Under Construction · San Diego, California
4264 Whittier Street sits in Point Loma — one of San Diego's most established and supply-constrained coastal neighborhoods. Bounded by the ocean, the bay, and military installations, Point Loma has extremely limited developable land. New housing here is exceptionally rare, and when it does come to market, it commands premium pricing.
This 14-unit ground-up infill development represents exactly the kind of project that defines the neighborhood's future: dense enough to pencil in a high-cost market, but scaled and designed to respect the character of the surrounding community. The project is currently under construction and taking shape on site.
Steele Development acquired this site with fully approved development plans already in hand. This was a deliberate strategic decision. In a market like Point Loma, the entitlement process can stretch across years — navigating community review, environmental assessment, and the city's discretionary approval process. Every month of entitlement delay carries cost and risk.
By acquiring a site with plans already approved, Steele eliminated the entitlement timeline entirely. The team moved directly from acquisition to construction, bypassing what is often the most uncertain and time-consuming phase of any development project.
This approach reflects a broader thesis: in supply-constrained markets where entitlement risk is high, there is significant value in acquiring shovel-ready sites. The premium paid for approved plans is often more than offset by the time savings, the elimination of entitlement risk, and the ability to begin generating value immediately through construction.
The project is currently progressing through active construction. The site has moved from raw land through excavation, foundation work, and is now advancing through framing. Each phase of construction brings the project closer to completion and closer to delivering new housing in one of San Diego's most underserved markets.
The construction sequence follows a standard ground-up residential build: site preparation and grading, drilling and excavation for foundations, rebar and concrete foundation work, and wood framing. The team is executing against an established timeline, with each milestone tracked and managed through experienced general contracting.
This is the tangible side of development — turning plans into physical structures, transforming a vacant site into a community of 14 new homes. The daily progress on site represents the culmination of strategic acquisition, careful planning, and disciplined execution.
Point Loma is not a typical San Diego submarket. Its geographic constraints — the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Diego Bay to the east, and Naval Base Point Loma to the south — create a natural supply ceiling that has no parallel in the region. There are simply very few sites available for new development.
This scarcity drives pricing. Point Loma consistently ranks among the highest-value residential neighborhoods in San Diego County. The combination of ocean proximity, established neighborhood character, excellent schools, and proximity to downtown San Diego creates sustained demand from both buyers and renters.
For developers, the barriers to entry are substantial. Land costs are high, available parcels are scarce, and the entitlement process is complex. But for those who can navigate these challenges — and deliver quality product — the market rewards execution with premium pricing and strong absorption.
The 4264 Whittier project is positioned to benefit from all of these dynamics. New construction in Point Loma is rare enough that each completed project stands out in the market. Thirteen new units in this neighborhood represents meaningful new supply in a market that has seen very little.
The project utilized California's density bonus provisions to achieve a higher unit count than the site's base zoning would otherwise allow. This is a critical tool in high-cost coastal markets where land values make development at base densities economically challenging.
Through the density bonus process, the project secured additional units above the base zoning allowance, along with height waivers and other development concessions that were worked through with the City of San Diego's planning department. These concessions are a standard feature of density bonus projects and reflect the state's policy of incentivizing housing production through increased development flexibility.
The density bonus pathway is particularly valuable in markets like Point Loma, where every additional unit can significantly impact project economics. The incremental units achieved through the bonus effectively lower per-unit land costs and improve overall project feasibility — making projects pencil that might not work at base density.
The following images document the construction journey at 4264 Whittier Street — from raw land through active construction. Each phase represents a milestone in the transformation of this Point Loma site from vacant land to new housing.
Construction continues on schedule. The project will progress through framing completion, mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough-in, exterior finishing, and interior build-out. Each phase brings the project closer to delivering 14 new homes in one of San Diego's most desirable coastal neighborhoods.
When complete, the 4264 Whittier project will represent Steele Development's execution capability in one of the most competitive development markets in Southern California. Ground-up construction in Point Loma is a statement: it requires capital, expertise, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory and construction environments.
This project is proof that the Steele model extends beyond Oceanside and beyond entitlement. It demonstrates the ability to acquire, build, and deliver in premium coastal markets across the San Diego region.
Whether you have a shovel-ready parcel or a site that needs zoning and density analysis, Steele Development can help evaluate your property's development potential.
Request a Property ReviewThis project is currently under construction. All descriptions reflect current construction status and are subject to change. Completion timelines, unit configurations, and final project details may differ from preliminary plans. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice.