University Terrace East Addition – Multi-family Residences

In 2016, the owners broke ground on their renovation. The first phase was to demolish a parking lot and construct an 18 unit apartment building with underground parking. The building is composed of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units which are geared towards families. This design blends a modern architectural style with design elements of the existing complex. The common area includes a gym and study room.

The second phase renovated the common area of the balance of the site while also addressing deferred maintenance. The focus of the renovation was to provide amenities that are family oriented. A playground, dog park and barbeque area were added to the project. The volleyball court was replaced with a new court of regulation size. The rich palate of colors used in the complex and the large landscaped areas create a pleasant environment for the families living there. The “walk-up” style apartments feel more like single family homes than high density apartments.

This project does an excellent job of providing housing that is affordable to the majority of most San Diegans without sacrificing the quality of life typically associated with dense, urban living. It provides an environment where families can live together and interact as a community.

Background:

In 1985, University Terrace East, LP (UTE) constructed a 75 unit apartment complex on Genesee Cove, an appendix of Genesee Avenue, in the University City neighborhood. Like most apartment complexes built in the 1980s, the target demographic was young, single professionals looking to share an apartment. The complex was designed to accommodate their needs: one and two-bedroom units, with amenities such as a 15 station “fit trail” exercise path, pool, volleyball court and barbecue area.

In the 30 years that have passed since the project was first built, the rental market in San Diego has changed. One major trend has been the rising cost of single family homes. More and more families can no longer afford a house, so they look instead for apartment housing within suitable school districts. Since University Terrace East is surrounded by three schools, it provides an excellent opportunity for tenants to enroll their children in a high-quality schools. Another trend is that a growing contingent of the population now prefers to live in an urban environment where they can enjoy an active social lifestyle, surrounded by stores, restaurants, bars, museums, parks, etc. and they are willing to live in an apartment rather than a house in a suburban area.

As more and more families started to rent at University Terrace East, the owners felt the need to tailor the complex to suit their needs. In 2013, the owners decided to face this problem by renovating the complex to tailor it to families. At this time they also decided to take advantage of unused density and increase the number of apartments in the complex.