Happy October to all the cruise lovers in the downtown San Diego area. After a lengthy hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic, cruises started sailing out of the Port of San Diego on Friday Oct. 1. The first two, the Disney Wonder and the Grand Princess, set sail out of downtown San Diego’s B Street Cruise Terminal, the first since the industry was shut down due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Disney Wonder sailed for four days from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and then back home. The Grand Princess set sail the night before from Los Angeles and made a pitstop in San Diego on Friday, then headed to Ensenada and back to LA. These are the first of more than 100 cruises scheduled to sail out of the Port of San Diego through May, 2022. Popular cruises expected to be in San Diego include Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises. 

The Port of San Diego is hopeful that cruises starting up again will boost the local economy by attracting tourists to come vacation on the bay. Investors in San Diego downtown real estate will be happy to know that tourists coming off ship, even for just a day, are estimated to bring over $600,000 to the local economy, according to the Port. 

Tourists patronize local shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other small businesses in the area. Furthermore, a one-day trip could never satisfy a true traveller’s curiosity, so people will likely book future trips to spend more time in the downtown San Diego area. 

COVID precautions are still in effect on cruises. All travellers are required to be vaccinated, present a negative test result, attest that they are feeling well, and wear face masks while inside the cruise ship terminal. Both the Disney Wonder and the Grand Princess did not sail at full capacity, but will continue to allow more passengers on as they complete more voyages.

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The commute from Oceanside to downtown San Diego will get a lot easier after the inauguration of the COASTER rail service for the month of October was announced Thursday, Sept. 30. The service will provide 30 trips daily, Monday through Friday, with an additional two trips added on Fridays. There will be 20 daily trips offered on Saturdays and Sundays year-round. 

Starting Oct. 25, travellers commuting along the Interstate 5 corridor will be encouraged to leave their vehicles at home and use the COASTER service to get to entertainment events and work. Tony Kranz, the North County Transit District board chair, believes that the new form of transportation will be a more reliable and viable option for getting commuters “where you want to go, when you want to go.” 

The expanded service is fully funded through TransNet, a countywide half-cent sales tax used to fund transportation projects. It was approved by voters in 2004 and is administered by the San Diego Association of Governments. NCTD also received five new locomotives that will provide a quieter, smoother ride for travellers. 

Easing travel from Oceanside to the downtown area will likely make downtown San Diego real estate more attractive to investors. Commuters who would otherwise choose to avoid the I-5 corridor will now not think twice about making their trip to downtown San Diego for their retail, dining, and entertainment needs. 

As environmental awareness continues to gain popularity, spending projects on public transportation will continue popping up, especially in cities and areas with a lot of individual vehicles. Efforts are currently being made at the federal level to discourage drivers from using their own personal vehicles and, instead, rely on public transportation, There are currently mixed emotions regarding public transportation, but that’s arguably because the concept has yet to be perfected, New options for San Diego commuters will do wonders for the city’s traffic control.

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A historic office property in downtown San Diego recently sold to a private investor for a total of $7 million. Local investor HFLP II/Marston LLC was represented by DMJ’s Josh Buchholz and CBRE’s Matt Pourcho, Anthony DeLorenzo, and Hunter Rowe in the purchase of the Marston Building. The four-story building is located at 427 C St. in the downtown area and occupies over 41,000 square-feet of land. 

Built in 1881, the building was occupied by George W. Marston until 1898. The property also served as the first office for San Diego’s Federal Savings and Loan. The first gaslamp was placed on the corner of the Marston building in 1885, just four years after the building’s construction. One year later, on March 16, the first electric arc lamp was placed outside the property. The building was restored as part of the Gaslamp Quarter preservation project. 

Marston’s department stores were once characterized by local newspapers as the finest department stores, known for their elegance. Marston not only owned department stores in the area, he was also a philanthropist who donated to children’s education and assured that all his employees, regardless of gender, were paid equally. 

The property was home to the Marston Family Department store until 1912. Prior to the purchase, the Marston Building served as an office building. During the 1970’s, there was a restaurant on the lower level and a nightclub on the upper level. The possibilities for what the new investors can do with the location are endless.

While many anticipate that the property will remain office space, Pourcho recognizes the value in owning one of San Diego’s “most historic office buildings.” People are moving to the downtown San Diego area for the opportunities. They’re not only looking for downtown San Diego condos for sale, they’re looking for jobs. Investments in office space indicate that employers in the downtown area are looking to hire. Moving to the area would be a major investment, especially for those in the life sciences field.

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Two new restaurants will be joining the lineup in San Diego’s Seaport Village by the fall of 222, according to the Board of Port Commissioners. Construction on Gladstone’s and Shorebird will begin next summer at the bayfront landmark, which is currently undergoing extensive revitalization, filling the 19th and 20th leases. 

Founded in 1972 out of Malibu, California, Gladstone’s is a beachside restaurant with a menu focusing on fresh concepts including seafood dishes such as king crab and lobster. The location at the Seaport Village will include an outdoor, wrap-around patio, perfect for enjoying the beautiful weather and freshly cooked seafood dishes. Replacing the beloved Edgewater Grill, Gladstone’s will be located in what is known as the Carousel District. 

