The comparison between these two downtown San Diego condo complexes is appropriate as both of these luxury high rise communities are just steps from each other in the same neighborhood, were built by the same developer (BOSA) and offer very similar type of floor plans, views and amenities.
**Condo Guides**
The Grande San Diego Condos | Bayside San Diego Condos
COMPLEX
Both these luxury high rise condo complexes were developed by BOSA which is a premier condo builder from Canada that has done work in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego.
The Grande condos were built in 2004 while Bayside condos were built in 2009, both buildings offer high quality construction, finishes and fixtures.
The Grande is a twin tower complex (each tower has 230 units) that has a resort style circular style driveway with an island type planters and waterfall features. Bayside is a single tower with 232 units and also offers a circular driveway with a water feature in the middle but The Grande’s entrance is a bit more lush and attractive.
LOCATION
The Grande and Bayside are just a few steps from each other so they both offer the same incredible location. Just over one block to the bay and a few blocks from the restaurants, coffee shops and nightlife in Little Italy. These towers are poised to take advantage of all the development the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan will bring to San Diego’s waterfront. Dubbed “The Millionaire’s Row” all you find in the waterfront area are luxury high rise buildings and after construction of the North Embarcadero Plan is done there will be a series of upscale hotels, green spaces, shops, restaurants, improved landscaping and a public promenade. The Waterfront will be without a doubt the most sought after of downtown neighborhoods also drawing the highest prices per square foot for condos located in this area (as of 2013 the average price per square foot for condos in the Columbia District is already the highest in the city surpassing the Marina District).
FLOOR PLANS
Both The Grande and Bayside offer some of the nicest and more spacious floor plans in Downtown San Diego. The Grande offers 1 bedrooms starting at 899 sq ft, 2 bedrooms starting at 1,325 sq ft and 2 bed plus den condos starting at 1,684 sq ft and go all the way to almost 1,944 sq ft. The street level town homes units at The Grande are a bit more spacious and offer 3 outdoor decks.
The Grande has 6 units per floor on the main levels, 3 two bed plus den condos, 2 two bed condos and 1 one bed condo. The architectural style of The Grande towers allow for amazing views both towards the bay and the city. The premier floor plan is the 2 bed plus den with 1,944 sq ft (Floor Plan E) that takes the whole west side of the building. This is one of the best floor plans in all San Diego and very hard to come by.
The top floors at The Grande only have 3 units per floor and are all two bed plus den in excess of 1,650 sq ft and the largest being the same 1,944 sq ft unit found on the main levels.
Bayside has seven different type of floor plans in the main levels 5 to 38. These are 3 two bedroom floor plans and 4 two bedroom plus den floor plans. The 2 bedroom floor plans start at 1,196 sq ft (Floor Plan F) and go to 1,811 Sq Ft (Floor Plan B).
On Levels 1 thru 4 Bayside offers a variety of town homes and a few 1 bedroom plus den floor plans which are the only 1 bedrooms in the whole building. These town homes range from 1,100 sq ft to over 2,600 sq ft for the three level town homes also offering 3 outdoor spaces.
On Levels 29 and 30 there are 5 additional floor plans ranging from 1,183 Sq Ft to 1,894 Sq Ft, levels 31 and 32 (penthouse level) offer 4 additional floor plans ranging from 1,606 Sq Ft to 2,448 Sq Ft and levels 33 to 36 only have penthouses per floor and these are some of the largest condos in all downtown San Diego between 3,151 Sq Ft and 3,226 Sq Ft.
As it is evident Bayside offers a larger variety of floor plans however both buildings are tied in the sense that they both offer the best floor plans in the city.
FAVORITE FLOOR PLAN AT THE GRANDE: Floor Plan E with 1,944 Sq Ft, 2 Bed + Den 2 Bath. Offered on Levels 4 to 39 which is the top floor.
FAVORITE FLOOR PLAN AT BAYSIDE: Floor Plan J with 1,860 Sq Ft, 2 Bed + Den, 2.5 Bath. Offered on Levels 29 to 36 which is the top floor. Also the penthouse floor plans R and S are some of the nicest and largest in all downtown.
