92101 urban living: North Embarcadero Visionary Plan 1 - Project Update - 05/14/12 05:23 AM

We are sure that you have notice the progress of the 1st Phase of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan as construction is taking place down by the water front in the Columbia neighborhood in Downtown San Diego. The Port of San Diego is frequently updating us on the progress that is currently happening and this week’s news is the following.
Construction currently taking place:
• Starting Monday May 7th, there will be closures on West Broadway. For the coming 3 months USS Cal Builder is in the process of constructing the median and southern half of the new West Broadway. Traffic heading east will be … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Update - San Diego Convention Center Expansion - 03/18/12 05:07 AM
In a former blog, 92101 Urban Living is talking about how the San Diego Convention Center in the Marina District would be partly financed by adding room tax.
It is now up to April's hoteliers to approve a financing district where hotels in Downtown San Diego would contribute about a 3 percent tax collected on room bills. Most local hotel owners are positive to the suggestion even though it would mean an increase of the hotel room rates with about 1 to 3 percent depending on location. The Port of San Diego in cooperation with the San Diego City Council says … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: shamROCK 2012 in the Gaslamp District - 02/01/12 01:47 PM

The annual shamROCK that takes place in Downtown San Diego in the Gaslamp District is about to take place once again. This will be the 17th annual block party that will be celebrated on March 17th from 2pm all the way to midnight.
They say that this will be the greenest party so far as the celebration falls on the 17th and is the lucky number 17…the same as the birth of shamROCK. If you are in the mood for an Irish party…with food, drinks and music…this is the place to be.
For more information about the event visit shamROCK … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Major Renovation of Seaport Village in Downtown San Diego - 02/01/12 01:41 PM

Downtown San Diego is known for its Seaport Village with its perfect waterfront location and Spanish & Victorian feel. Many come here to have a good time mixed with shopping, dining and entertainment. Seaport Village located in the Marina District might change the way we see it today as big plans has been up for discussion for some time now. The Port of San Diego held a couple of workshops last year where all Downtown San Diego Condo and Downtown San Diego Loft owners, residents and business owner were invited to get the chance to have their voices heard. Some … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Downtown San Diego's Major Building Projects - 01/24/12 02:18 PM

The San Diego Union Tribune recently wrote about major Downtown San Diego building projects that either already started construction or some that are planning to. Either way...many different projects are in the plan and the total amount for all the major projects goes up to a cost of $13.4 billion where all of the projects are planned to be finished no later than 2016.
Below is a list on the projects included;
University Towne Centre expansion — Westfield $2.2 billion Downtown San Diego Library — $2.8 billion Plaza de Panama, Balboa Park — $1.5 billion Altman Clinical and Translational Research … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: “bite m.e” in the Middle of the Gaslamp District - 10/24/11 02:15 PM
“bite m.e” is the newest Downtown San Diego addition to the vibrant Gaslamp District’s food alley that gives you a flavor of Mediterranean styled dishes. Eats, Plates, Bites, Nibbles, Dips, Sips, Greens and Sweets are all of the creative names you will find on the menu.
This is really something I have been waiting for. As a Downtown San Diego Condo home owner…there are many choices to choose between when it comes to dining but if you look around…Mediterranean cuisine…is not that common in Downtown. I love Greek Salad, Falafel, Tzatziki, Aioli and Hummus…oh, doesn’t that just sound so good!
One other highlight…you will find beers from local breweries … (1 comments)

92101 urban living: Downtown San Diego has New Parking Meters - 10/16/11 08:13 PM

As 92101 Urban Livingmentioned in the earlier blog “Easy Parking with Popular High-Tech Parking Meters in Downtown San Diego!”…change is about to happen.
Actually…it has already started! You know how it sometimes is tricky getting street parking especially if you run out of coins. Well…they have started to cut down the old parking meters to be able to replace them with credit card machines. No longer do you have to worry about having parking money!
As I was walking aroundDowntown San Diego the other day…I noticed that the new machines are already up in theGaslamp, East Village and theLittle Italy neighborhoods. I am sure it … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Ruocco Park in Downtown San Diego is Starting Construction - 10/03/11 08:33 AM
Downtown San Diego has started to become a more park city where we can go relax, have a picnic, bring our beloved pets to and just enjoy our city in a different way. The newest contribution is the groundbreaking ofRuocco Park located right next to Seaport Village in the Marina District…you know where the former Harbor Seafood Mart used to be.
The Port of San Diego will be holding a short groundbreaking ceremony today, October 3rd, at 10am where board of Port commissioners, San Diego County Supervisor, City of San Diego Council members, San Diego District attorney and the president of San Diego Foundation with others will attend.
I was thinking … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Temporary Parking at the Downtown San Diego International Airport - 08/30/11 12:35 PM

The parking lot in front of Terminal 2 at the San Diego International Airport in Downtown San Diego will be shut down to allow for the construction of a dual level aerial roadway that will serve as a drop-off and check-in for departing passengers and a separation for arriving passengers.
A temporary parking lot at the Western end of the airport will replace the current short term parking until 2013 when the new expansion to Terminal 2 is completed at a cost of $865 million. When completed in 2013, Terminal 2 will have doubled in size, added 10 new gates for … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Waterfront Park approved in Downtown San Diego - 08/30/11 12:22 PM
Want to have a place to dip your toes into water while strolling along the Embarcaderoin Downtown San Diego? Well…you might not have to wait too long. Plans for two parks located on each side of the County Administration Building on Harbor Drive in theColumbia District in Downtown San Diego has been approved by the County Board of Supervisors.
The parking lots on the north and south sides of the administration building will be converted to 8 acres of parks with the center piece consisting of two shallow pools running the west front of the county building. The water for the pools will come … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Monthly sales prices for Condos & Lofts in Downtown San Diego - 08/30/11 12:20 PM
As a Downtown San Diego condo and loft home owner it is always interesting to know more about the current real estate market. You know…just to be able to stay on top of things. So, I wanted to show you this graph so that you can get a better understanding about the average monthly sales prices that occurred during the last year. As you compare March 2010 to March 2011 not a lot of a change happened here. The line goes a little bit up and down but it seems like Downtown San Diego real estate home owners kept their sales prices pretty much at the same average … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Condos & Lofts sold by price range in Downtown San Diego - 08/30/11 12:13 PM

