don't keep us in suspense!! what happened??

I want you to say that there was an article about the airport moving and/or the downtown height limit being increased to 1000 ft...

...but I sense sarcasm. hahaha

I agree. There is very little new stuff happening right now. I think one of the driving factor's behind the downtown lull is that the retail is not keeping pace with the new residents, and potential residents are waiting for te retail to keep up. I was one of the early birds to move into downtown, thinking that within a year, retail would be in and I would have countless amenities within walking distance. My wife and I are getting pretty fed up with the lack of activity. I think that owners/brokers are seeking too much money and are not looking at the long term picture.

If you visit any other city that has an area experiencing a redevelopment, most buildings have their retail booked prior to occupancy, and many have them slated before construction! It is part of the marketting package. I don't understand why we are so far behind the curve regarding this issue. Typical example is TR Produce. How in the hell is that amazing space not filled?!?!? I know; They keep pushing the rent up. All of these owners would have been better off to sign an excalating lease to get the spaces filled, and continue the synergy of development.

Oh well. At least the fate of our downtown retail, at least around the ball park, lies in the hands of a couple of brokers. great.....

Strata scrapped or sold
 

If you visit the intracorp website, they no longer have Strata listed as an upcoming project.

Maybe it will be re-entitled as an office building. I think its a great spot for an office building.

Strata.... if that project is located on the southside of Market between 9th & 10th, across from the incoming Bowl, where the dry cleaner currently are, ... Or were, then I've noticed a change. The dry cleaner is out and there's a fence around the building/property.

I know, and the Strata website is still up and running. Perhaps the project is on the block and they are going to deliver the property scraped and remediated (drycleaner plants typically have contaminated soil)

Last week when I went to the CCDC office (or whatever the office is with the model map) they said strata is supposed to start construction "soon", but those people seem to know less than those on this site.

As far as the dry cleaner being out and the fence surrounding it, it has been like that for some time. The dry cleaner left about a year ago and I remember using that dry cleaner a year ago and they told me they were leaving for a condo project, so it does seem to be stalled

I agree with the retail aspects - I live downtown and it's frustrating to walk by all these places (like TR produce) and see grafittin and abandonment in what should be a prime location. I think things will start to fill-in, they put a longs drugs in Alta. I am waiting to see what/how long it takes to get something in the Mark on street level along market. But TR produce has been a mystery to me. It would be the perfect place for a Trader Joe's, Henry's or Whole Foods. Maybe when the Legend is complete and the area sees more activity something will go in there.

Right now downtown just seems to have alot of holes to fill-in. Only Little Italy seems to have the seemless stree-level activity with retail, restaurants, etc. I think Horton Plaza hinders the Gaslamp because it makes the retail and club/bar areas seem more segreagated instead of having retail and restaruants coexisting on the street like you see in NY or other cities. I almost wish there was no Horton Plaza and all the stores were just on the streets of the gaslamp area intermingled with the restaurants and clubs

Upper MGT told me that they are looking to go into OM's Southblock Lofts project at 6th & G. Possibly open within the year. Longs Drug's was signed prior to construciton even starting, probably through a connection with the developer. The Mark was set to have Wells Fargo (who backed out, probably when the lease rate was increased), and a Coffee Bean / Peet's. The high lease rates are even driving out/stalling the national chains, let alone, mom & pops

Yeah, there hasn't been too much going on lately. But let's not forget that DTSD experienced a boom before many other cities, so it's only natural that our development activity would be slowing down first.

In the meantime, here are some pics I took yesterday of Electra, Sapphire, Vantage Pointe, Bayside and the Hilton:

Electra is turning out to be the beauty we thought she would be. This was taken from the Lane Field parking lot
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0811.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0813.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0797.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0788.jpg

Sapphire looks to be at the 3rd floor. The floorplate looks so small.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0796.jpg

Vantage Pointe is massive.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0832.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0827.jpg

Bayside is above ground
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0801.jpg

The Hilton is moving fast
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0824.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...s/IMG_0825.jpg

I should probably post these in the individual development threads, as well.

^Thanks for posting. :)

The rumor is that an apartment developer is looking at it.

Cosmo Square is in foreclosure.

Street 701 ISLAND AVENUE - ETC. VACANT LAND

Assesors Parcel Number 535-115-01-00 535-115-02-00 535-115-03-00 535-115-04-00 535-115-06-00 535-115-07-00 535-115-08-00

Owners SIMPLON BALLPARK L L C

Property Type Vacant Land

LEGAL NTS Recorded Date 2007-07-05

NTS Doc. Number 2007-0448667

TD in Default 2005-1120261

Trustee Sale No. 41594

Trustee FORECLOSURE CONSULTANTS INC

Trustee Phone

SALE INFORMATION

Status SCHEDULED FOR AUCTION

Sale Date 2007-07-27 PP
2007-08-17 PP
2007-08-21 PP
2007-08-31 PP
2007-09-06 PP
2007-09-28
SaleTime 10:00 AM Sale Location S. entrance to the County Courthouse
220 West Broadway, San Diego, Ca Estimated Default $ 16,589,018.08

Thanks for posting! That's an understatement about Sapphire. I was just thinking that the other day. I hope it's not an illusion either because it seems as if it is going to be one slender tower! I can't wait to see this one go higher!
:)

No, I think it is going to be slender. Looking at it from the East or the West, it'll look narrower than most, but looking at it from the South or North... it'll look wider.

^^ You may be right - I was looking at it from the northeast intersection, so I may have been reacting to the side that faced the east. Definitely a small floorplate.

This is wild, but I have seen a 747 landing at Lindbergh Field twice now.

I live on 5th Ave right near the flight path and when I looked out the window the first time and saw that monster I though I was hallucinating!

It seems to land around 7:15pm on Thursday nights. Anyone know what it is?

There used to be one that was for British Airways that would start a flight in SD then go to Phoenix and then on to London, saw the giant taxi once. That then became a 777 that came from Phoenix and went nonstop to London from SD.

I took a USAirways 767 from Philadelphia to San Diego once, but it was a mistake, as the original plane had to be changed at the last minute and a 767 was the only plane available, and was nearly empty.

If I had to guess though, I would guess it is a cargo plane of some kind.

Double post! :(