Right now the industry buzzword is “creative” office space – marked by highly functional, yet aesthetically appealing design conducive to employee collaboration and interaction.
Yet when considering a commercial project’s overall appeal, there are many other critical factors to consider – from sustainability to economic impact, and high-tech amenities to community needs.
Ultimately, award-winning development integrates with and enhances its surrounding community – by interweaving itself in the surrounding environment – while accommodating the wants and desires of the developer and end user.
Our City San Diego, a regional magazine which covers politics, business and real estate, recently highlighted five San Diego projects in its inaugural “Our City Development of the Year” contest. The magazine focused on projects that “push the boundaries when it comes to lifting up communities,” with the judges examining not only project design, but how the developments have “helped shape and drive the communities they have become a part of.”
With this in mind, projects were judged 40% on vision, 25% on community improvement, 25% on aesthetics and 10% on environmental sustainability. The competition included five categories: small and large multi-family, small and large commercial development, and affordable housing.
The winning projects included 1941 Columbia (1941 Colombia Street, San Diego) and Famosa Townhomes (4183 Voltaire Street, San Diego) for the multi-family housing category with less than 30 units; Mr. Robinson (3752 Park Blvd., San Diego) for the multi-family housing category with more than 30 units; 227 Broadway (227 E. Broadway, Vista) for the small commercial category; and in the large commercial category, Make (5600 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad), developed by CGS3 client Cruzan. CGS3 is honored to work with this forward thinking company, whose Make development is described by Our City as 175,000 square feet of “wow” and “arguably the coolest office space in the region.”
CGS3 represented Cruzan in the leasing and amenities transactions involved in the redevelopment of this former warehouse – which was transformed into an outdoor-centric, creative office complex – and helped land camera giant GoPro, Inc. as its first tenant.
“As land becomes scarcer, developers must be more creative in their approach to maximizing space and creating agreements,” said Craig Swanson, Partner at CGS3. Craig specializes in the acquisition, disposition, development, leasing and financing of commercial and mixed-use projects.
Amenities in this multi-tenant project – previously the Floral Trade Center – include outdoor surf showers, a fire pit, horseshoe pits, an outdoor amphitheater, a café housed in a shipping container, electric vehicle chargers, and a state of the art fitness center. Make is a forward-thinking, office redevelopment project that certainly sets a new standard for creative office space in San Diego.
All of the Our City winners have helped create community awareness and vitality through commercial real estate redevelopment in San Diego County.
About CGS3
CGS3 provides legal services throughout the commercial real estate life cycle by looking at the implications that can affect clients’ transactions down the road in order to protect their interests and maximize their investment in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use properties. For a practical and pragmatic approach to commercial real estate, contact Craig Swanson at 858-367-7690 or [email protected], or learn more about CGS3.
Sources:
Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3)
Our City San Diego