by The Editors on August 7, 2007
Carlsbad’s Pacific Ridge Corporate Centre on Fleet St recently won The International Office Building of the Year (TOBY) award from the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) in the “Low Rise Suburban Office Park category.”
“I am delighted that this property has won international attention and merit,” said Jerry Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine. “There is much to be proud of for this recognition, and credit goes to our staff who tirelessly work every day to achieve our corporate mission of providing ‘Best of Class’ service.”
Well Jerry, we’re delighted too. That’s a nice looking office you’ve got there.
[Link: Marketwire]
by The Editors on July 21, 2007
Looks like a leaking Carlsbad City pipe is to blame to the tune of $11.3 million in a slow-moving landslide that destoyed eight condo unites on La Costa Avenue.
A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been settled against the city of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District over a condo complex destroyed by a landslide. . . The eight units of the La Costa De Marbella condominium project in the 2400 block of La Costa Avenue had to be demolished after the slow-moving slide in March 2005. The suit was settled for $12.5 million.
City officials claimed the slide was the result of heavy rains, but the court did not believe them. Maybe they can borrow some money from The Crossings. That project seems to be loaded.
[Link: NBC San Diego]
by The Editors on July 20, 2007
Wal-Mart has just purchased a 17-arce site at the corner of College Blvd and El Camino Real where it hopes to build “its most upscale store in the nation,” (which isn’t saying much) according to story in the North County Times.
It will be an absolute paradigm shift,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Aaron Rios in an interview Thursday evening. . . Wal-Mart, which has long sought entry into Carlsbad, recognizes that if it succeeds in building a store in the affluent, carefully planned community, it could not be a typical “big box” store, Rios said.
Upscale? We were trying to think of something funny to say about an upscale Wal-Mart, but the truth is. . . Wal-Mart sucks. And there’s really nothing funny about that.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on July 18, 2007
Jeff Dowler of RE/MAX Associates has been nice enough to publish the June 2007 wrap up of Carlsbad Real Estate data. We didn’t confirm it all, however, Jeff put the letters “Ph.D.” behind his name so he must know what he’s talking about, right?
Home prices are still down from where they were 1 year ago – off by about 1% for detached homes, and 5% down for attached. Buyer activity continues to be fairly strong, although there are many buyers who are out looking but not making a move to purchase. We are also seeing some low ball offers that do not go forward. I would pay attention to the interest rates since they have moved up some, but are still lower than 1 year ago.
He also breaks out the totals of how many homes were for sale (513 detched, 290 attached), how long they’ve taken to sell (58 to 69 days), etc. . . Check it out.
[Link: Jeff Dowler on Activerain.com]
by Eero Lloyd Neutra on June 26, 2007
Problem lots are where an architect’s genius can shine. And the lot at 4240 Hillside Dr. in Carlsbad is a problem. It’s at the bottom of a drainage and surrounded by tile-roofed pink houses (okay, salmon, to be fair). The lot rolls perpendicularly across a ravine that is taller on the Hillside Drive side that on the hill side side. It is a lot that the average home builder would take one look at and run away.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story and more photos.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 18, 2007
by The Editors on June 16, 2007
Horace Hogan II, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Carlsbad-based residential development company Brehm Communities has been selected to receive the prestigious 2007 City of Hope Spirit of Life Award. A gala will be held in his honor on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the San Diego Sheraton Hotel and Marina.
This event offers members of the construction industry a unique opportunity to unite in tribute to a respected colleague and make a significant contribution to City of Hope, a world-renowned biomedical research and treatment facility.
[Link: City of Hope via SD Union Tribune]
by Eero Lloyd Neutra on June 15, 2007
Occasionally high end architecture, especially in custom ocean front homes, falls into what an old acquaintance categorized as “more money than brains” design. The idea is that often people with money end up designing a home that they would never design nor build if there were fiscal limitations. And this lack of constrained creativity produces buildings that don’t quite ring true.
The Kiko Beach Front Residence tips lightly into this category and is currently under construction at 2649 Ocean Street. Designed by the obviously talented Wolfram Kalber of Wolf Design Build the Kiko Beach House is a functional looking four story that is wrapped in superfluous waves of stucco facades and oddly shaped accessories.
While the building maximizes the lot perfectly, the most interesting aspect is the way it interfaces with the beach out front. A wall separates the public beach from the private beach and then that private beach is again segmented from the swimming area with what looks like a glass enclosure matched on the wall of the pool with a translucent champagne glass like waterfall.
The home is nearing completion and while some could argue that its bombastic contemporary lines are over the top, no one would call it poorly executed, or for that matter ugly.
[Link: Wolf Design Build]
by Eero Lloyd Neutra on June 3, 2007
A few days ago we mentioned that Carlsbad has very few architecturally significant homes. With a couple exceptions, most reside outside The Neighborhood. Unfortunately, the construction of the Carlsbad Beachwalk (two new “contemporary designs” on the corner of Garfield and Sequoia) doesn’t change that statement at all. In fact, these two new homes, being built by Garfield Beachwalk LLC (Patrick Kellett, Gregg Dileo & Dr. Cyril F. Kellett) appear to have been designed by someone reaching far outside their skill set.
With no real balance or congruity of line these two homes appear to have been cobbled together with design elements randomly chosen from several different styles.
While it is good to see anyone with this kind of investment funding moving away from the Crapsman Revival homes that clutter Carlsbad, it is sad that this project is so aesthetically off the mark.
These are, however, only drawings. We hope that when the homes are completed the architectural genius will become obvious. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
[Link: Carlsbad Beachwalk]
by The Editors on June 1, 2007
The City of Carlsbad is looking for a new live-in Caretaker for Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park and wedding chapel (okay, we added that last part). The new caretaker may live at the ranch with his/her family and pay zero rent. But there are some chores involved according to the notice:
You’ll have to mow the lawn, clean the restrooms, provide guided tours of the ranch and pick up stray trash, among other things. You’ll need to look presentable during the 25 to 30 hours a week that the city expects you to perform your duties, and you’ll have keep your stereo turned down during the park’s night-time quiet hours.
You’ll also be harassed 24-7 by the family of peacocks who live there and have to spend time hanging out with a couple ghosts that are rumored to cruise the property on moonlit summer nights. We were so there until the “looking presentable” and keeping the stereo down part. But maybe you can hang with that.
[Link: North County Times]
Carlsbad’s Pacific Ridge Corporate Centre on Fleet St recently won The International Office Building of the Year (TOBY) award from the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) in the “Low Rise Suburban Office Park category.”
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