Downtown San Diego Development, Culture & Lifestyle

San Diego Business Journal Downtown Resource Guide 2007

2007-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

This document from the San Diego Business Journal is worth reading.

Best Sandwich in the City: Global Village Marketplace in Little Italy

2007-03-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've lived in the city for several years and while there is a lot of very good food around most of it is of the sit down and wait/high end variety which isn't always practical. When looking for a deli sandwich I'm also not usually interested in chain places like Quiznos, Subway or Submarina.

I recently stumbled into Global Village Marketplace in Little Italy between Ash and Beech Streets, it's in the Portico building and ordered a sandwich to go. I usually don't try places that don't have big lines or that friends recommend, I'm amazed at the quality, so much so I'm putting up a blog entry over the experience. Give them a try if you're in the neighborhood.

http://www.globalvillagemarketplace.com/

Broadway Lofts announces new retail

2007-03-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

I found this news release on www.sandiegometro.com. I was hoping for something a little more urban for that location. Could this be the beginning of the suburbanization of downtown? There was talk of a Banana Republic in this location, that would have been much better for that part of the city.

Fuddruckers has signed a 10-year, $1.9 million lease for space in the old First National Bank Building at Fifth Avenue and Broadway in Downtown San Diego and is tentatively scheduled to open in a portion of the space in August. Broadway Lofts has preserved the nearly 100-year-old building by developing the property into 84 residential lofts, four penthouses and ground-level retail space. The lease is with Watt Genton Associates. “Broadway Lofts is extremely well positioned in Downtown for Fuddruckers as it is sandwiched between the Central Business District, which will pull in the majority of their lunch crowd, and the Gaslamp Quarter, which will pull in most of their nighttime crowd,” says Lauren Trussell of CB Richard Ellis. “Fuddruckers is committing to a long-term presence in the Downtown location. Most restaurants in the area are fine-dining or a bistro/pub-style venue. Having a Fuddruckers adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter creates more options for the Downtown workforce, residents, families and tourists alike.” Fuddruckers is a family-oriented, casual restaurant franchise specializing in hamburgers, hot sandwiches, soups, salads and side dishes. Its corporate name is Casual Concepts Food Inc.

The former bank building was originally built in 1909. It was renovated in 1940 to give it a “modern” look. Arched windows, terra-cotta trim, columns and ornate entrances were removed in favor of a smoother, streamlined appearance. Trussell and David Hagglund of CB Richard Ellis represented Casual Concepts Food.

East Village Tavern & Bowl

2007-02-18T08:14:00.000-08:00

While this is still in the planning stage this project would definitely offer a unique experience for downtown.

From CCDC's recent update:

East Village Tavern & Bowl (East Village Tavern, LLC) - Centre City Conditional Use Permit to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with live music and entertainment within a proposed neighborhood restaurant/bar and six-lane bowling alley located at 930 Market Street - East Village.

I personally believe that the city needs more entertainment, shopping and workout options. The recent demise of Sunset Bowl in Clairemont left very few options for a occaisonal bowling night with friends.

It's lonely at the top

2007-01-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

If you've never had dinner or cocktails at Mister A's then do yourself a big favor and go check it out. Awesome and unique views and experience. I'm glad the Union Tribune did a story on this place as well as the hopeful new trend coming downtown.

Name game is no joke for marketing of new condos

2006-12-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

In case you ever wondered where some of the downtown condo names come from this Union Tribune article offers some insight.

Surfing 'new' San Diego

2006-12-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Downtown San Diego makes USA Today with a piece on the Gaslamp revival into the "next South Beach".

New Albertsons Opens Downtown

2006-10-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

This welcome addition to downtown has another coffee shop and a Boston Market. The free parking should help keep this part of the city.

San Diego Business Journal Online - New Albertsons Downtown"

New Boutique Hotels Find Place to Stay in Urban Core

2006-09-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Interesting San Diego Business Journal article that discusses the boutique hotel trend and how it impacts San Diego in the form of three new boutique hotels coming soon to downtown.

Sushi Fix in Little Italy

2006-09-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Union Tribune reports on the recent addition of Sushi Fix to Little Italy. I've been there many times and frequently see their delivery people around the city. It's good stuff.

Filling a role | The San Diego Union-Tribune

New 12 story building coming to Hillcrest

2006-09-13T09:25:00.000-07:00

Based on this Union Tribune Article there are a lot of unhappy people about this project. Personally I like the development. While I don't go to that part of the city often the extra parking will well received.

Hillcrest project to add parking | The San Diego Union-Tribune

A new kind of condo | The San Diego Union-Tribune

2006-09-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Union Tribune has this story on rowhomes in the city.

I also like the row home concept. In many cases you also have a small back yard and a garage. There are more row homes in the Bankers Hill neighborhood than the other downtown areas. There are several projects underway at the moment on Bankers Hill. I do not think row homes are allowed downtown by CCDC anymore. Good examples of rowhomes downtown are Rowhomes on F and Citimark at Cortez.

Cortez Hill: The Perks Of Geography

2006-09-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

Nice story on one of downtown's quieter neighborhoods. Personally I think Cortez Hill needs a lot more retail and I like the development activity that's taking place all over the city. I wouldn't want to see it end because of political pressure even if the "housing bubble" does delay projects.

San Diego Metropolitan Magazine - The Perks Of Geography

Machines for Living: Downtown Condo and Office Towers

2006-08-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Fantastic cover story in this week's San Diego Reader features a walk through downtown and details many of downtown's buildings.

The Bankers Hill Green Revival

2006-08-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Voice of San Diego reports that the on again off again Bankers Hill Green project appears to be back on track although it'll probably be different than originally planned.

6th and Upas Condominiums on Bankers Hill

2006-08-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

Very nice looking 14 story building. The development plan indicates a very unique one unit per floor design. This building will overlook Balboa Park on the Northwest corner of the park.

I see that a crane has arrived onsite so the big hole that's been there for what seems like a few years now will start to get some increased activity.

More information on the project is available from the company that is financing the construction of the building: view

Modus on Bankers Hill

2006-08-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

Fun new restaurant and nightspot. Check out the bar menu. So far the crowd has ranged from jam packed to laid back. http://www.modusbarlounge.com/

Check out their menu...

Solara Lofts on Cortez Hill

2006-08-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

If you follow CCDC for your ongoing news about new projects you would have missed Solara Lofts, since this is an "adaptive resuse" of an office building it appears to not have gone through the CCDC channel. Anyway looks like a nice project.

If you know that part of the city it's the former Fourth Avenue Corporate Center building.

I imagine that the 77 condos will likely be ready in early 2007.