One of the most talked about up-and-coming developments in Downtown San Diego is the yet-to-be-built I.D.E.A. District. An acronym for Innovation, Design, Education, Arts, the I.D.E.A. District is a “transformative urban initiative which aims to create 13,000+ design and tech jobs in the next 12 years in Downtown San Diego’s East Village,” according to the project’s website. The emerging district will be bordered on the north by City College/C Street, on the east by I-5, on the south by Market and on the west by 11th Street.

Developers Pete Garcia and David Malmuth are working in collaboration with Lowe Enterprises, with each party bringing impressive and inspiring portfolios of work to the table.

According to Garcia and Malmuth:

“I.D.E.A. District is designed to bring jobs back downtown and grow a new jobs cluster that thrives because it speaks to the sensibilities of an emerging workforce. It’s a 21st century vision that utilizes the attributes that make our city potentially great – walkability, close proximity to transit, an international airport 10 minutes away, restaurants, culture, entertainment and a beautified bay front – and enhances them by adding clean, high-paying jobs.”

When complete, I.D.E.A. District will almost be its own self-contained city, with educational institutions as anchors, cool creative spaces for tech and related industries, housing for the generation of workers who will live, work and play in the district, as well as modern, trendy retailers, restaurants and specialty shops, interspersed with museums and art galleries.

It is designed to cater to today’s young, educated, workers who seek a balanced urban lifestyle and amenities galore within just a block or two of their home and/or office.

It’s going to be very exciting to watch the ongoing development in the East Village, and we’ll keep you posted as construction begins on this new tech district in Downtown.