless people.
SDHC is also renovating the Hotel Sanford, located next door to the Mason. It will soon be home to 130 low-income seniors. Another project, Celadon, on 9th and Broadway recently broke ground and will provide 250 rental apartments for families, as well as youth aging out of foster care.
