SAN DIEGO | Boom Rundown, Vol. 3

[SDfan]

Originally Posted by mello

Has anyone else noticed that from certain angles North Park kind of has its own mini skyline now? The problem is it's so hard to find a good vantage point to view it from because it's right in the middle of a broad swath of the flat mesa and it obviously isn't a tall skyline. Maybe the museum of man tower at Balboa Park would be a good place to get pics

There are some decent peek-a-boo views in Balboa Park of the NP skyline right across from the zoo parking lot. And if you're in the zoo, the sky tram also offers some clear shots.

[mello]

Originally Posted by SDfan

There are some decent peek-a-boo views in Balboa Park of the NP skyline right across from the zoo parking lot. And if you're in the zoo, the sky tram also offers some clear shots.

I remember when I toured 525 Olive in Bankers hill in the early fall of 23 I noticed how built up NP was starting to look from that vantage point so now it is probably much more impressive.

I've known about the "Linda Vista" building for almost a year now that crane has been up for a while I thought you were talking about up on the Mesa more traditional Linda Vista. That random neighborhood on the side of hill below USD is kind of a no mans land it isn't really LV or MV kind of its own thing.

Crane up at SDSU Mission Valley finally the "campus expansion" has begun after being voted on in 2018. Let's hope more cranes pop up soon there it has been lagging big time.

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

Originally Posted by mello

I remember when I toured 525 Olive in Bankers hill in the early fall of 23 I noticed how built up NP was starting to look from that vantage point so now it is probably much more impressive.

I've known about the "Linda Vista" building for almost a year now that crane has been up for a while I thought you were talking about up on the Mesa more traditional Linda Vista. That random neighborhood on the side of hill below USD is kind of a no mans land it isn't really LV or MV kind of its own thing.

Crane up at SDSU Mission Valley finally the "campus expansion" has begun after being voted on in 2018. Let's hope more cranes pop up soon there it has been lagging big time.

There developments planned in actual Linda Vista, just arn't super prominent
Had those 3 buildings finish up near the central area of the neighborhood.

There are other developments planned in the area, none are the same scale right now

[mello]

3949 Ohio decent sized lot cleared with heavy digging equipment onsite! NP keeps on rolling.

I just realized where else in Southern California has urbanized as much as North Park with no beach/harbor adjacent, no university close by and no large cluster of government offices or industry nearby? Examples Long Beach: employment hub and waterfront. Santa Ana it's County seat of OC so tons of gov workers, Westwood Village adjacent to UCLA, Hollywood film industry. Silver Lake and Los Feliz are no where near as urbanized as NP for example.

North Park is so impressive because it's totally grass roots and acheived what it has by grinding away all these years to create what it has become.

[Jhanson312]

Fresh renderings of new projects in the Cota Vera neighborhood of Otay Ranch. At 6200 units, Cota Vera is the largest housing development under construction in the county, right? (I could be wrong)

I’m glad Chula Vista is pretty much abandoning traditional suburban sprawl planning. The city is quietly amending it’s Otay ranch master plan. A lot of undeveloped land previously zoned for future single-family development have been upzoned to Multi-family. Cota Vera is shaping up to be a nice walkable neighborhood.

All of these are under construction.

Cameo at Cota Vera — 192 Apartments, 3-4 Floors
This is across from Lifetime Fitness.



Harmony at Cota Vera — 314 Apartments, 5000sqft of Retail, 3-4 Floors



Serenity at Cota Vera — 178 Apartments, 10k sqft of Retail, 2-4 Floors.

[SemperVigilans]

Originally Posted by mello

3949 Ohio decent sized lot cleared with heavy digging equipment onsite! NP keeps on rolling.

I just realized where else in Southern California has urbanized as much as North Park with no beach/harbor adjacent, no university close by and no large cluster of government offices or industry nearby? Examples Long Beach: employment hub and waterfront. Santa Ana it's County seat of OC so tons of gov workers, Westwood Village adjacent to UCLA, Hollywood film industry. Silver Lake and Los Feliz are no where near as urbanized as NP for example.

North Park is so impressive because it's totally grass roots and acheived what it has by grinding away all these years to create what it has become.

That's a great point. North Park's robust bar and restaurant scene has been a draw for sure. There are so many options for people wanting to enjoy a good dinner and night life. And in the daytime, a farmer's market, 3 grocery stores in the area, plus the occasional music or culture festivals. I had a blast living there in my 20's but the appeal did eventually wear off. It's wonderful to see such a vibrant neighborhood continue to grow!

[FoldingBoxes]

Originally Posted by SemperVigilans

That's a great point. North Park's robust bar and restaurant scene has been a draw for sure. There are so many options for people wanting to enjoy a good dinner and night life. And in the daytime, a farmer's market, 3 grocery stores in the area, plus the occasional music or culture festivals. I had a blast living there in my 20's but the appeal did eventually wear off. It's wonderful to see such a vibrant neighborhood continue to grow!

I agree.

