Yes Little Italy is definitely where the investment and people are nowadays. Hopefully East Village can start getting back to where it should be, but the homeless issue is really a deterrent for everyone out there.

Here's a snippet from the Whole Foods article:

Whole Foods Market planned for Front & A skyscraper project in downtown San Diego
BY JENNIFER VAN GROVE
FEB. 21, 2024 11:21 AM PT
Link to Article

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...Fr-c-ne-02.jpg

Speaking of East Village… is there any updates on the Tailgate Park development? I know they said groundbreaking wouldn’t commence until late 2024 to late 2025, but I’ve haven’t heard a peep about it in a long time.

While East Village has more problems and dead areas than Little Italy, I wouldn't say it's very accurate to say that Little Italy is where the investment and people are. It's more of a split especially in terms of investment. There are just as much highrise housing development on both fronts if you look at the past 4-5 years - East Village is just a much larger area so it's not as concentrated. And it's also getting an incredible expensive park and community center - currently under construction. Little Italy definitely has the crowds for their restaurant scene though - no doubt about that.

Yeah I was referring to the concentration of development in Little Italy. Though even then I think some of those projects in Columbia/Core are being advertised as Little Italy, which skews perceptions a bit.

Just wanted to say that The Lindley looks awesome. It with Simone, changes the skyline pretty dramatically when you’re on the 5 going south into downtown (Haven’t driven down there in ages). For the first time, it actually felt like I was driving into a major city.

1st and Beech will probably have the most dramatic impact. It'll only be a bit over 200ft, but it will look more prominent from that angle due to the location. Front and A will also flesh things out even more from that perspective.

The Lindley looks close to topping out soon. Should be working on the 37th floor.
https://i.imgur.com/uvUhG96.jpeg

Columbia and A crane is up, foundation might happen soon.
https://i.imgur.com/B0osagv.jpeg

And Downtown San jose got 4 high rises built by Chinese money.

Don't pity this downtown since the Canadian developers and Holland Partner fell in love with your downtown and put so much money investing and building in your downtown. I wish Downtown SJ would get some love from the Canadian developers. They build towers regardless of the costs and market conditions. Downtown San Jose got some development from different developers from England, China, LA, locals and perhaps Westbank from Vancouver which is now rehabbing the landmark Bank of Italy building. Since Dt. SJ has fewer development than your downtown, it has been creative by adding a lot of cool entertainment, nightlife, art and murals. It also focused on mid rises to fill out the downtown, and it's working nicely since it's the second or third most recovered downtown in the country. You guys should consider your downtown is so lucky to have these Canadian and Pacific Northwest developers as your downtown's best partner; otherwise, say "hello to 1978 downtown again." Most other downtowns are not as lucky as your downtown in terms of seeing quite a few high rises getting underway in the middle of the downturn for real estate nationwide.

This shot makes it look like the Lindley has a slight taper. I like it but I'm pretty sure it's just the camera lens.

It's just the perspective.
Also anybody have any idea what's goin on at 5th/Ash. Parking lot has been torn up and looks like they are driving piles down, far more work than I'd expect for a simple lot repavement. No info online.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...ns-cortez-hill


New Hotel

Bosa will build Symphony condo tower instead of apt.. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...-become-condos

Downtown 40-story apartment project changes course, will become condos

BY PHILLIP MOLNAR
MARCH 20, 2024

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...13b%2Fbosa.jpg

My question is how tall is this building? The Downtown Activity Map states 503 feet, but that can't be correct. I assume it's 503 above sea level but I'd like to know the exact height above ground.

I assume it's 503 above sea level because San Diego has some pretty strict FAA laws but if my some miracle it is the actual height, San Diego might be getting a new tallest building. I'm so glad at least one major city in California is having a ton of high-rises actively under construction!

Sadly no, the twin towers at 15th and J are already 520 feet above sea level. A good portion of that are a set of cranes on both towers though, the roofline is just a hair over 500 feet MSL iirc.

Was an unusual set of circumstances that lead to that actually. Previously the Symphony Towers had been the highest buildings in downtown, but midway through design the engineers in the twin towers discovered a fault line splitting the lot in two. They ended up having to shrink the ground footprint of both towers, and make them a tad bit taller.

That ended up pushing the height above sea level above Symphony, which meant they had to do some extra aviation safety studies, something the developers had been hoping to avoid. But all's well that ends well I suppose.

Do we know if the conversion to condos will have further implications beyond change of floor plans and layout? Surely it's not any massing changes since they've already started laying the groundwork?

I live close to the site, so I'm eager to watch construction resume and see the neighborhood further densify :cheers:

Looks like West Chula Vista finally will see more development.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...front/3469282/

"With MountainWest Real Estate of Chula Vista as the primary developer, the Bayview Point project is designed to include a 22-story apartment tower with 288 apartments, a 19-story residential tower with 216 apartments, and a 400-room hotel with 37 for-sale condominium units on the top floor of the 24-story building."

https://www.sdbj.com/featured/900m-b...o-chula-vista/

I'd heard that they were trying to reduce the parking footprint in favor for more units as they'd now be entitled to the newer transit proximity bonus