Austin Secures Development Approval for Downtown Project

SAN DIEGO-With new commercial real estate product rising at a feverish pace in Downtown San Diego, the Centre City Development Corp. has recently approved another project for the area. The agency has granted a Centre City development permit to Doug Austin, which puts his proposed mixed-use project one step closer to reality.The development, referred to as Santa Fe Parcel 6, is slated to rise at the southwest corner of Kettner Boulevard and A Street in the Columbia section of Downtown San Diego. With construction scheduled to begin this upcoming September, design plans currently call for a 32-story facility comprised of 87 condominiums and 19,000 sf of office space. The project is scheduled for a September 2006 build-out. Just down the street from Santa Fe Parcel 6, a project that will bring 442 condominiums to the Columbia neighborhood is currently under way. The development, known as the Grande at Santa Fe Place, is rising on the block bordered by A and C streets, the Pacific Highway, and the railroad tracks. Owned by Bosa Development and designed by Perkins & Co. Architecture and Urban Design Inc., the complex will consist of two 39-story towers at build-out. Construction of the 221-unit south tower kicked off in April 2002, with work on the 221-unit north tower beginning nearly a year later in June 2003. Completion of the first facility is expected in October 2004, while the second building should be finished by December 2005. Amenities here will include four elevators in each tower; a home office communications panel with telephone, cable and data wiring; a 24-hour surveillance system; a central water softener system; gated subterranean parking; and individual storage lockers.