Also, North Park, especially along the 30th Street and University Avenue axis, also has some of the best neighborhood to freeway access in the city. A few blocks to the 805, then the 15, and it's halfway between the 94 and the 8. Hillcrest is closer and quicker to downtown (and the UCSD medical center) but for a lot of the other jobs you need to drive to, North Park is easier to get into and out of. And its flat-ish.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by mello

3949 Ohio decent sized lot cleared with heavy digging equipment onsite! NP keeps on rolling.

I just realized where else in Southern California has urbanized as much as North Park with no beach/harbor adjacent, no university close by and no large cluster of government offices or industry nearby? Examples Long Beach: employment hub and waterfront. Santa Ana it's County seat of OC so tons of gov workers, Westwood Village adjacent to UCLA, Hollywood film industry. Silver Lake and Los Feliz are no where near as urbanized as NP for example.

North Park is so impressive because it's totally grass roots and acheived what it has by grinding away all these years to create what it has become.

Disagree. North Hollywood and Swatelle has it beat. Palms probably too. Warner Center, if youre just talking pure density. Your comparison is odd to begin with, as most of LA's urban areas are already more urban than North Park in the first place.

North Hollyood is low key becoming one of the denser "sunbelt" neighborhoods in the country probably. Like other LA areas. it isnt highrises really, but a ton of 5-7 story buildings, even on the small side streets.

Warner Center used to be a bland sea of low/midrise (and some highrise) offices, now it's becoming a sea of giant 6-8 story apt complexes. It's crazy what's happened there.
It's not my cup of tea for walkablility, but I am impressed how much units its added in known NIMBY LA. If they can somehow add in some walkable retail like most of LA,they might have something.

[Jhanson312]

Surprised to see the Riverwalk development already vertical. What’s the status of the JCPenney redevelopment? They originally planned for the store to close at the end of last year, but it’s still open with no sign of closure in the near future. Also, since they’re proposing 3 8-story buildings with nearly 900 units, are there plans to integrate the mall with the Riverwalk area? That would be cool.

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Jhanson312

I’m glad Chula Vista is pretty much abandoning traditional suburban sprawl planning. The city is quietly amending it’s Otay ranch master plan

Here's some articles about Chula Vista Bayfront development. There's tons of dense development planned or under construction in the area.

800 units at the E Street TOD project (unknown completion date)
1500 units at Amara Bay, 200 hotels room, office space (under construction)
1600 hotel rooms at the Gaylord Resort (2025)
Pangaea 700 hotel rooms, office, and a tennis stadium (Unknown Completion Date)
and just announced was another mostly retail space and hotel development

https://buildsd.org/journal/cvbayfront

https://buildsd.org/projects/e-street-tod

[superfishy]

Thanks for the updates on the South Bay.

https://www.amazonhqmillenia.com
I'm pretty sure this project is dead, but are you aware of anything replacing it? I drove by the area recently and there is some active construction on the SDSU chula vista campus (if i'm remembering correctly) on the adjacent lots.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by superfishy

Thanks for the updates on the South Bay.

https://www.amazonhqmillenia.com
I'm pretty sure this project is dead, but are you aware of anything replacing it? I drove by the area recently and there is some active construction on the SDSU chula vista campus (if i'm remembering correctly) on the adjacent lots.

I somehow completely missed this one. Not even a vague memory of it. I remember the time in the 2010s when every city was drooling over a second Amazon HQ, but didn't realize this was a (long-shot) proposal.

[Jhanson312]

Originally Posted by superfishy

Thanks for the updates on the South Bay.

https://www.amazonhqmillenia.com
I'm pretty sure this project is dead, but are you aware of anything replacing it? I drove by the area recently and there is some active construction on the SDSU chula vista campus (if i'm remembering correctly) on the adjacent lots.

The Amazon Millenia HQ is 100% dead. The lot will used for a few things…

1. Phase 2 of the CVEC Production Facility; 4 Production Soundstages. (2027-2028 Groundbreaking)


2. Phase 3 of the CVEC Production Facility; Full Campus Buildout, 8-Acre Backlot (TBD)


2. AC Hotel by Marriott; 130 rooms, 4-Stories. (Status Unknown)


3. VAYA on Axia; 279 Market-Rate Units. (Nearly Complete)

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

Just realized I didn't send an article I wrote lol.

Monarch Hillside in Chollas View. 249 units, 100 affordable, and 39 townhomes
Unser construction, completing 2028
https://buildsd.org/projects/monarch-hillside

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

I don't think anyone here has talked about La Mesa development either

La Mesa has a development tracker so its easy to find there info https://www.cityoflamesa.gov/1672/Projects-Under-Review

There are currently 3 under construction apartment projects in La Mesa, 72 units at 8875 La Mesa Blvd, 64 units at 4757 Palm Ave, 49 units at 5220 Wilson St, a new suburban development at 7700-7845 La Mesa Summit Dr, 30 houses. And 2 new medical buildings at 5555 Grossmont Center Dr and 5601 Grossmont Center Dr

In "plan Review" are 2 apartment project and a condo, including the Spring Street station TOD 147 units, a 19 unit project at 5061 Keeney St, and a 73 unit condo at 9407 Jericho Rd.

