Manchester Financial Group Adds Housing to NAVWAR Site
The developer commits to integrating residential units alongside potential data center plans at the Old Town Campus.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Data Centers
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Manchester Financial Group is moving forward with plans to redevelop 70 acres of U.S. Navy land at the Naval Base Point Loma Old Town Campus. The firm has confirmed that the project will include housing, aiming to address the regional housing crisis.
Why it matters
Incorporating residential development into the 99-year lease agreement is intended to bolster project feasibility while providing much-needed housing stock in San Diego. The inclusion of these mixed-use elements balances the high-intensity infrastructure requirements of the planned site.
The redevelopment spans 70 acres total, with 47 acres allocated for housing and 22 acres designated for potential industrial uses. The developer is currently evaluating technical requirements for a 400-megawatt data center capacity.
The players
Manchester Financial Group
This is a real estate development firm involved in large-scale urban infrastructure projects.
U.S. Navy
This federal military branch owns the land currently used as the Old Town Campus.
The details
Manchester Financial Group is negotiating terms to build a new command center for the U.S. Navy in exchange for long-term land lease rights. Future site plans feature a mix of multi-family homes, retail, commercial space, and industrial facilities.
Timeline
As of October 2026, the developer has confirmed plans for the NAVWAR site redevelopment.
The Tech Race
This project mirrors the industry trend of integrating industrial data center infrastructure into mixed-use urban environments. It signals a move toward replacing outdated military facilities with high-density infrastructure to remain competitive in modern data markets.
San Diego residents may see increased housing availability once the multi-family residential units are completed on the former military site. However, the energy demands of a 400-megawatt data center could necessitate broader grid upgrades that impact local power stability.
The takeaway
Large-scale redevelopment projects are increasingly required to provide public benefits like housing to gain community support. Stakeholders should monitor future utility announcements regarding potential changes to local grid capacity requirements.
Further reading
Learn more about local infrastructure projects in San Diego Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Voice of San Diego.
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Should large urban redevelopment projects prioritize building new housing over constructing commercial data centers?
