JAMES J. SCHMID

Chelsea Investment Corporation

Jim Schmid launched his entrepreneurial career in 1984, starting Chelsea to develop market rate apartments and office buildings. Since 1992, Chelsea Investment Corporation has specialized in financing and developing affordable housing projects.

Chelsea affiliates Emmerson Construction, CIC Management, and Border Communities Capital Company solidify Chelsea as a turnkey developer and committed long-term owner with integrated construction, asset management, and community development capabilities. To date, Chelsea has developed more than 150 quality communities in the western states and is the largest developer of affordable housing in San Diego.

In 2025, Chelsea was named "Affordable Housing Builder of the Year" by BIA San Diego, after having been named “Builder of the Year” three previous times. Chelsea’s development portfolio totals over 15,000 units, valued at almost $4 billion. The company is a trusted partner of organizations and agencies like Father Joe’s Villages, San Diego Housing Commission, and Serving Seniors as well as distinguished builders such as Shea Homes, McMillin, Lennar, and Tri Pointe Homes.

A respected authority in all aspects of development, Jim is a former lecturer for the MSRE program at University of San Diego, Past Chairman of BIA San Diego, and sought-after panelist and speaker. His service to the industry was recently acknowledged by his induction into the BIA San Diego Hall of Fame and receipt of the San Diego Housing Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Ruby Award.

Jim and his wife, Lynn, reside in Encinitas. He enjoys an active lifestyle centered around the outdoors. Whether fishing and sailing in La Paz, spending time in Mammoth, or embarking on his next travel adventure, he embraces every opportunity to explore. A lifelong car enthusiast and avid cyclist, he and his wife are also the proud parents of eight children.