REAL ESTATE PROJECTS
Elevating everyday spaces into extraordinary destinations
Spaces have the power to inspire, connect, and uplift. For me, real estate is about crafting environments that bring people together in meaningful ways.
Whether breathing new life into an overlooked building or helping shape a sprawling, master-planned development, I love reimagining what’s possible to create something unexpected and memorable.
With two decades of experience in real estate development and operations, I specialize in adaptive reuse, placemaking, and community-focused development. Having overseen $750M+ in mixed-use assets — including retail, office, industrial, and multifamily housing — I’m passionate about designing spaces and experiences that foster meaningful connections.
LIBERTY STATION
From Struggling Old Naval Base to Vibrant Town Square
Liberty Station has become one of San Diego's premier mixed-use destinations. Once a decommissioned naval training center, it has been transformed into a thriving mixed-use destination that blends retail, dining, arts, education, and public gathering spaces. Balancing historic preservation with long-term economic performance required thoughtful planning and a clear vision for the district's future. Today, Liberty Station demonstrates how redevelopment can unlock value far beyond the buildings themselves.
My Role:
Provided asset management, financial analysis, and business development services that helped strengthen operations and position the district for long-term success.
LIBERTY PUBLIC MARKET
THE PROJECT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Once a vacant 20,000-square-foot building in Liberty Station's underperforming North End, Liberty Public Market became San Diego's first food hall and the catalyst for the district's transformation. Built around a bold and largely unproven vision, it transformed one of the development’s largest vacant spaces into the anchor that generated sustained foot traffic, attracted complementary tenants, and activated the entire district. The project demonstrated how a well-executed anchor can unlock value far beyond a single building.
My Role:
Played a key role in developing the business plan, financial model, and deal structuring that helped shape the project.
PALACE OF FINE ARTS
ICONIC LANDMARK UNDERGOES MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN
Imagine standing in the shadow of the iconic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, just steps from the Golden Gate Bridge. Once vibrant and full of life, this historic landmark presented the challenge of uncovering its next chapter—repurposing it to meet modern community needs while ensuring economic vitality.
Collaborating with an assembled team of industry leaders, including Clark Construction, Gibbs Planning Group, EHDD, PFAL, and NPU, we crafted a proposal that seamlessly balanced historic preservation with a forward-looking, community-driven vision. I worked closely with the team to shape the strategy, coordinate planning efforts, and engage key stakeholders.
Together, we delivered an innovative plan that reimagined how the city could maximize the site’s potential, honoring its legacy while introducing fresh opportunities for community connection and engagement.
THE DISTRICT-SD PRESENTS:
THE BIRTH OF AN ARTS DISTRICT
LOGAN HEIGHTS ARTS DISTRICT
OVERVIEW:
Logan Heights demonstrates how identity can become one of a neighborhood's greatest competitive advantages. Through adaptive reuse, placemaking, and community partnerships, underutilized industrial buildings evolved into a thriving arts district that attracted investment, supported local businesses, and created a destination rooted in local culture. More than a redevelopment effort, it demonstrated how thoughtful placemaking can create lasting value by strengthening the connection between people and place.
NOTEWORTHY PROJECTS:
> 1835 Studios
> 3167 Gallery
> Commercial Street
MY ROLE:
Co-founded the district and led its vision, strategy, development, operations, and partnerships, helping transform an overlooked industrial corridor into one of SD's emerging creative destinations.
CREATING VIBRANT SPACES AND EXPERIENCES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
1835 STUDIOS
THE CREATIVE HUB THAT TOOK THE ART COMMUNITY BY STORM
The transformation of 1835 Studios began with a dilapidated pet boarding warehouse, just half a block from Father Joe’s in one of San Diego’s most transient areas. The space was dark, abandoned, and seemingly unredeemable. When I invited people to visit and share in the vision, many wouldn’t step inside, and those who did couldn’t imagine staying for more than a few minutes. It was hard not to feel the weight of their skepticism.
But six months later, everything changed. At our open house market, the building was alive — buzzing with local businesses, food vendors, music, and art. The crowd was so large it spilled outside, forming a line that wrapped around the block. The energy was electric, and in that moment, we knew we had created something special.
1835 Studios, a 20,000-square-foot mixed-use creative hub, became a leading destination for San Diego’s arts community. With retail, creative office space, an art gallery, an outdoor climbing gym, and a 5,000-square-foot outdoor concert and event space, it redefined what was possible in a once-overlooked part of town.
I spearheaded the project from concept through redevelopment and operations, leading the strategy, building the team, and shaping both the space and brand. What began as an unlikely experiment became a vibrant, community-driven destination — proof that bold ideas and unwavering persistence can turn even the most unlikely spaces into thriving hubs of creativity and connection.
3167 Gallery
FROM SHIPYARD STORAGE TO TOP CREATIVE GATHERING SPACe
Fresh off the success of 1835 Studios, we realized the demand for event space far exceeded what we could accommodate. Just a few blocks down the street, we found our next project: a haunting, two-story defense contractor warehouse that many likened to a scene from a horror film. One concerned friend even came by to sage the space, convinced it needed more than just a physical transformation.
But we saw potential. We envisioned a venue that would break away from the traditional minimalist white-wall aesthetic — a space with bold character and personality that would inspire creativity and connection. Our goal was to create a concert and event hall that felt alive, offering a unique environment for gatherings and performances.
Within three months of opening, 3167 Gallery was fully booked and had quickly become one of San Diego’s most in-demand creative gathering and entertainment venues. Its reimagined design blended indoor and outdoor spaces, offering a versatile and dynamic setting that defied expectations and resonated deeply with the community.
I led the project from concept to operations, shaping the vision, managing the team, and ensuring every detail aligned with our mission. 3167 Gallery didn’t just host events, it became a vibrant hub for artistic expression and collaboration, bringing people together to celebrate creativity in all its forms.
COMMERCIAL STREET
NAVY CONTRACTOR BLDG TRANSFORMED INTO LARGE CREATIVE CANVAS
As our community of artists continued to grow, we identified a critical gap in San Diego’s creative landscape: the need for large, versatile production spaces. That’s when we discovered our next challenge—an old Navy contractor facility on Commercial Street.
The vision for the space was ambitious. We set out to reimagine it as central San Diego’s largest production hub, complete with 7,500 square feet of flexible production space and an additional 5,000 square feet of creative suites for offices and flexible work areas. The goal was to provide a blank canvas where artists could bring their boldest ideas to life on screen, from initial concept to final cut.
This project was particularly meaningful on a personal level, as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. While working on Commercial Street, I met my wife, who played a vital role in shaping the strategy and vision for the production space. Her creativity and perspective were invaluable in aligning the space with the needs of the production community.
Together, we led the transformation of this project, overseeing the buildout of the initial concept, assembling the team, and developing the brand.