AMENITIES
Both Bayside and The Grande offer full service amenities and monthly HOA dues are very similar (between $950 and $1000 based on square footage).
Bayside amenities include concierge, 24 hr security, fitness center, pool, sauna & steam, wine tasting lounge, conference room, lounge room, movie theater and BBQ deck.
The Grande amenities include concierge, 24 hr security, fitness center, pool, sauna & steam, guest suite, business center and lounge room.
Bayside offers a few extra amenities like the conference room, wine tasting lounge and movie theater. However The Grande offers a guest suite and a business center.
Amenities in both buildings are very well maintained, you will see maintenance personnel going around the building all day long cleaning up common areas and amenities.
The most widely used amenities, the pool and fitness center, are one for each. The fitness center is clearly a bit larger and more modern at Bayside, while the pool deck area is clearly superior at The Grande as it offers a larger pool, pool deck area and it gets sun all day long while at Bayside the afternoon sun is blocked by the townhomes west of the pool. The pool deck at The Grande is at Ground level and so is the fitness center while Bayside’s pool deck and fitness center in on the 3rd floor.
COMMON AREAS
Common area at The Grande and Bayside are very well maintained, the cleaning personnel in both towers do a truly terrific job in maintaining the common areas.
Bayside has a bit of an advantage as the common areas are a bit better appointed with nicer décor and cleaner style. The Grande common areas (more specifically the lobby area) is a bit outdated and dark in the south tower, north tower is a bit nicer as far as furnishing and general layout.
INTERIOR FINISHES
Both The Grande and Bayside offer top of the line finishes although Bayside has the advantage by offering penthouse level finishes on all units.
The Grande offer GE monogram and Dacor appliances, brazilian cherry wood flooring, granite counter tops and Bosch fixtures. Bayside offers Viking and Miele appliances, Snaidero kitchen cabinetry, high quality wood flooring, quartz counter tops and Bosch fixtures.
HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION – HOA
Bayside’s HOA is Prescott Management while The Grande North and South HOA is Action Life Property Management. Both buildings offer the same type of general rules and regulations, pet restrictions and policies.
VIEWS
This is one of the most important factors to consider if you are buying a waterfront condo in downtown San Diego and views are important to you.
Any piece of land one block or closer to the bay in downtown is destined for commercial use so you will notice that all of these residential high rise towers are not in the “first row” next to the bay. Currently under development the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan will bring a series of hotels, open spaces and businesses to the waterfront which is great news for the city and all the residents of condos in the area. However many condos at both The Grande towers and Bayside will lose the panoramic water views due to future construction of high rise hotels in the lots surrounding these residential towers.
The clear advantage for unobstructed and protected views are on all North West facing units at Bayside and The Grande North Tower. North West facing units at The Grande South Tower are also great alternatives.
South West facing units at The Grande South will lose the views due to a hotel being built west of the tower and a office building being build south of the tower. Same will happen with Southern facing and South West facing units at The Grande North and Bayside. If you are considering purchasing those floor plans and views are critical to you consider buying in the higher floors to pass the height of the buildings that are being built around the towers. Anything above the 30th floor should be pretty safe but please contact us for details as many of these projects are still not approved and subject to change.
FAVORITE VIEWS AT THE GRANDE: Found at the 2 bed plus den floor plan E above the 18th floor at either tower but preferably the North Tower (to clear the Wyndham hotel what partially blocks the views west of the building).
FAVORITE VIEWS AT BAYSIDE: West facing units above the 18th floor with Floor Plan J. South West facing units with Floor Plan P on the 31st or 32nd level. Penthouse units with Floor Plans R and S with pretty much 270 degree views.
FINAL REMARKS
Pricing for condos at Bayside and The Grande are very similar. Penthouse level units are selling anywhere from $1100 to $1350 per square foot. Panoramic view units above the 20th floor typically go between $900 to $100 per foot and lower level units start around $700 per square foot. Both complexes are a great alternative to high rise living in the waterfront and it really comes down to a matter of personal preference regarding views, floor plans, amenities and condo finishes. If you like to visit any of these towers please don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange a private tour.
**More Info**
Downtown San Diego Luxury Condos