GlobeSt.com: How would you characterize the luxury rental market in Lemon Grove?

Gustafson: We're it. If you go to Downtown Lemon Grove, it has good bones. It is starting to redevelop, and the City is trying to lay the groundwork for what we did. Downtown retail has a nice feel to it, so the retail is just kind of starting as well. We are somewhat pioneering, and it feels good. There's a Home Depot and Starbucks starting. Also, this project is right on the trolley stop in Lemon Grove, so you can be at a Padres game in 14 minutes and at San Diego State in 15 minutes. It's well accessed and right off the 94, and Caltrans is changing the off ramp to be right on our project, so the access is amazing. This is something that hasn't been out there yet. People in East County want to stay in East County. It's providing a new niche, to a certain extent—there are other luxury projects nearby, but not in Lemon Grove specifically.

GlobeSt.com: How does this market compare to the overall multifamily market in the area?

Gustafson: They're all primarily older; we're the first real new product in decades out there. It's really kind of a bedroom community. We have first responders—police, military, single women—all pulling from this region. When we designed this product, there was no comp in the area. We needed to triangulate between National City, North Park and La Mesa to figure out how to price since there were no new projects of this scale.

GlobeSt.com: What does this market have to offer residents that other San Diego submarkets don't?

Gustafson: The neat downtown and easy access—you can be on the 94 and Downtown in 10 minutes. The political climate is good; they want and embrace development. It's kind of like what happened in North Park.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about Celsius?

Gustafson: We held the grand opening last week, we're leasing at a steady pace, and people are looking for that product. It's new and different. CityMark prides itself on being pioneering and helping areas turn.

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LEMON GROVE, CA—The recent completion of Celsius, an 84-unit luxury apartment building here, represents a milestone for the Lemon Grove submarket, which hasn't seen any new apartment product in decades, developer CityMark Development's president Rich Gustafson tells GlobeSt.com. The project, located at 100 Citronica Lane, has a focus on easy access to public transportation, is pet friendly and contemporary.

“The City of Lemon Grove asked us to create a residential destination that would solidify the city's sprouting urban core,” says Gustafson. “Borrowing from our experience in Little Italy, Bankers Hill and Downtown, we created a modern destination with today's in-demand features, such as Wi-Fi in all common areas, electric-vehicle-charging stations and a state-of-the-art fitness center.”

The newest addition to Lemon Grove's Main Street Promenade, Celsius also offers a two-story lobby, sundeck terrace with seating, an expansive lobby lounge with a 75-inch TV and pool table and barbecue area. The complex has gated parking, bicycle parking areas, 24-hour emergency maintenance and the convenience of paying rent or requesting services online. The one-, two- or three-bedroom apartment homes, each with a private balcony, offer quartz countertops, 9-foot ceilings, energy-efficient stainless-steel appliances, and high-efficiency washer-and-dryer units. There are 10 floor-plan options to choose among, with units ranging from 629 square feet to 1,482 square feet. Pricing starts from $1,575 per month.

We spoke with Gustafson about the project as well as the luxury rental market in Lemon Grove.

GlobeSt.com: How would you characterize the luxury rental market in Lemon Grove?

Gustafson: We're it. If you go to Downtown Lemon Grove, it has good bones. It is starting to redevelop, and the City is trying to lay the groundwork for what we did. Downtown retail has a nice feel to it, so the retail is just kind of starting as well. We are somewhat pioneering, and it feels good. There's a Home Depot and Starbucks starting. Also, this project is right on the trolley stop in Lemon Grove, so you can be at a Padres game in 14 minutes and at San Diego State in 15 minutes. It's well accessed and right off the 94, and Caltrans is changing the off ramp to be right on our project, so the access is amazing. This is something that hasn't been out there yet. People in East County want to stay in East County. It's providing a new niche, to a certain extent—there are other luxury projects nearby, but not in Lemon Grove specifically.