Modernized this historic building on Banker’s Hill in downtown San Diego while preserving its original charm.
Led the renovation of the old apartments into vibrant live/work spaces under LWP Group, LLC., which is known for bringing new energy to older areas of San Diego with fun, multipurpose communal spaces.
The inaugural Community@ location! The property was built in 1925 and 1961 in Bankers Hill, an upscale neighborhood North of Downtown San Diego. Community@ members can boast proximity to world-famous, environmental and cultural visual marvel: Balboa Park.
The surrounding area is mostly residential and comprised of older homes (several, in Victorian tradition) and classic courtyard apartments, modern and eco-friendly homes, and new, mixed-use condominiums. .
Location: Bankers Hill, walking distance to Balboa Park & Downtown, and near independent restaurant and retail clusters Number of Units: 32
Unit Types: Predominantly studios; 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom (Flats only)
Photo credit to LWP Group.
The Carnegie building located in San Diego's downtown Gaslamp District was falling apart. The 100+ year old vacant hotel had fallen into disrepair and needed some love.
The LWP Group, led by Greg Strangman, who has breathed new life into communities throughout the San Diego area, once again, brought me on to lead the transformation of the historic building.
Working in partnership with LWP, which managed the design and community elements, I oversaw the complete renovation of the building, which is now home to a new generation of young community-minded renters who appreciate the character of the Gaslamp, and want to be a part of high-energy downtown living.
Originally built in 1912, this modified five-story Italian Renaissance structure houses 61 units. When originally built, it was the largest apartment house constructed in San Diego.
Local historians reference the building to exemplify the distinctive characteristics of a type, period and method of Italian Renaissance construction and the work of master architects, The Quayle Brothers.
Photo credit to LWP Group.
Following the renovation of a World's Fair-era building on 2nd Street including Penthouse (also for LWP Group), founder, Greg Strangman and project manager, Michael Pandolfe, hired me for the renovation of the Onyx building in San Diego's Gaslamp District.
In many ways, the build was ground-up but required the attention to historic restoration, which resulted in a beautiful transformation of a tired old space into a modern nightclub with warm inviting lounge areas and bar tops surrounding the main dance floor brought to life by San Diego's best DJs.
The Thin Room offers a fresh take on the city's history while adding new style only amplified by the live entertainment and colorful light installations designed to create different moods in this energetic space.
Community at the Onyx Building is a three-story mixed-use property located in the heart of the popular Gaslamp Quarter. It is an ideal creative and entrepreneurial hub that features ground floor commercial space, second-floor executive/work suites, and a third-floor, single-tenant space.
Listed as Building 27 on the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation’s architectural guide, the property was built in 1910. The upper floors once comprised a hotel, while the lower level was home to commercial tenants such as San Diego Gas & Electric.
Historically, Onyx Building occupants have benefitted from its convenient, central location, a fact that remains with the 2022 arrival of the reimagined Horton Plaza – a new tech-focused campus with retail, a public park, and more.
Location: Downtown, heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, ideally located, short walk to courthouses, walk to Horton Plaza
Number of Units: 15 executive/work suites
Photo credit to LWP Group.
This restaurant build in downtown Tustin, California (Orange County)—in collaboration with Laidlaw Building & Development—was completed in 2018.
I was contracted by LBD to take over as superintendent of this build in its initial phases after another contractor did not deliver, and was honored to have been requested by name by world-renowned architect and building co-owner, Leason Pomeroy, who designed this warm, inviting space sets the stage for an equally tantalizing menu inspired by Executive Chef, Gabbi Patrick's Yucatecan roots.
The CHAAK project required many unique elements including state-of-the-art kitchen and commercial smoker + oven for roasting eclectic Mayan dishes and churning out fresh tortillas to the delight of diners who can view from the comfort of their tables all of the action in the kitchen.
Probably the most noteworthy finish is the all-glass rooftop that can be opened to create an outdoor feel for patrons who continue to enjoy the cozy enclosed dining room for comida y coctels under the stars.
Anthology was an ambitious project. A massive and swank music venue in San Diego's Gaslamp District where patrons would enjoy live entertainment over dinner and cocktails while surrounded in luxury.
The bar was the centerpiece of the room. The designer had an idea that would be near impossible to actually build. The planning, measurements...the detail required to get it right would be both challenging and time-consuming.
Having built many bars before (and even tending bar at night while working construction by day in the beginning of my career), I knew what they were asking for and considered walking away from the bid.
But I couldn't walk away.
It was a challenge, and if done right, it would be one of those signature projects that I’d always be proud to have pulled off.
This is the final result.
As a fisherman who's spent a great deal of time in historic Point Loma, an older area of San Diego that has been home to generations of military and sport-fishing families, I was thrilled to be contracted (once again by LWP Group) to give a new lease on life to an old run-down no-tell motel on the main drag of Rosecrans.
Point Loma has been committed to keeping its WWII era charm and the city must have been excited by LWP's concept to balance modern with 50's style Route 66 destination motels complete with bar, lounge, restaurant, poolside movies and inexpensive but sleek rooms to stay the night after one too many martinis on the main floor.
The Pearl is now indeed a gem of Point Loma with its refined look and retro touches enjoyed as an evening or even overnight destination for events or just dinner for two by the pool, please. Photo credit to LWP Group.
After three seasons contracting to build massive sandcastle forms on the beach for renowned sand sculptor and founder of the World Sand Sculpting Academy, Gary Kirk, who led the competition for the Discovery Channel's "explosive" television show (they blew up the sandcastles), Sand Blasters, I was hired to lead construction of Pelly's Miniature Golf in Del Mar.
Collaborating with Kirk, who's sand sculpting work and aquatic vision for the course won the contract, I had the opportunity to add form and function around Kirk's sculptures. In partnership, we brought to life Kirk’s sea creatures, piers, and surf scenes, and authentic pirate ship as the centerpiece envisioned by Kirk.
It was an honor to work on the project and revive the old mini golf property, which I visited as a kid and spent countless hours skateboarding the pools next door at the historic Del Mar Skate Ranch. Photo credit to Gary Kirk, a great man and master artist, who is sorely missed.
In the early 1990's, Midway Atoll (yes, the location of the infamous WWII Battle of Midway) was owned and under development by a private party for veteran + eco-tourism.
The owner contracted with Pacific Phoenix to complete the two-year project where I ran as Superintendent crews and building projects.
The military barracks, which were in ruin after half a century of neglect and harsh weather in the middle of the Pacific, were transformed into hotel rooms while two-story officer’s quarters were renovated for visitors as well.
Also managed was the ground-up construction of a restaurant on the beach designed for a husband + wife team of gourmet chefs who were flown in to live and work full-time on the atoll.
The Midway project was featured as a cover story in Smithsonian Magazine.