Offering dishes made from scratch, Shorebird will be opening their third location, their second in California, replacing the Pier Cafe. Their menu can currently be enjoyed in Newport Beach and Sedona, Arizona. The third addition will span two stories, overlooking the San Diego Bay and will offer “casual plating styles” accompanied by “sophisticated culinary techniques.” 

While you’re in town shopping for condos for sale in San Diego, consider visiting the Seaport Village for your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. As of now, 63 of the 71 available spaces for lease in the area have been filled. Many remain under construction, but there are a number of options currently open or debuting soon. Twenty of the spaces leased will be restaurants, with food ranging from New York-style Pizza, to Louisiana-style BBQ, all the way to Greek specialty dishes. 

Just a couple of months back, both Zytoun Gourmet Mediterranean and Old Harbor Distilling Company both announced that they would be joining the lineup at the shopping, entertainment, and dining center along San Diego’s Embarcadero, slated to open in either the spring or summer of next year. Just last month, the Port announced the addition of Crack Taco Shop, a locally based restaurant offering authentic Mexican food.​​

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If you have ever walked E Street in the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village in downtown San Diego and wished it was more pedestrian friendly, your wish may be coming true thanks to a number of actors responsible for the Masterplan. The plan provides a framework for improvement recommendations on amenities, materials, landscape, and recommendations and can be used to facilitate construction on a block by block basis as funding and development opportunities arise. 

The Greenway is located between Horton Plaza and Interstate 5 and stretches from 4th Avenue to 16th Street, just a short distance from available condos in downtown San Diego. It intersects with the 8th Avenue Greenway, the 14th Street Greenway, and the tracks along 6th Avenue and Park Boulevard, providing a balance for travel space amongst walkers, bikers, and drivers. 

The project is expected to help downtown San Diego reach their long-term climate goals. With more room for pedestrians to enjoy the outside world, city planners hope residents and tourists alike will ditch their motorized vehicle in exchange for biking or travelling by foot. Each block will be packed with dining options and outdoor gathering space. 

While each block will be connected by the plant palette, they will differ in style to reflect the history of each block and neighborhood. Residents and tourists will be able to enjoy a variety of different art attractions as well as areas to play outside that will reflect the diversity in the downtown area. 

After over a year of social distancing, lockdowns, and wearing masks, getting outside to enjoy some fresh air will be good for everyone. San Diego planners recognize the benefits of Greenways and are interested in creating more in the future. Developers and planners are interested in the general public’s ideas and have integrated some of the proposals presented at public workshops. Instead of being stuck in traffic, San Diego is telling their residents to get out of their vehicles and enjoy the beauty each day brings.

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Cool community features continue rolling into the downtown San Diego area with the inauguration of the chess area at Waterfront Park located next to the downtown County Administration Center. The inauguration of the new recreational area was coupled with a tournament and a ribbon cutting ceremony. Board of Supervisors Chairman Nathan Fletcher cut the ribbon with the assistance of young chess players ready to compete in the park.

The tournament included 36 competitors competing in three different age groups. Second place winners in each age group were awarded a $25 gift card while first place winners received a $50 gift card and a trophy. All participants also received their own commemorative chess board sets.  

In walking distance from San Diego downtown condos, anyone interested in playing chess at Waterfront Park is more than welcome to. The tables are located right next to the playground near the corner of Pacific Highway and Ash Street. There is one ADA accessible table. Pieces are checked out on a first-come, first-served basis and can be collected anytime between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day at the south entrance of the County Administration Center. 

The chess tables are just a small addition to a larger renovation expected to take place at Waterfront Park. The park, which opened back in 2014, will be renovated to include a dog park, exercise equipment, a T-ball area, and pickleball and basketball courts. After nearly two years of lockdowns and the uncertainty of the pandemic, outdoor recreational activity will be good for the downtown San Diego community. 

Park improvements are expected to be made by the spring of next year, according to the county’s parks and recreation department, though no date has been set in stone. While downtown residents wait for the completion of Waterfront Park, they can still enjoy the many features including the interactive splash fountain, intimate garden rooms, and several picnic areas.

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The long-anticipated Comic-Con Museum will finally be opening this November. The announcement came last Thursday, Aug. 26, that construction has begun and should be completed by Nov. 26, 2021. Plans for the museum started as early as 2017, but the project was severely sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining other museums such as the Veterans Museum and the Natural History Museum, the Comic-Con Museum will be the first to open in nearly the past two decades. 

The museum will include two art galleries, rotating exhibits, and a theater for presentations, coupled with a cafe with outdoor seating and a gift shop packed with exclusive merchandise. Located in Balboa Park, the city’s “crown jewel” as May Todd Gloria calls it, there are plenty of downtown San Diego condos nearby to choose from. 

The pandemic has done more than stall development of the museum. It forced the organization to cancel their in-person Comic-Con two years in a row. While this was a major hit to the organization’s revenue, San Diego’s tourism industry also suffered. The announcement of its inauguration was welcoming news to all. 

