If there’s one thing that can make a city apt for raising kids, it’s the child care centers available in the area. Having a place to take care of your kids while you work or run an errand is a godsend, even more so when you know the carers are reliable and competent.
Unfortunately, many child care centers closed down during the pandemic. And many of them have no plans to reopen.
Thankfully, San Diego may have found a solution to the daycare crisis that haunts the city: 72 potential child care centers in city buildings.
The solution elevates America’s Finest City as one of the best places to raise a family. And it makes real estate properties in the area even more valuable.
Child Care Crisis in San Diego
When the pandemic started in 2020, many cities underwent lockdowns and quarantines to contain the coronavirus. Unfortunately, this move brought many undesirable effects worldwide: businesses closed down, schools shifted online, and working from home became common.
But if there’s one thing that families feel strongly about, it’s the lack of child care services that can help them get through the day.
A survey revealed that ten preschool owners among the respondents lost money each day they operated. Thus, more than 500 child care centers stopped their operations.
As a result, families struggled to balance work and child-rearing. But many feel like failures at this task. And the search for a daycare or preschool started.
Unfortunately, the search went nowhere as San Diego suffered from a child care crisis.
But even with the crisis, the city’s real estate market keeps soaring. So, what more if child care centers are already available?
72 City Buildings as Daycare Centers
When child care became a huge issue during the pandemic, San Diego struggled to fill the void.
But now, a solution has finally been found.
The city is looking at 72 public buildings as potential daycare facilities. These buildings include 42 parks and recreation centers, 18 libraries, and 12 office buildings. Identifying these possible child care centers is a great leap towards solving the problem that many families were concerned about during this pandemic.
But, while choosing the right buildings and turning them into preschools has not yet started, the city is making great efforts to get the ball rolling.
According to Kim McDougal, YMCA’s Vice President of Social Services, San Diego needs to invest in these potential child care centers and refurbish the chosen buildings. The process will be very lengthy, but getting them child-care-ready is worth it.
And yet, despite all this, the city’s real estate market keeps improving. So it won’t be a surprise when property values soar in the future, especially when San Diego finishes its child care projects.
Raising Kids in San Diego
Finding a child-friendly and family-oriented residence can be a challenge, but San Diego makes the search worthwhile.
A report even named the city as one of the best places to raise a family. And it’s not just the government’s efforts to solve the child care crisis and provide centers for kids that make San Diego a top place for families.
Moving to the Finest City is great for kids because of the public schools that offer excellent education. San Diego has several of the best schools in California, including the top school district, Poway Unified School District, and the best high school, Preuss School.
Moreover, there are many attractions in the city that will entertain kids and the whole family. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Carlsbad’s Legoland are two. A trip to these places will provide a memorable experience for kids and kids at heart.
But, more importantly, San Diego has a low crime rate. This reason alone makes the city a great place to raise kids.
So, while the solution to the crisis in child care is still in the talks, identifying potential buildings is already a great step.
Once the city turns the facilities into active daycare centers, nothing will stop San Diego from reaching the top rank as the best place to raise a family. And by then, the real estate market will be even more valuable.