North Park - San Diego Streets

Lofts Planned for Vacant North Park Site

The stretch of University Avenue between Florida and Texas has long been a dead zone compared to the thriving neighborhood centers of Hillcrest and North Park. That could soon change, as San Diego architect Jeff Svitak is planning a residential loft project for a vacant site at Louisiana and University.

In June, San Diego Reader reported the sale of the lot to Svitak under the purchasing name Morley, LLC. Although details are still unknown, we came across a rendering on Svitak’s Instagram that just might represent an early design. “Morley starting to come to life,” he writes. The multi-level complex includes several small courtyards and open spaces between units.

The vacant lot is located just east of Albertsons, across from Colima’s Mexican Food. There’s a single-family home to the east and an apartment building to the south.

That early rendering for the vacant North Park lot shares some similarities with Jeff Svitak’s Columbia Lofts, which is expected to be completed in Little Italy next month. Located on Columbia Street between Fir and Grape, the 18-unit complex is inspired by the narrow streets of Venice.

Svitak’s design for Columbia incorporates several shared courtyards and green corridors that serve as buffers between units. The concept minimizes the number of shared walls, using those shared spaces and private patios to increase the amount of light and ventilation.

Based on the preliminary design for his North Park project, expect this same design style to be repeated. Check out Svitak’s Facebook page for more on the nearly-completed Columbia Lofts, as well as the project website for detailed floorplans.

You Got Mail at the Former Post Office

When the North Park post office closed in 2011 due to service cutbacks, many worried that that the mid-century building would be torn down. Luckily, San Diego architects Foundation for Form came up with an urban mixed-use concept that incorporates the neighborhood landmark.

The project, called You Got Mail, will contain 33 apartment units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space at the corner of Grim and North Park Way. Most of those apartments will be studios and single-bedroom units.

We’re still trying to figure out what’s going on with all the extreme angles and protrusions.

Foundation for Form has taken on similar development projects already. In Golden Hill, they turned an old Texaco gas station into another mixed-use project, smartly incorporating elements of the existing structure into the design.

We’ll be interested to see what kind of tenants are announced for the commercial space.

Checking in on the North Parker

At 30th and Upas, the North Parker is the latest mixed-use project by Jonathan Segal, one of our favorite San Diego architects. The second-floor residential units are ready for move-in, while work continues in the first-floor commercial spaces.

At the corner, you can’t miss where Consortium Holdings is working on its second Underbelly ramen restaurant. They hope to open by summer.

We kind of have a thing for the way CH Projects lets everyone know they’re moving in. What a tease.

Modern Times will open its 16-tap tasting room by mid-May. We’re particularly excited about this one. They were working on the inside when we stopped by.

A third location for coffee shop Influx is in the works as well. Their Little Italy shop is one of our favorite places to grab a sandwich on yummy focaccia, so we’re pleased that they’re expanding.

If you’re interested in living here, you’ll have to fork out $2,300–$2,700/month for one of the 900-to-1200-square-foot lofts. The rates don’t surprise us for these ultra modern floorplans.

Rounding out a solid group of tenants is Tacos Perla, which will serve authentic street tacos. Once all of the North Parker opens by summer, expect this to be another hotspot in booming North Park.