Entitled are 4 apartments and 4 condo projects. 29 units at 7472 El Cajon Blvd, 18 units at 7900 Blk El Cajon Blvd, 40 units at 4400 Palm Ave, 7 units at 7735 University Ave. 253 condos at 7664 El Cajon Blvd, 56 condos at 7808 El Cajon Blvd, 10 condos at 5042 Keeney St, and 18 condos at 7285 University Ave.

[Streamliner]

This popped up on the front page of the U-T website today. I like that it retains the historic features of the facade (though it seems like it'll be a partial reconstruction). The upper floors are kind of bland (depending on quality of materials), but I'll always applaud designs that retain history when they can.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/202...t-complex-proposed-near-north-park-sign/

Phillip Molnar
March 11, 2026

7-story apartment complex proposed near North Park sign in 100-year-old building
The proposed 92-unit complex is across from The Observatory

A developer has proposed a seven-story, 92-unit apartment complex at a busy section of University Avenue near the North Park sign.

The applicant seeks to tear down a two-story vacant building across the street from The Observatory concert venue. The building is nearly 100 years old and in a prime spot, near the intersection at 30th Street, among the neighborhood’s bars, restaurants and specialty shops.

A potential hiccup in the plan is that the building, at 2906 University Ave., is designated as a historic structure in San Diego because it is considered an example of the Spanish colonial revival architecture style and early commercial development around streetcar lines.

San Diego’s Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the plan late next week. It already went to the city’s Historical Resource Board, where they recommended several options. It listed rehabilitating the building’s west and south facades and constructing the tower above it, as the developers plan, but also restoring it as it was in the 1930s with no apartments.

[Streamliner]

Originally Posted by Build_SD_Maxwell

I don't think anyone here has talked about La Mesa development either

La Mesa has a development tracker so its easy to find there info https://www.cityoflamesa.gov/1672/Projects-Under-Review

There are currently 3 under construction apartment projects in La Mesa, 72 units at 8875 La Mesa Blvd, 64 units at 4757 Palm Ave, 49 units at 5220 Wilson St, a new suburban development at 7700-7845 La Mesa Summit Dr, 30 houses. And 2 new medical buildings at 5555 Grossmont Center Dr and 5601 Grossmont Center Dr

In "plan Review" are 2 apartment project and a condo, including the Spring Street station TOD 147 units, a 19 unit project at 5061 Keeney St, and a 73 unit condo at 9407 Jericho Rd.

Entitled are 4 apartments and 4 condo projects. 29 units at 7472 El Cajon Blvd, 18 units at 7900 Blk El Cajon Blvd, 40 units at 4400 Palm Ave, 7 units at 7735 University Ave. 253 condos at 7664 El Cajon Blvd, 56 condos at 7808 El Cajon Blvd, 10 condos at 5042 Keeney St, and 18 condos at 7285 University Ave.

I like the new development in La Mesa, and have even worked on a couple. The one on Palm is 5 stories I believe, and it's a couple blocks from another, completed 5 or 6 story building near the tracks. Downtown La Mesa is a really cool area and I'm glad to see it growing. They're even constructing a street-spanning "La Mesa" sign that all cool areas are required to have

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

I like the new development in La Mesa, and have even worked on a couple. The one on Palm is 5 stories I believe, and it's a couple blocks from another, completed 5 or 6 story building near the tracks. Downtown La Mesa is a really cool area and I'm glad to see it growing. They're even constructing a street-spanning "La Mesa" sign that all cool areas are required to have

They are also updating their downtown plan, here's the link to it https://www.cityoflamesa.gov/1840/Downtown-Village-Specific-Plan-Update

[mello]

It seems like San Diego is making up for lost time how hardly anything got built infill wise from 2011 through maybe 2019 compared to LA and now we are booming with projects so great to see the Market Street thing finally happening. For 25 years they have been talking about housing in that corridor, and there is plenty of room for more.

Regarding the Cota Vera stuff I was surprised when I drove out that way one day randomly and saw it quite built up with 4 and 5 floor structures. That has been over a year so I'll go check it out. Also off Britannia and 905 there was a large development with more phases on the way I didn't even know.was happening.

La Mesa, so happy to see another project going in downtown on Palm and there are tons of underutilized/blighted parcels on EC Blvd that can be developed.

[Build_SD_Maxwell]

Originally Posted by Streamliner

This popped up on the front page of the U-T website today. I like that it retains the historic features of the facade (though it seems like it'll be a partial reconstruction). The upper floors are kind of bland (depending on quality of materials), but I'll always applaud designs that retain history when they can.

Personally i think its a good building but with a bland design. Reminds me of The Wyatt downtown.


I do like that they have wood elements to the design so i don't think it will be as dated in a few years as some other bland designs. But its definitely a net positive and shows that North Park now is now worth the extra costs to develop on historic properties.

Location is by far the most important thing for a development and historic properties are starting to become the best located un-developed properties in North Park.