East Village experienced a dramatic resurgence of residential and business development with the construction of downtown’s biggest attraction, Petco Park, the major league baseball venue for San Diego Padres built in 2004.

Residents in nearby high-rise condominiums enjoy views of the playing field from balconies and rooftop decks. During baseball season the neighborhood restaurants, shops and bars take on additional energy and vibrancy as visitors are drawn in from all around San Diego County and beyond.

Warehouse District

East Village was not always hip and ultracool. At the turn of the 20th century, East Village was known as the “warehouse district” of San Diego. It was a neighborhood filled with industry and production, a place of manufacturing, distribution and storing goods.

Elements of this old neighborhood are still visible today through “re-use” planning, architectural innovations that incorporate original warehouse buildings with contemporary construction and design.

TR Produce is an excellent example. The 75-year old brick warehouse has been adaptively re-used, beautifully re-designed into commercial loft-style condominiums, office space with updated materials of modern flare. While the façade is original red brick, the condominiums are built of steel and glass.

Another example, the historic Western Metal Supply Company is a 4-story brick building that provided steel and large hardware products to the construction and transportation industries in the early 20th century. Once slated for demolition, the building was preserved and underwent major structural renovation to meet current day building codes. It is now an integral part of Petco Park, housing a restaurant, souvenir shop, ballpark party suites, and roof top bleachers.

Showley Bros Candy Factory is another example that began its operation in 1905, and produced candy 50 years in San Diego’s warehouse district. The entire building was preserved and carefully moved on a huge platform a few blocks to the east side of ballpark grounds to make way for an open space greenbelt for residents and visitors. The historic brick building is currently vacant and awaiting its next occupant.

East Village Now

Recent construction and local East Village attractions without “re-use” include the Park-to-Bay Link, a landmark $32 million suspension bridge, Thomas Jefferson School of Law that opened its doors in January 2011, Martin Luther King Promenade, a linear park that runs the length of Harbor Boulevard paying tribute to the late civil rights leader, Park at the Park, a large grassy area built within stadium grounds for picnicking, watching the game, or enjoying the great outdoors, and the new Central Library, currently under construction and expected to be twice the size of our current downtown library. The state-of-the-art library will house a charter school, outdoor café, children’s library, teen center, homework center, gallery/exhibit space, auditorium, and 2 levels of parking.

For more information about East Village, and properties for sale, please call (619) 246-8400.