Quick update on various projects Downtown San Diego

As you probably already know the CCDC is not functional anymore. The plug on the redevelopment has been pulled unfortunately so some projects Downtown were stopped.

Good news is that certain ones are still continuing on!

Horton Square project for example is well on it’s way! The old Robinson’s May building has been completely demolished! On it’s place there will be a new structure, projected to completed in just 1 year from the time the bids are out in June. 40 feet talk lumineers and 3 food and beverage pavillions are said to complete this brand new Downtown San Diego structure.

North Embarcadero Visionary plan has started already, phase 1 is under construction. The whole goal is to create a wider promenade from Broadway to B street; and eventually in next stages it would be moving up north from B street.

9th and Broadway project is also under construction, it will be a 250 affordable apartment project, with some units among these be dedicated to the homeless people. This project together with other formal permanent homeless shelters is designed to combat the homeless problem in Downtown San Diego and take people from the streets. This project is to be completed by 2015.

Another apartment building that’s coming on in east village San Diego is a building on 14th and Island. Should be 250 unit residential tower with a park to the west and children play ground, dog park, etc. ( This one seems to be very promising for East Village! )

There are also 2 new sites available Downtown that are ready to redevelop: 7th and Market and Park and Market. The city is really pushing some business oriented buildings in those two place, that would produce jobs, like possibly various technology offices, etc.

 

 

877 Island Ave, unit 908 goes Pending with 0 active days on the market!!!!

Talking about Hot Market!

This property at Park Loft has come and gone without anyone even noticing it!
1br, 1 and a half bath and 1210 sq ft of space on 9th floor. This unit is unique, modern, and a symbol of urban Downtown Living!.
I love all the upgrades the previous owner did with the frosted glass for bathrooms, showers, etc. Also great choice of flooring and closets. But the best part of this unit is – it’s incredible DIRECT BALLPARK VIEWS! No wonder Park Loft 908 was listed at $650,000 and sold without even stay 1 full day on the market!.

In the last 90 days there have been 3 sales that are Pending Now in 877 Island ave building. The average time on the market on those is not even 10 days!!! Who knows if it’s the settled litigation in the building to Ball Park proximity, but condos are selling like hot cakes there!

And check this out, out of 5 condos that did sell there in the last six months, 3 sold for more than the asking price!!!!
An example would be 877 Island Ave # 905 listed for $499,900! The condo even had a water leak and needed to be fully fixed up, updated, etc. It sold for $517,000.
Another one 877 Island Ave # 512 that was listed for $695,000, sold at $705,000 in 77 days as a short sale!

At this point there are not other condos for sale in this building, except unit 908, about which is this blog!
But there are currently 2 rentals available at Park Loft, both high end spacious condos on 10th floor at $5200 and $6500 each!

 

San Diego Restaurant Week Is Back!

San Diego Restaurant Week Downtown San Diego!

Celebrate Week 2 Of San Diego Restaurant Week

Jan. 20-25 2013

It’s time to gather all of your favorite foodie friends to try some of San Diego’s best restaurants!  San Diego Restaurant Week offers unbelievable deals on 3 and 4 course meals at some of San Diego’s most exclusive high-end restaurants.  This is the perfect opportunity to try a few different menu items at some of those restaurants that you’ve always wanted to try.  You can participate in restaurant week for lunch or dinner from January 20th – 25th.  Here’s a peek at some of the wonderful restaurants that you can choose from.

Ruth’s Chris

Barrio Star

Anthony’s Fish Grotto San Diego Bay

Banker’s Hill Bar & Restaurant

Cafe Chloe

Donovan’s Prime Steakhouse

Indigo Grill

Prepkitchen Little Italy

Wine Vault & Bistro

Zanzibar Cafe

 

Prices for lunch range from $10 – $20.  Dinner prices range from $20 – $40.  I suggest making reservations ahead of time as they tend to fill up quickly. 

