Breaking ground in October, StreetLights Makers Quarter by L2HP is designed to appeal to makers of things—product developers, artists, designers and other creative people. StreetLights Residential VP of construction Jim Frager will be among the professionals presenting at Bisnow’s Annual San Diego Construction & Development Forum on July 28.

We caught up with Jim to talk about drawing in makers and nurturing new ideas. L2HP is a JV of the local office of Colorado’s Hensel Phelps Construction Co, Lankford & Associates and HP Investors. Dallas-based StreetLights Residential is building and will manage the project.

Among the amenities at this project is a 2k SF Makers Garage, a workshop with a 3D printer and other tools required by makers, says Jim, who manages the construction throughout SoCal.

Jim tells us the Makers Garage is programmed to support the goals of makers and will provide various classes, including instruction on using a 3D printer and designing with CAD, as well as art and other creative classes. “This neighborhood is founded on the innovative spirit of residents,” he says, “so we’re creating a place to incubate new ideas and potentially new companies.”

The project includes a pocket park programmed for public and private events across the street from a large open park that is part of the overall Makers Quarter master plan. It will offer great views from the residential component and seventh floor amenity deck, featuring a pool and spa; a clubroom, a core lounge area with a craft cocktail bar; and fitness center with an outdoor area for activities such as yoga classes.

The upscale project (above) will deliver in September 2018. It includes 295 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and 20k SF of retail, including restaurants and possibly a small grocer or other similar-size retailer.

The 10k SF pocket park is privately owned by L2HP, but will be open to the public. “The park is similar to SILO (above), but on a smaller scale,” Jim says, explaining that a restaurant is planned adjacent to the park, as well as seating and a tiered area to host events, such as live music.

SILO transformed a vacant lot into a community gathering space that hosts events, art installations and other activities that engage artists, makers and innovators and serves as a catalyst for the neighborhood’s evolution. L2HP is hopeful the new park will provide an additional space for pop-up venues, engaging community members and encouraging collaboration.

StreetLights Makers Quarter will feature "THE SHOW," an art panel installation at the gateway entrance to Downtown off MLK Jr. Freeway. The structure will serve as an art gallery with an art wall of permanent and rotating works, coordinated by local artist Christopher Konecki, who is known for his graffiti-style mural work. The building will display permanent murals and provide space to exhibit removable works up to 10’x15’ each, Jim explains.

StreetLights Makers Quarter, at the corner of 15th and F streets, is one of three projects in the works in the five-block Makers Quarter in Upper East Village. Alliance Residential Co is under construction on Broadstone Makers Quarter, a 265-unit residential mixed-use project with 5,100 SF of retail at the intersection of 16th Street and Broadway.

The neighborhood’s first creative office project, BLOCK D (above) from L2HP, will break ground this summer at 15th and F streets to provide 50k SF of commercial space, including 42k SF of office space and 8k SF of retail.

Hear more from Jim and other construction and development experts at Bisnow’s Annual San Diego Construction & Development Forum on July 28, beginning at 7:30am with breakfast and networking at the Westin San Diego, 400 West Broadway in Downtown. Sign up here.