Serving as the project’s design architect as well as the architect of record, MVE created a design that complements the architecture of the overall Riverwalk development, featuring brick, metal and glass materials, creating an appealing modern and comforting atmosphere.
Spanning 227,000 square feet, the development consists of two apartment buildings collectively comprised of 190 units. The four and five-story buildings are dedicated to tenants making between 30%-60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and will feature varying floor plans including 46 one-bedroom, 89 two-bedroom and 55 three-bedroom units. The buildings also include thoughtful and utilitarian amenities including a second-floor courtyard and play area; community room with a kitchen and computer stations; central laundry and onsite leasing office alongside 95 bike spaces and 100 parking spaces – some including EV chargers.
Images Courtesy of: MVE + Partners
To support San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, the buildings will be equipped with numerous sustainability features to help protect the local ecology including rooftop solar electric panels, cool roofing materials, drought tolerant native plants alongside low VOC materials and daylighting to leverage renewable energy and reduce HVAC loads. In September 2023, Riverwalk Phase One received a $41.1M Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant, with $30M supporting the development of The Becker, the largest given by AHSC.
The Becker provides convenient access to all other components of Riverwalk’s development which will bring a total of up to 4,300 residential units (430 affordable), 150,000 square feet of retail, one million square feet of Class A office space and 97 acres of open space. A new transit stop will also be incorporated, strengthening the region’s public transportation system while offering access to more economic opportunities.
“We are ecstatic to see The Becker come to life,” said Chase Rongé, Principal and Director of the San Diego Studio at MVE + Partners. “The Becker is the first project that our new San Diego office will be taking through construction, and we look forward to seeing its positive impact on the community.”
The affordable housing development is one of the first projects spearheaded by MVE’s new office, which opened in October 2024. Currently, there is a growing staff of architects focused on San Diego projects, bringing an expert grasp of the intricacies of the region. Over the firm’s 51-year history, it has designed approximately 30 projects in San Diego and master-planned several others. MVE is also preparing for the groundbreaking of 4002 Park, a new 21-story apartment building that brings an urban character to the intersection of Hillcrest’s commercial and residential neighborhoods.
The Becker project is located at 6364 Village Drive in San Diego and was developed in partnership with developer Wakeland Housing and general contractor Level 10 Construction. It is named after the late Evan Becker, an affordable housing advocate who was head of San Diego Housing Commission in 1988 and served in leadership positions across housing organizations until 2024. The Becker is expected to be completed in 2027.
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Feature Image Courtesy of: MVE + Partners
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