New mixed-use development to transform La Jolla’s Pearl Street

The La Jolla Community Planning Association unanimously approved plans for a new mixed-use development on a prominent corner of Pearl Street and Girard Avenue. 

Applicant and architect Taal Safdie of Safdie Rabines Architects gave a presentation to the planning group on Sept. 3 detailing the project. The planning group members responded with praise for the project’s design.

“It’s just so refreshing to see multi-unit development and more housing,” planning group member Harry Bubbins said. “I’m so happy to see that.” 

Known as The Pearl, the project would demolish a single-story, 2,980-square-foot commercial building at 941 and 945 Pearl St that previously housed the now-closed dry cleaning staple Ogden’s One Hour Cleaners.

In its place, the developer looks to construct a three-story, 17,172-square-foot, mixed-use project. The property will stretch from Girard Avenue to Drury Lane and add 476% to the building’s square footage. 

Under the current plan, The Pearl will have six residential units, with one unit deed-restricted for affordable housing, basement parking, a residential lobby, landscaping improvements and a ground-level retail space that the applicant hopes will be a restaurant. The parking lot will include ten parking spots and two car lifts to transport cars from the basement back to the ground floor.

By including one affordable housing unit, the developer secured waivers to San Diego building codes. The waivers allow for a 41% floor area ratio increase and void city restrictions requiring street-corner setbacks on all three floors, plumb line height measurements, and street facade envelope requirements, which the builder said will preserve 30% of residential unit interiors. 

Although the project adheres to the maximum 30-foot coastal height limit required for all coastal projects West of Interstate 5, the property slopes down so that the overall height may exceed 30 feet in some areas, applicant Safdie explained to the LJCPA.  

Units in the new building are estimated to cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, according to Pacific Beach Builder, a contractor that provides insight and updates on San Diego construction. The affordable housing units will be sold between 40 and 50% below market value, at approximately $750,000 to $900,000. 

To qualify for San Diego’s deed-restricted affordable housing, properties must maintain rent or sales price caps tied to a percentage of the area median income for at least 55 years. For a 6-unit project like The Pearl, providing one affordable housing unit qualifies the developer for bonus concessions under the “at least 10% of units” threshold. The unit must serve a moderate-income household making between 80 and 120% of the area’s median income. 

The plan was previously reviewed by the La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee on Aug. 10, and the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee on Aug. 11 and 18. The PDO did not vote, but the DPR committee did and ultimately recommended approval on Aug. 18. With LJCPA approval, the project will proceed to the city of San Diego for additional review.