Looking down on Downtown

Today, the gentrification of San Diego’s Downtown and the attendant transformation of the city’s skyline is nearly complete. It’s a feat that’s been a long time in the making.

The opening of Petco Park in 2004 spurred the construction of dozens of residential high-rises, but the Great Recession and its attendant real estate bust later in the decade stalled many of those projects. The ones that were completed sat mostly empty for years as would-be buyers backed out of purchase contracts, often losing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on deposit in the process.

But redevelopment efforts stretch back even further than that, coming in fits and starts since the city first attempted to begin dealing with urban blight in the 1970s — slowly pushing out ugly-but-affordable SRO hotels in favor of luxury penthouses. Things really got going with the opening of the revamped Horton Plaza mall in 1985 (which itself is now being reimagined as a sort of high-tech office park) and the Convention Center in 1989.

Soon after, The Harbor Club was one of the first projects built to capitalize on what Downtown would eventually become. Completed in 1992, the towers at 100 and 200 Harbor Drive house 201 luxury residences at what our listing today claims is “the most iconic address in Downtown San Diego.”

Let’s have a look inside the west tower’s unit 4002, which occupies that building’s entire 40th floor and offers “stunning 360-degree views of SD, Coronado, Point Loma and clear out to Mexico. As you step out of the elevators, you’re welcomed into your private foyer that only you can access,” the listing continues. Which, I suppose makes sense, since you’re going to own the entire floor.

A tub at the top of the tower

Our photo tour actually begins with a stone-lined spa tub tucked into the corner of a room lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. The glossy black finish feels a little dated, but I still wouldn’t complain about an opportunity to take a soak while soaking in this bay view.

We then move on past what I believe is one of the “dual living rooms” to the entry foyer, which is highlighted by some modern twirling-pendant lights (we’re told all of the light fixtures in the unit have recently been updated) before moving back to the living space, where we now get a glimpse of the advertised “double-sided gas fireplace” and a view of the city lights. There’s also a wet bar with a pair of back-lit wine coolers.

The other side of the living room features an enormous red couch, which is focused on the fireplace rather than the westward view, and seems to be in conversation with some ridiculously high-backed chairs that I would have to sit in before deciding whether to love or hate them.

There’s a galley-style kitchen with a bar, reportedly with “all new gas appliances including dual refrigerators/freezers.” I would enjoy cooking in here, but from this angle, the slant of the exterior wall might make me feel a bit claustrophobic. (I’m fully aware that this is a silly thing to think in an apartment that occupies more than 3600 square feet of space.)

Next we’re off to a reasonably spacious bedroom, but it seems we’re really here to look at the “custom California Closets” that might rival the room itself in size. And wait — did someone tuck a whole sauna into the back of one of these closets? Yes, that appears to be the case. I hope no one minds if I make a mess running from here to the jacuzzi and back.

Speaking of the jacuzzi, we’re now back in the same bathroom where our tour started, except now we can see a double vanity sharing space on the elevated platform with the spa, and a separate walk-in shower with glass walls and a dizzying array of showerheads (the listing also notes that a steam option is available). Hopefully, this means the sauna’s not too far a jaunt after all.

We see another bedroom and a couple of baths, nicely remodeled but not as opulent as the primary suite. A third bedroom seems to be set up as an office, and in the laundry room, a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote suggests that dogs are less likely to attack us if we’re dressed fancily.

We round out our tour with some more views from on high and a peek at some of the common amenities our $1745/month HOA dues cover, including a pool deck, barbecue area, and various entertaining patios. You also get three covered parking spaces, access to a media center and clubhouse with kitchen, and 24-7 concierge staff to handle your mail and packages.

Public records list the current owner of the 4002 penthouse as a Richter Family Trust. It last sold in 2006 — at the height of the last real estate boom — for a reported $4 million. The unit has been offered for sale several times since then; the most recent listing went live in late September and carries an asking price of just $3,333,000. A little too spendy? You can also rent the space unfurnished for $10,000/month — perhaps to try before you buy.

100 Harbor Drive | San Diego, 92101

Current owner: Richter Trust | Listing price: $3,333,000 | Beds: 4 | Baths: 4 | House size: 3600+ sq ft