As a resident of downtown San Diego from 2000-2004, I lived there at the cusp of the real estate boom…When bulldozers and the sounds of construction woke me up every single day at 6 a.m. It was frustrating, yet very exciting at the same time. I felt major changes occurring in the downtown real estate market and I was right smack in the middle of it. I was very excited to see East Village blooming into a very hip, happening place - a far cry from what it was ten years ago. I remember being a little hesitant to even walk in that area during that time.
However, now downtown San Diego has grown into a very chic, yet still very down-to-earth metropolitan area and to this day I’m still amazed at the improvements that have been made. If only they could fix the potholes and cracks in the streets! Oh, but I digress…
Although I now live out in the suburbs, I still make my way into downtown a couple days out of the week to do some writing in a coffee shop or just enjoy a nice lunch in one of the many restaurants in the Gaslamp District.
This is the view from one of my favorite hangouts, Java Jones Coffeehouse on 9th Ave in East Village. It’s a very dog-friendly coffee joint that serves organic coffee and all kinds of healthy treats. I love it because it has free wi-fi and a couch, plus armchairs for people who don’t like sitting on hard wooden chairs!
Right around the corner from Java Jones you’ll see many of the newer condominium buildings, including Alta which you can see here with the “Now Selling” banner plastered across the building.
This is the scene from the trolley stop at the bottom of Smart Corner. Smart Corner offers studios, condos, and lofts from the mid $200,000’s.
Despite it’s massive growth, downtown San Diego still maintains that small town feel…