Come visit us on your way to Restaurant Week Downtown San Diego!  The Downtown Condo Showroom is located at 715 J Street, Suite 101, right next to Petco Park!  Stop by and speak with one of our experts regarding local events and the Downtown San Diego real estate market.  We are open 7 days a week from 9am – 6pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mardi Gras In The Gaslamp Downtown San Diego

Mardi Gras Downtown San Diego

Mardi Gras Downtown San Diego

Downtown San Diego Welcomes Mardi Gras 2013

“Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday” .  Fat Tuesday is the last day of indulgence before the 40 days and 40 nights of lent.  This day is celebrated worldwide.   Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp has become the largest Mardi Gras celebration on the West Coast.

2013 will be the 19th year we’ve embraced the Fat Tuesday tradition in the heart of Downtown San Diego!

This year at Mardi Gras Gaslamp you will not see the traditional parade but there will be four outdoor stages with live bands, indoor live music at popular venues like Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar, dancers on 5th Ave, and beads beads beads!  This is an exciting Downtown San Diego event that you do not want to miss.

You can purchase pre-sale tickets for $40 per person or you can purchase tickets the day of the event for $50 per person.  Tickets include access to the Mardi Gras festival, outdoor entertainment, live music, and in and out access.  You can also purchase Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp dinner packages for $50, in advance.

For more information on local events or the Downtown San Diego real estate market, stop by and speak with one of our experts at the Downtown Condo Showroom.  We are located at 715 J Street, Suite 101.  The Downtown Condo Showroom is open daily from 9am – 6pm.

148 properties available in 92101 zip code now

We’ve officially hit the RECORD LOW inventory Downtown San Diego in probably almost 10 years!

Definitely the last 3-4 while I’ve been in real estate, and judging from the crazy real estate booming market during which all the thousands of new development condos were selling, this definitely IS the lowest number of condos available in the 92101 zip code!

Having no new inventory to speak of, less and less distressed properties, we mainly have the traditional resales remaining here.

148 units all together in the whole Downtown zip code! And that’s including couple of single detached homes, towhnhomes, etc.

12 studio/lofts;
28 one bedrooms;
98 two bedrooms;
and 1 fourbedroom townhome in banker’s hill neighborhood.10 three bedrooms; ( notice that’s less that studios, folks, for those of you who’re on the market to buy a 3br, might want to think again! )

That’s ALL price ranges, INCLUDING short sales, foreclosures, flipped properties and traditional sales and whatever few of the new condos that are left.

Very interesting statistics that both sellers and buyers should factor in when making a decision to sell or purchase a property now in 92101.

 

 

Gang Kitchen Downtown San Diego

Downtown San Diego Welcomes Another New Restaurant, Gang Kitchen!

Jon Mangini, a San Diego restaurateur is known for his popular urban restaurants such as Basic Kitchen in East Village, URBN Coal Fired Kitchen in North Park, and now Gang Kitchen located in the Ballpark District of Downtown San Diego.  This 5,000 square foot Asian concept restaurant offers an exotic multi-Asian menu and Asian inspired cocktails. 

Here’s a sneak peak of some of the Gang Kitchen’s menu items:

Szechwan lobster crepes

Goat cheese won tons

Red chili ceasar salad

Gang fried rice with organic egg

BBQ beef pho

Peking duck

Shanghai beef

And so much more……..

Gang translates to “steel” in Mandarin. 

Mangini teamed up with Jo Anne Plympton and renowned architect Granham Downes to bring his first San Diego Asian inspired restaurant to life.  This 3 level Downtown San Diego restaurant was completed in an open industrial warehouse.  This chic urban restaurant is the perfect addition to Downtown San Diego!

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown San Diego Welcomes The Blind Burro & Cat Eye Club

Soon East Village will welcome The Blind Burro and Cat Eye Club! 

 These two new venues are scheduled to open in December of 2012.

