SAN DIEGO-The housing imbalance remains a major barrier to entry for potential first-time homeowners throughout San Diego County. The $22.4-million Auburn Park Apartments project will offer some relief for individuals and families in need of housing.The project, which recently broke ground in the City Heights area, "addresses an important housing need for this community," says San Diego councilman Jim Madaffer.The Auburn Park property is part of a "renaissance of this diverse neighborhood," Madaffer adds. The project is set to open during the middle of next year, Madaffer says. The property is located at the southwest corner of University Avenue and 52nd Street.The 69-unit apartment community is being developed by Affirmed Housing Group, an Escondido-based collaborative of civic leaders and private-sector financial partners. The project will be available for very low- and low-income individuals and families earning 30% to 60% of the San Diego County area median income.Auburn Park will offer 10 studios, 26 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and 21 three-bedroom units for individuals and families that fall into income guidelines. The remaining two units will serve as housing for on-site management and maintenance staffs.Public funding paved the way for the new development. Federal tax credits accounted for approximately $14 million. The project will also receive nearly $6.5 million from the city's Redevelopment Agency Affordable Housing Program (from the Centre City Redevelopment Project Area). Affirmed Housing will also assume a $1.7-million loan.Development of the site could not have come at a better time, as the local affordable housing industry was hit hard last week when the city council approved a vote whereby San Diego would forfeit millions of dollars in affordable housing subsidies.The vote was over the three-year-old "inclusionary" housing ordinance requiring developers to set aside a percentage of their projects for affordable housing units. Under the new ruling, developers, who are able to pay a fee instead of building affordable housing units, will not be liable for future fee increases.With more than 18,000 housing units currently under way or in the pipeline in the area, the profit losses from this ruling are sizable, according to officials at the San Diego Housing Commission. Officials estimate the losses range from $9.6 million to $43 million.Councilwoman Donna Frye, who voted against the settlement, calls the verdict "a direct assault on affordable housing."