Fundraising efforts for the museum have not gone exactly as planned as only half of the $34 million goal has been reached. Comic-Con spokesman David Glazner recognized that fundraising wasn’t at the levels they had hoped. Fans and large corporations such as AT&T, DC Comics, and U.S. Bank, amongst others, have all contributed to the project’s development. 

While the museum is set to open Nov. 26, visitors during the week of Thanksgiving will only be seeing the first phase of the project. This will include comic book art exhibits, part of the education center, and atrium, and artwork featured in past conventions. The project is expected to be fully completed by July, 2022, with parts of the museum remaining open as work continues. 

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San Diego officials formally announced their largest infrastructure project to date that could result in the production of 34 million gallons per day of potable drinking water by 2025, and an additional 53 million gallons by 2035. Dubbed as “Pure Water,” the project will consist of three essential projects that will boost local water independence as the threat of droughts loom in the area due to climate change. 

The three projects will be a $110 million pump station installed on Morena Boulevard, a $123 million pipeline that will go through much of Clairemont to bring sewage to a $356 million sewage purification plant in western Miramar. The pipeline through Clairemont has sparked multiple protests and lawsuits that have slowed Pure Water’s progress. 

Why is Pure Water great news for residents and people currently in the markets for San Diego downtown condos? The project will make San Diego’s economy less dependent on imported water by decreasing the amount of water imported to the city from 85% to 50%. The area will also be less susceptible to the threat of droughts. 

The project will also reduce the amount of sewage the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant emits into the ocean, allowing the plant to meet the standards of the federal Clean Water Act. Expensive upgrades to the plant will no longer be necessary, as the sewage will be purified at the Miramar Plant, stored in Lake Miramar reservoir, and piped as potable water to homes and businesses in the area. 

Currently, the city only recycles about 8% of its sewage, and that water can only be used for irrigation, not for drinking. The project will receive funding from both the state and federal government. The state is slated to allocate $50 million while $120 million in federal funds was announced Friday, Aug. 20. City officials hope that the city’s largest infrastructure project to date will deliver a “reliable source of clean water to [the] region for decades to come.” 

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Little Italy in Downtown San Diego has been selected as the location for the first biotech firm relocating to the area. Dublin, Ireland-based medical firm Mainstay Medical is relocating their headquarters to 2171 India St. in a project that will consist of office space, retail, and even dining. The firm is planning on utilizing the space for both office functions and light manufacturing. 

Recognized as a landmark deal for downtown San Diego, investors are ecstatic to see the potential of their investments starting to pay off. Many real-estate investors have been banking on the downtown area to become the new home to life sciences. The area is perfect, especially with its proximity to the bay. Mainstay Medical chose the location for its “European and urban feel.”

Many life science students have already begun searching for downtown San Diego condos and other places to live. In fact, investors predict that Mainstay Medical is only the first of many biotech firms that will be attracted to Little Italy and downtown for all it has to offer. Apartment complexes and offices spaces have sprouted around the area with the expectation that the life science sector will take over the area. 

Development, of course, has been stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria predicted that the population will double in size over the course of the next two decades. While the pandemic may have slowed the process, investors and developers are taking advantage and charging full-speed ahead with their proposed plans. 

Mainstay Medical is a medical device company founded in 2008 that specializes in a neurostimulation system that treats people with disabling chronic lower back pain. They announced that they will be launching their system in the United States by the end of the summer. As their business grows internationally, job seekers in the biotech industry in the US may find their way to downtown San Diego’s Mainstay Medical headquarters. 

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The San Diego Symphony debuted the first of 40 outdoor concerts scheduled this season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park to a sold-out crowd of over 3,500, receiving the first standing ovation at the $85 million new venue before performing a single note. The performance was accompanied by a beautiful fireworks display, described by concertgoers as “anti-climatic” in comparison to the Symphony’s music. 

The Rady Shell first broke ground in September, 2019. Their first performances were scheduled for July, 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed those plans back 13 months, forcing the orchestra to cancel their 2020-21 concert season and perform online. One upside to the pandemic for the symphony, however, was that it gave music director Rafael Payare the time to rehearse at length with each section of the orchestra. Because of this, concertgoers remarked that the music was “perfect.” 

Investors interested in downtown San Diego real estate for sale should be pleased to learn that the Rady Shell is having a positive economic impact on the downtown area. People from all over the country and the world travel to San Diego to see the San Diego Symphony. These tourists provide boosts in business for restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and more. 

COVID-19 precautions are observed at the Rady Shell during performances. All of the string players and percussionists in the orchestra wore masks, as did a number of the guests in attendance. Concertgoers were not socially distanced during the sold-out show. 

The symphony is expected to perform most of their fall season at the Rady Shell, which doubled as a rehearsal space during the course of the pandemic. Concerts will continue to run from Sunday, August 9 to November 14, with a closing by the San Diego Symphony accompanied by conductor Edo de Waart. Tickets are on sale and range from $45-$250 depending on performance. Keep an eye out for key performances from Jason Mraz and Nas. 

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