San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced Thursday plans to lease a vacant commercial building in Middletown and convert it into the city's largest homeless shelter.

At a news conference, the mayor said if approved by the San Diego City Council, the new shelter site will provide space for more than 1,000 people.


The nearly 65,000 square foot building is located in an industrial area at 3570 Kettner Blvd, just north of Washington Street and Interstate 5. It used to house a commercial printing business.

"A thousand people off the streets, off the sidewalks, out of the riverbeds, off our beaches, instead connected to care and on a path to permanent housing," said Gloria. "This is the bold action I know San Diegans expect from their leaders."

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