Quartyard, the two-year-old temporary park made out of shipping containers, is closing June 2 to make way for an office and residential tower at Park Boulevard and Market Street.
But its entrepreneurial inventors at the RAD Lab architectural and development firm say closure is temporary. They’re in talks with the city to move one block east this fall to 13th and Market.
“That corner needs a little activation, a little community spirit, a little love,” said CEO Philip Auchettl. “We’re excited to try the concept.”
Auchettl and his partners, Dan Lowenstein and Jason Grauten, spent about $1 million developing the first Quartyard, using several shipping containers to create a coffee shop, beer garden and bar, cafe, restrooms, office and dog park. Opened in April 2015, it became an “in-spot” for parties, celebrations, educational events and concerts — and has been financially successful.
But the city-owned lot was always meant to be developed with permanent improvements. So when Civic San Diego, the city agency that oversees downtown development, picked Holland Partner Group to build a 34-story, 426-unit residential tower and outpost for UC San Diego annex, Auchettl said Quartyard enthusiasts circulated a petition to object.
“I think it was kind of inspiring to see how much the community has taken hold of the project,” he said.
The key question, though, was whether a park like this could be, permanently, a temporary installation that moves, gypsy-like, from lot to lot until construction begins.
The new site is about half the size of the old one, Auchettl said, but it will have the same attractions though perhaps different vendors.
To make up for the small lot, RAD Lab (Research Architecture Development Laboratory) hopes to get permission to shut down the street for special events.
The containers will be moved to a lay-down site a few blocks away while the new site is outfitted with utility lines and foundations at a cost of about $250,000. Opening is projected sometime in October.
Auchettl said the new site may be nearer downtown’s homeless activity, but that does not concern him.
“For us, when we moved to the current location, it was very undesirable,” he said. “A few years ago the police had designated it as a problem corner. For us, that was part of our challenge. We wanted to take it on. This is a problem corner. How do we clean it up and make it more pedestrian friendly and an inviting atmosphere? It creates a safer neighborhood and much more inviting, which has been pretty cool.
“Over there (at 13th and Market) I think we can do the same thing and hope to make people feel more comfortable to walk around there where there’s activation of the street.”
Meanwhile, RAD Lab has branched into other projects, including similar container-based installations in Northern California and a custom home in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
“Sometimes we sneak over there for a site visit, which is a tough gig,” said the Australian native in his Aussie drawl.
The company also has kept its connections with the NewSchool by employing interns who are interested in learning the business side of architecture and development.
“At school you don’t necessarily learn about the real world,” Auchettl said. “We’re a small firm where we can take on a few interns at a time and teach them a little versus at a big firm where they’re put in a corner.”
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