101 Ash Street
| Company type | Commercial office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real estate, office space |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
| Products | Office space, parking garage |
101 Ash Street is a vacant commercial office tower located in the heart of San Diego, California. Constructed from steel and concrete, this 21-story building, finished in 1967, also includes two subterranean floors and features a parking garage with a capacity for 240 vehicles.[1]
History
Between 1968 and 1998, the premises served as the headquarters for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE). Subsequently, its parent corporation, Sempra Energy, occupied the space until 2015.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
In 2016, then-Mayor Kevin Faulconer revealed plans for a $128 million lease-to-own agreement enabling the city to purchase the property from Cisterra Development, with full ownership anticipated after two decades.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Following the building’s closure in January 2017, asbestos contamination was detected, causing delays in renovation efforts and postponing tenant move-ins. By August 2018, city officials authorized an extra $30 million to fund refurbishment work. Although hundreds of municipal employees relocated there by December 2019, asbestos-related safety violations forced an evacuation in January 2020.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
In September 2020, amid legal disputes contesting the lease terms, the city halted its rental payments.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content By July 2022, an agreement was reached between the City Council and Cisterra Development involving a settlement payment of $86 million, alongside recovering $7.5 million from previous installments. San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott, who had originally sanctioned the contract, expressed opposition to this resolution.[2] In March 2023, after initiating legal action against Jason Hughes—the real estate agent linked to the initial transaction—the city recovered $9.4 million; Hughes admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge involving a conflict of interest.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
In August 2023, Reven Capital, a developer based in La Jolla, submitted a proposal to transform the structure into affordable residential units as part of broader municipal redevelopment initiatives for this site and neighboring public properties.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content