Home » Archive by Category "November 2010"

Seaport Village Photos with Santa

santa-photo.jpg

Located in downtown San Diego’s Marina District, sits a place you may have heard about-Seaport Village. I’m joking because a lot of people think of downtown San Diego as Seaport Village and that’s okay because we residents know that there is waaaay more to downtown than that. Living in a downtown San Diego loft or condo is where it’s at!

Anyway, let’s get back to the real reason for this post-photo ops with Santa! At the East Plaza Gazebo, Santa will be all jolly sitting in his big ol’ chair waiting for you, your child, pet and/or family to plop yourselves down on his generous lap for some smiles. Personally, I am impressed with the photo package prices-they are $20 with the exception of one at $40. I’ve seen the mall Santa photo prices and let me tell you, this is a great deal! You can check out a schedule of Santa’s availablity here.

Ho, ho, ho!


Pedicab Regulations to Come

800px-pedicab7av59jeh.jpg

As an owner of a downtown San Diego loft, and avid downtown walker, I am very familiar with our pedicab industry. How many times have you seen them towing visitors through the Marina District or asking if you want a ride to the East Village to catch a ballgame? That’s what I thought. But did you know that just until recently, there have been very little regulations on just who gets to drive them?

Beginning January 11, 2011, thanks to Arnold signing Assembly Bill 2294, all pedicab operators must hold a valid California Driver’s License as there is now a definition of pedicab in the California Vehicle Code. Makes sense, right? Local governments are allowed to require all pedicab operators to complete a bike safety course or provide a valid California ID card with proof of a passing grade on the written portion of the driver’s license exam.

Sounds reasonable to me! Not only do these pedicab operators need to ride these bikes while transporting people but they also must navigate roads with pedestrians and drivers. Sounds like the safety of San Diegans, our visitors and our pedicab drivers is a worthwhile priority.


Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Price Range – 3rd Quarter 2010

Downtown San Diego Units Sold by Price Range - 3rd Quarter 2010

This graph is showing us Condos & Lofts sold by price range in Downtown San Diego in the 3rd quarter of 2010. Total units sold are 268!

105 (40%) homes were sold in the price range of $300,001 – $500,000. 86 (32%) homes were sold in the price range of $300,000 and under. We had 1 unit that sold for $2,000,000+ and 11 units sold in the price range of $1,000,001 – $1,500,000. It is also showing us that 40 (15%) were sold in the range of $500,001 – $700,000.

To read 92101 Urban Living’s former blogs click on Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Neighborhood – 3rd Quarter 2010, Downtown San Diego Condos Sold by Type of Sale – 3rd Quarter 2010 and Downtown San Diego Condos Sold – Cash vs. Financing – 3rd Quarter 2010.


For Rent – Elegant and Contemporary Loft in Smart Corner – Stunning Downtown Skyline Views

 

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Create your own slideshow

Elegant and contemporary design, loft floor plan, 2 bedroom combo, and stunning Southwest Downtown San Diego skyline and water views. As part of the signature “Skyloft Series”: 220 Degree View orientation, large square footage, and floor to ceiling windows combine to generate the “WOW” experience of this urban home. Unique and expensive upgrades has been added.

$2700/month! Security Deposit $2700! 12 month lease! Available from December 6th, 2010.

This open loft floor plan of 1422 square feet, the floor to ceilings windows, and expansive views from the San Diego Mountains to the east, Coronado Bridge and Bay to the South, and the high-rises of the Core District to the West all combine to create a powerful and luxury urban living experience. Unit 1615 was first used as the Smart Corner model loft. As a result, the two expensive upgrades of “built out” bedroom space and ceiling soffits were added in order to enhance a more elegant feeling and design. The “built out” two bedrooms give a combination loft layout with private master and quest space.

Bedroom space also allowed for walk in closets, adding the valuable storage space that adds function to every urban loft. Ceiling soffits allow for recessed lighting, hide window coverings, and ultimately soften the industrial feeling of exposed cement ceilings and sprinkler/A/C components. The model upgrades not only add enhanced and unique value, they complete the professional and modern luxury design. Loft upgrades include: teak wood flooring, custom view friendly window coverings, modern “Shag” carpeting in both built out bedrooms, built out closet space, and ceiling fans/custom lighting fixtures. The entertaining central kitchen is equipped with: GE Stainless appliances, granite countertops and backsplash, modern.

Smart Corner: A 19-story complex with 301 units in the East Village/Ballpark District that offers a rooftop lounge with a spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. This building epitomizes Smart Growth, an approach to urban planning that seeks the benefits of a close connect between where people work and live. Smart Corner combines residential living, an office building, ground floor retail space (711, Subway, Starbucks, and Pizza) and mass transit all on one city block.

Before Smart Corner was built, there was no other complex in Downtown San Diego that could represent the East, South, and West views that could look back on the bay, Mexico, Coronado Bridge, and City skyline. As soon as you enter a Smart Corner loft floor plan in this “Skyview Series stack”, it is not hard to figure out why these urban lofts represent the signature “look” and “design” of a Downtown San Diego loft with a view. Loft 1615 is the highest loft in this stack, and highest floor plan of its kind before the building Penthouse levels.

