Lemon Grove homeless sleeping cabins project advances after boundary and service approvals for Troy Street site

A county-backed emergency shelter model moves closer to construction in East County

A plan to develop a small, managed sleeping-cabins site for people experiencing homelessness in Lemon Grove has cleared a key set of approvals needed to move from concept to construction. The project, commonly referenced as the Troy Street Sleeping Cabins, is planned on a two-acre portion of property at 2800 Sweetwater Road near Troy Street.

The site has been described in county documents as an emergency shelter made up of up to about 60 sleeping cabins, along with on-site support intended to help residents transition toward permanent housing. Project materials describe services that may include meals, case management, housing navigation and behavioral health support.

Why this approval step matters

Beyond funding and site design, the project has required basic public-service prerequisites typically handled through local districts and agencies. County actions have included steps tied to sanitation and service-area organization for the Troy Street location, a process that can serve as a practical “final hurdle” before construction timelines can proceed.

In parallel, the project’s land control has evolved. City statements describe an earlier plan to place the cabins on state transportation property through a lease arrangement. The county later pursued a purchase approach after learning the property could not be leased as originally intended due to federal acquisition restrictions.

Scale, timeline and program intent

The Lemon Grove project is smaller than an earlier county concept in Spring Valley that was ultimately abandoned. County decisions in mid-2024 advanced the Lemon Grove site as the next candidate for a cabin-based emergency shelter approach.

Construction timelines presented publicly have projected a start around mid-2025 and completion by summer 2026, though schedules can shift based on contracting, permitting, and site readiness.

Local jurisdiction questions and community response

Lemon Grove has emphasized that because the cabins are planned on state-associated property under county control, the city does not act as the land-use authority for the project and cannot impose local land-use conditions in the way it would for a typical private development. The city has also stated it has held ongoing discussions with the county focused on health and safety impacts and how complaints would be handled during operations.

The project has drawn organized neighborhood opposition at public meetings and community gatherings, focused largely on location, safety concerns, and operational accountability. At the same time, local and regional officials have pointed to persistent unsheltered homelessness in the area as a driver for adding interim shelter capacity paired with services.

Context: homelessness levels in Lemon Grove

Lemon Grove’s adopted Homeless Action Plan cites a 2025 Point-in-Time Count identifying roughly 110 individuals sleeping outside within the city and reports of hundreds of housing-insecure students in the local school district. The plan outlines strategies centered on outreach, regional coordination, and connecting unsheltered residents to housing and supportive services.

• Project type: emergency sleeping cabins with on-site services
• Location: 2800 Sweetwater Road area near Troy Street, Lemon Grove
• Estimated capacity: about 60 cabins (project figures have varied in public discussions)
• Public timeline presented: construction beginning mid-2025, completion targeted for summer 2026

The project’s next phase centers on finalizing property arrangements, completing site preparation, and executing operational plans for staffing, security, and services.