One of the most interesting facts about Downtown San Diego real estate is the quarterly number showing how many condos & lofts were sold in a specific price range in Downtown San Diego during a specific time frame. As we are geeks for the analytic…we do keep track of every transaction that occurs in Downtown. The graph above shows us that the price range that is leading the way for the 1st quarter of 2011 is the range of $300,000 and under with 104 units sold. Not too far behind comes the range of $300,001 to $500,000 with 78 units sold.
To read and compare 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Downtown San Diego is ready for more construction… - 08/30/11 12:02 PM
As a Downtown San Diego Condo home owner and a San Diego Real Estate Specialist I have during the years seen basically empty lots turn into high-rises and areas considered not so nice turn into the new hip place to be. The last couple of years have been pretty slow when we look at new developments and new construction inDowntown San Diego. Well…according to redevelopment officials & developers this is about to turn around. As demand and more cash to lend are starting to rise I believe that Downtown San Diego is facing an era with about 11 new projects about to take place in the … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Downtown San Diego Library - Progress Update - 08/30/11 11:48 AM












As you all know…the East Village/Ballpark District is the newest neighborhood in Downtown San Diego. A few years ago, not much of what you see today existed such as all the high-rises, Petco Park, restaurants, shops and bars. Park Loft was actually the first complex that was completed right before the ballpark opened up its doors. Its not really a surprise that city planners decided that the new Downtown San Diego Library was to be built right here next to the Ballpark. I mean…who wouldn’t want the Ballpark in your front yard and the new public library … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Arguments heat up about the Balboa Park plaza plan - 08/30/11 11:31 AM
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The arguments for the new plaza plan at San Diego’s historic Balboa Park is heating up. Some don’t like the fact that the overall appearance of the park will be altered, others don’t like that not allowing cars to enter the plaza will crowd streets around Balboa Park with people looking for parking. No matter what the outcome is, not everybody is going to be completely happy with whatever outcome of the proposed 40 million dollar plan. A hearing was held the other day for officials to weigh out the pros and … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Yearly interest rates for Downtown San Diego Real Estate - 08/30/11 11:30 AM
Wanted to share this graph with you all. As 92101 Urban Living are geeks for the analytic, thought this one would be of interest. This shows the last 20 years average interest rates on 30 year fixed rate mortgages. Looking back to the year of 1991 when the average rate was 9.25 gives you kind of an idea what luxury we have in the second quarter of 2011 where the rate is an average of 4.66. Pretty amazing that this year is beating the record of the lowest rate in the last 20 years. No wonder we have lots of action and people … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Progess update - New Downtown San Diego Library - 08/30/11 10:36 AM
As a steady follower of the construction of the new public library…I just wanted to give you guys an update on the progress here in Downtown San Diego. If you haven’t been by to see it, then I urge you to take a look the next time you are in the East Village/Ballpark District. The final product is going to consist of nine stories and will entail a cafe, events gathering site, an auditorium, a school, underground parking and a whole lot more.
If you drive past or stroll by, you will see that they have the concrete structure built up to about the … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Downtown San Diego Condos & Loft Sold in February 2011 - 04/21/11 02:10 PM
                                                                                   
There was a total of 78 Downtown San Diego Condos & Lofts sold in February 2011...and almost half of them were all cash transactions. The average sales price dropped 6% from $451,207 in January to $425,475 in February due to 45% of the transactions being under $300,000. The good news is...1/3 of the transactions were regular traditional sales partly because of investors flipping their properties.
To read and compare 92101 Urban Living's former blogs about the Downtown San Diego Real Estate Market click on Downtown San Diego Condos & Lofts Sold by Average Monthly Sale Price - Jan to Dec … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge in Downtown San Diego - Now Open - 04/21/11 02:06 PM
We have all been waiting for this!! As 92101 Urban Living walked across the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge yesterday for the first time...feelings arose...happiness & freedom to finally be able to access the great open green grass areas around the San Diego Convention Center and easy access to the water front. If you think about game days at Petco Park...this is just fantastic...being able to park at the Hilton Hotel parking structure and stroll down the bridge right  into the ballpark in the East Village/Ballpark District...it can't get much better than that. 
As we continued up the stairs we noticed the … (0 comments)

92101 urban living: Changes in Downtown San Diego Parking Meters are Approaching - 04/21/11 02:00 PM

The San Diego City Council voted 5-2 to give Mayer Sanders very broad power in adjusting both the hourly fees and times of usage for the 5,500 parking meters that are installed throughout Downtown San Diego. The anticipated changes are the establishing of Neighborhood Advisory Groups that will set the rates and hours specific to their area. Currently rates are $1.25 per hour but can range from 25 cents to $2.50 per hour. Also, a wider range of hours between 7 am and 11 pm as well as Sundays and holidays is anticipated.
To read 92101 Urban Living's former blog … (0 comments)