For more information contact Sofia at 619-992-5144 or [email protected].


Toy Stories Family Concert in Downtown San Diego

Toy Stories Family Concert in Downtown San DiegoAre you interested in having your children become familiar with the instruments of the orchestra, learn how music is made and how music comes together in different ways? Come on down to Balboa Theater in Downtown San Diego on November 21st, 2010 and join the interactive entertaining season that is a delight for music lovers of all ages.

Conductor Dana Mambourgh Zimbric is to lead you and your family through the journey of The ABC’s of musical Literacy that will include dance and music as The Classics Philharmonic plays tunes from the Toy Box. After every family concert, you and your children are invited on the stage for Kid’s chat. You can also get your program book signed by the members of the orchestra and the conductor.


Vince Vaughn & Kevin James Comedy Roadshow in Downtown San Diego

Vince Vaughn & Kevin James Comedy Roadshow in Downtown San Diego

Come on down to Balboa Theater in Downtown San Diego on November 18th, 2010 to see the Vince Vaughn and Kevin James Comedy Roadshow that is starting its 14 city national tour that has live sketch comedy with surprise special guests and performances by comedian Richie Minervini, Owen Benjamin and Steve Byrne.

I am sure you all recognize Vince Vaughn who starred in “Wedding Crashers” and who also co-wrote, produced and starred in ”The Break Up“. The Break Up was the first feature film produced under then banner of Vaughn’s production company, Wild West Picture Show Productions. Kevin James started his career with the stand up Long Island comedy scene “King of Queens” and later on moved on with the Columbia Picture “Hitch“.

For more information visit: www.sandiegotheatres.org.


Downtown San Diego’s Charitable Thanksgiving Events

thanksgiving.jpgThe holiday season has officially arrived and it is during this time of year that we are reminded of just how much help our community and neighbors need. Giving of ourselves (whether it be in the form of time, money, food or effort) is a small thing to ask when you look around and see all that you do have. Living in a downtown San Diego loft or condo is a luxury so when reading of the events taking place on or around Thanksgiving Day it causes me to reflect on how I plan to give back to our community. Here are some worthwhile opportunities:

Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K

Date & Time: November 25th at 8am

Location: Balboa Park

Proceeds Cause: Providing 1.7 million meals annually to neighbors in need

Mama’s Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale

Date & Time: Sales end November 21st at 5pm

Location: Throughout San Diego

Proceeds Cause: Each pie sold provides 7 home delivered meals to a neighbor struggling with AIDS or cancer.

Jewish Family Service and San Diego Food Bank’s Run For the Hungry

Date & Time: November 25th at 7:10am

Location: Petco Park (run through the East Village and Gaslamp District)

Proceeds Cause: Foodmobile-provider of hot, kosher, home-delivered meals to homebound older adults and disabled young adults

Basic Urban Kitchen Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner for San Diego’s Homeless

Date & Time: November 25th 11am and 1pm

Location: Basic Urban Kitchen in the East Village (doors are closed to the public, open to seat 120 homeless at each time)

Proceeds Cause: Your gift of time can help feed the homeless a traditional home-cooked Thanksgiving meal


Finally, a Winter Homeless Shelter

homeless_woman.jpg On November 3rd, the San Diego City Council voted 8-0 on placement of the adult winter emergency homeless shelter. Located in downtown San Diego’s East Village area, at 1625 Newton Ave., a shelter will open its doors on Thanksgiving Day. If you remember, back at the end of October, a vote was reached to place the shelter at Golden Hall. This vote was reversed once the city realized a revenue loss of $390,000 along with a breech of contract for previously signed usage agreements. Plus, the San Diego Police Department stepped up and guaranteed a 24 hour mobile unit to be placed beside the shelter throughout the winter. Now we can all sleep better! I say this facetiously.

I am pleased that downtown San Diego finally, finally, found a location for our homeless community members.

It’s about time.


San Diego Veterans Day Parade in Downtown San Diego

 

Downtown San Diego Condo

& Loft home owners, residents, visitors and business owners are celebrating and honoring all of the men and women that served during the Cold War outside of Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm on November 11th, 2010 in Downtown San Diego at 11am with start at Cedar Street & Pacific Highway.

 

They are especially looking for those that served in the Berlin Airlift, Cuban Missile Crisis including the SOSUS System, North Atlantic Barrier and Pacific Barrier (VW Squadron members, DER crews, and Barrier Staffs) SAC commands (especially those involved in the B-52 programs), American Dew Line, Those on the Korean DMZ after the Korean War, crew members of the USS Pueblo, USS Liberty, USS Stark, Marines on Embassy Duty in hostile countries. They are looking for you to tell them your Cold War assignments and stories.If you are interested and would like to share your story click here.

For more information visit http://www.sdvetparade.org/.