I currently have a few clients considering a condo purchase in the Columbia District at either Bayside or The Grande and they have asked me to compare the two condo complexes.  Because the locations are almost identical, it makes comparing these two buildings a great comparison.   For the sake of brevity, I am going to compare current sales prices of the smaller 2 bedroom floor plan, the interior finishes and the amenities.

The current status of Bayside is that they they have closed escrow on 113 homes, but have another 27 in escrow.  They have actually had a great spring and have been averaging 4-6 sales per week for the last the last 2.5 months.  Their normal pace of sales was 4-6 per month prior to this sales boost they have recently experienced.

For the purpose of this comparison, I am going to focus on the Bayside E floorplan, which features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and 1462-1494 sq/ft.  This Bayside floorplan faces south-east with city views and peak views of the San Diego Bay.  These are the current available condos and published prices.

– 13th floor with Merlot interior and 2 tandem parking = $772,500  with discount $695,250

The price per sq/ft on the E floor plan at Bayside for the levels we are comparing (13-19)  is approximately $525 per sq/ft.  The interior finishes at Bayside are definitely superior to those of The Grande.  The cabinets are Snaidero brand and are the best quality that  Bosa Development has used in any of their Downtown San Diego Condominium buildings.  The kitchen appliances, Viking and Miele, are also of superior quality to that of The Grande.  The bathroom fixtures, kohler, are more modern at Bayside and have more of a wow factor.

 The most similar floorplan to Bayside’s E plan at The Grande is  the 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1325 sq/ft floorplan.  This particular condo at The Grande also faces towards the East and is located on both the north east and south east corners of both the north and south  towers.   These floorplans also have sneak peak views of the bay.  These are the following comparables in terms of what is available:

Based on the above information, prices at The Grande are averaging approximately $50 per square foot less than at Bayside for a higher floor.   Comparing the ammenities of the two buildings, Bayside has a wine room and a theater room that The Grande does not have.   Both buildings have resort style ammenities including pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms.   The Grande and Bayside both have great guests suites so visiting family or friends can have the privacy of their own suite.

Bayside offers more, but also demands a higher price so it really depends on which building you find more tasteful.  I personally view Bayside as a more exquisite  San Diego condo building and really feel like the shines through in the common areas.  I see really good value in the North-west corner at Bayside.  This north-west corner includes the A, H and N floorplans.  Not only is the layout great, but the view is protected due to the airport.  The south-west corner also offers great views, but the vacant lot known as Lane Field will be developed and some of the current views will be lost.  Residents in this location also look directly into the Grande to the south.

 For more information about these two wonderful downtown buildings, give downtown San Diego condo expert Chad Dannecker a call at 619-309-8011.