The Blind Burro will be a south of the boarder fusion concept restaurant, featuring seasonal seafood and modern coastal street food.  Are you a tequila fan?  The Blind Burro will also offer a large selection of some of your favorite and rare tequilas. Come to the Blind Burro for dinner and stay late night for drinks and watch this unique restaurant transform into an upscale lounge!
The Cat Eye Club will be a blues inspired Manhattan style club with sounds of Motown R&B and Southern Blues.  This will be a great new addition to Downtown San Diego!  The entertainment design firm is Good Time Design, LLC.  Good Time Design, LLC currently operates the following Downtown San Diego venues:
Lucky’s Lunch Counter
The Tipsy Crow
Double Deuce
Knotty Barrel
Block No. 16 Union & Spirits
The Downtown Condo Showroom is excited to welcome these two new East Village venues!  It’s wonderful to watch Downtown San Diego continue to grow and offer the perfect mix of entertainment and amazing food from all over the world!
Come visit us at the Downtown Condo Showroom 7 days a week!  We are located at 715 J Street, Suite 101 – right next to Bub’s at the Ballpark!

East Village San Diego Welcomes A New Apartment Project, Urbana

Board Grants Design Review Approval to Stadium View Condominiums

Urbana Downtown San Diego
Urbana Downtown San Diego

Last month East Village residents saw the demolition of two one-story warehouse buildings on 10th Ave. between Island and J Street.  This now empty dirt lot is making way for Urbana, a new mixed-use development with 96 market-rate apartments (mainly 1 bedrooms), indoor and outdoor amenity space, 99 parking spaces, and 1,100 sf of street level retail space.  This six-story development was designed by Architects Orange,  the developer/owner is  Fenton Tenth Avenue, LLC.

For a clearer picture of the location of this new development, Urbana will be adjacent to Basic Urban Pizza and right across the street from Fahrenheit condos and the Padres Parking Parkade.  Urbana will be another great addition to Downtown San Diego!  With the new Thomas Jefferson School of Law, new businesses, and restaurants we could use a larger supply of Downtown San Diego rentals.
For more information on Urbana and/or other Downtown San Diego developments, please contact the Downtown Condo Showroom.

Westfield Horton Plaza Downtown San Diego

Horton Plaza Downtown San DiegoHorton Plaza Downtown San Diego

Westfield Plans To Build A New Park Downtown San Diego

Westfield plans to demolish the former Robinson’s May building to design a beautiful urban park.  Westfield will maintain the park for 25 years so it won’t burden the City of San Diego’s general fund.  They will also be required to hold more than 200 events a year at the park such as concerts, farmer’s markets, art shows, outdoor movies, and more.  This project is projected to start in 2013 with a proposed completion date of March 2014.  CCDC has hired designer Walker Macy to image the design and restore/develop the improvements.  The public design process is projected to cost $1.2 million and the construction of the plaza will cost a minimum of $8 million.  This will be paid through Downtown San Diego redevelopment funds.

It’s exciting to see all of the wonderful plans for Downtown San Diego.  This destination city continues to outdo itself with the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, the new Library, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, the new Pedestrian Bridge, and plans to expand the San Diego Convention Center!  Not to mention the remaining open lots that will some day be breathtaking luxury Bosa high-rise developments.  For more information on future plans for Downtown San Diego and/or the San Diego real estate market, contact the Downtown Condo Showroom.

Downtown San Diego Welcomes The 5th Avenue Auto Show

Join Downtown San Diego For The Fourth Annual Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase on Sunday, October 14th, 2012 from 11am-4pm.

Downtown San Diego Auto Show

Downtown San Diego Auto Show

The historic Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego will be showcasing over 150 classic, contemporary, and luxury cars and motorcycles.  The show will be on 5th Ave. between E and L Street.  This is a free event for all ages so bring your family and enjoy a day in the Gaslamp!

Looking to show off your ride?

Register your car/motorcycle by Friday September 28th 2012 at a discounted rate of $40, $50 thereafter, and includes lunch at a Downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quarter restaurant.  You may even leave with a new trophy for that mantel!  Is your vehicle worthy of a “Best in Class”?

Here are a few suggestions for parking the day of the event:

Westfield Horton Plaza (the first 3 hours are free with validation)

Park-it-on-Market

6th & K Parkade

For more detailed information you can check on the Gaslamp Quarter Association online.

Head Downtown early and visit us at the Downtown Condo Showroom at 715 J Street, Suite 101.  Speak with one of our experts to get the inside scoop on the Downtown San Diego real estate market!  We are open daily from 9am-6pm.