Completed in 2024, the mixed-use apartment complex known as West presented a stark and modern contrast to the aging county courthouse that it replaced in downtown San Diego.
A few years ago the county of San Diego put the old site off Union Street up for proposals from private developers looking to capitalize on the high-traffic downtown location.
The prevailing development team — led by Vancouver, Washington-based Holland Partner Group, as well as Los Angeles-based Lowe and Arlington, Virginia-based North America Sekisui House — demolished the old courthouse to clear the way for their multipurpose project spanning three city blocks and nearly four acres.
Sporting a 37-story tower with 431 apartments, along with retail, offices and numerous upscale amenities, West brought a decidedly modern look to an area of downtown best known for older buildings primarily serving court and government traffic.
Local experts said this was the first large, upscale mixed-use development to be completed in downtown San Diego in several years, especially in a challenging climate for commercial development and particularly for projects with office components. The multifamily focus fits with the generally strong demand for apartments downtown, especially among young professionals who work at nearby government offices, including courts.
The West project overcame other challenges outside of the economy. One factor was a county requirement that developers construct a new underground tunnel connecting the nearby County Central Jail to the new San Diego Central Courthouse.
Developers said this secure passageway for inmate transfers presented complex engineering challenges, requiring close coordination with law enforcement and government agencies. Developers and county officials also had to deploy construction techniques that minimized disruptions to surrounding buildings and streets as the new tunnel was being built.
Based on factors including a dramatic, multi-use repurposing of a site that once housed an aging government building, a panel of local real estate experts chose the project to receive a CoStar Impact Award for commercial development of the year in San Diego.
About the project: West includes a 37-story tower with 431 apartments, 9,000 square feet of retail and 270,000 square feet of office space. There is a state-of-the-art fitness center, meditation rooms, outdoor recreational areas and a 12,000-square-foot green roof with plantings and water capture features, among other sustainability-focused design elements.
What the judges said: The redevelopment of the downtown site "is truly remarkable," said Christopher Sohaey, managing principal at MMC Real Estate Holdings. "Seeing what was there before and comparing it to what stands now is mind-boggling," Sohaey said. "Holland Partner Group undoubtedly navigated immense challenges in bringing this project to life, from complex urban planning to seamlessly integrating multiple uses."
Amy McNamara, principal at Urban Property Group, said West was "one of the few new developments in 2024, marking a challenging year for new construction." Liza Strom, executive vice president and principal at Strom Commercial Real Estate, said the development "is impressive and has continued to persevere in a depressed downtown market."
They made it happen: Developers Holland Partner Group, Lowe and North America Sekisui House; leasing brokers Tony Russell and Richard Gonor of JLL. Brent Schertzer and Cole Smith of Holland Development Group, and Juan Arriaga of Lowe.