San Diego

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday for a mental health agency to convert a two-story apartment building at 732 10th Ave. into a 14-bed residential treatment center for the homeless mentally ill.

The city’s Planning Commission had voted to deny a special permit to Community Research Foundation for the center, based in part on complaints from owners of neighboring downtown property. One of them, Tom Hom, appeared before council members Tuesday and urged them to confirm the Planning Commission vote.

Hom, who plans to build a 17-story apartment building within 150 feet of the proposed treatment center, pointed out that downtown already has 15 social service agencies, such as St. Vincent de Paul and the Rescue Mission. After the hearing, he also told reporters that the concentration of relief agencies can make it difficult for him and other downtown property owners to find financing for development projects.

But the council rejected Hom’s arguments and overturned the Planning Commission’s denial, ruling in favor of Community Research Foundation, which has a $700,000 annual contract from the county to operate the center.

Council members noted the small scale of the proposed operation and added that its services are sorely needed downtown, where homeless mentally ill people roam the streets.