First & Island is a future luxury condominium tower planned by Bosa Development in Downtown San Diego’s Marina District. The project occupies the full city block bounded by First Avenue, Second Avenue, Island Avenue and J Street, one of the most significant remaining development sites in this established residential neighborhood.

Current City of San Diego development information identifies First & Island as a proposed 35-story residential tower with approximately 215 residences. The project is currently in the development and permitting stage and has not yet entered construction.

The site is particularly notable because of its location among some of Downtown San Diego’s most established luxury condominium buildings. Horizons is immediately north of the property, while Pinnacle Marina Tower, Harbor Club, CityFront Terrace and other prominent residential towers are nearby.

Bosa has not yet released final condominium floor plans, pricing, HOA fees, residence specifications or a complete amenity package.

Important: First & Island remains a future development. Information on this page is based on current City development records, architectural information and public statements from Bosa Development. Building specifications, residence counts and development timing may change before construction and sales begin.

First & Island Project Summary

Developer: Bosa Development
Architect: Amanat Architect
Project Name: First & Island
Neighborhood: Marina District
Location: First Avenue & Island Avenue, Downtown San Diego
Site: Full block between First Avenue, Second Avenue, Island Avenue and J Street
Building Type: Future luxury residential condominium tower
Proposed Floors: 35
Current Proposed Residences: Approximately 215
Earlier Permit Version: Approximately 211 residences
Approximate Building Area: 273,129 sq. ft.
Approximate Height: Approximately 410–415 feet based on permit-era information
Development Status: Building permit / planning stage
Construction Start: Not announced
Sales Launch: Not announced
Completion Date: Not announced
Pricing: Not announced
Final Floor Plans: Not released

First & Island Building Overview

Current plans envision First & Island as a 35-story residential high-rise containing approximately 215 residences.

Architectural information published for the project identifies approximately 273,129 square feet of development area.

Earlier versions of the project referenced approximately 211 residences, while more recent City development information and architectural materials reference approximately 215 residences. This indicates that the project has continued to evolve during the planning and permitting process.

The building is designed as a contemporary residential tower with a distinctive sculptural exterior, generous balcony areas and substantial open space surrounding portions of the building.

Its location within the Marina District places First & Island in one of Downtown San Diego’s most established high-rise residential neighborhoods while remaining only a few blocks from the waterfront.

Will First & Island Be Condos or Apartments?

First & Island has evolved during the planning process.

Earlier permit information described the project as a residential apartment tower containing approximately 211 rental residences.

More recent information points toward a different direction.

Bosa Development founder Nat Bosa has publicly stated that the company intends to develop a condominium tower at First and Island.

Bosa has also indicated that the company has moved away from pursuing additional rental developments in San Diego and is instead focusing future residential development on for-sale condominiums.

For that reason, First & Island is currently expected to become a new-construction condominium project.

Until Bosa formally launches the building, however, final residence counts, floor plans and specifications remain subject to change.

First & Island Floor Plans & Residence Types

Bosa has not yet released the final condominium floor plans or residence mix for First & Island.

Unlike projects that have already entered the public sales stage, there is currently no confirmed breakdown showing how many residences will be configured as:

• One bedroom
• One bedroom plus den
• Two bedroom
• Two bedroom plus den
• Three bedroom
• Three bedroom plus den
• Penthouse residences

Final residence sizes have also not been announced.

Because the project was previously moving through the permitting process as a rental development and is now expected to become a condominium tower, Bosa may revise portions of the residential program before beginning sales.

A condominium version of the project could potentially include larger average residence sizes, different floor plans or a revised total unit count.

Until Bosa releases official sales materials, any residence mix should be considered preliminary.

First & Island Tower Design

First & Island is envisioned as a contemporary high-rise with a distinctly sculptural architectural profile.

The design by Amanat Architect uses changing balcony edges, angled building elements and variations in the perimeter of the floor plates to give the tower a more dynamic appearance than a conventional rectangular residential high-rise.

Rather than repeating the exact same balcony configuration from one floor to the next, the exterior geometry changes subtly as the tower rises.

This creates movement across the façade and allows the appearance of the building to change depending upon the viewing angle.

The tower combines strong vertical proportions with horizontal balcony lines, producing a modern residential design that should stand apart from many of the older condominium towers within the Marina District.

Light-colored and reflective exterior materials are intended to interact with San Diego’s strong natural light, creating changing patterns of highlights and shadows throughout the day.

First & Island Site Design

The First & Island development occupies an entire Downtown city block.

Rather than covering the entire property with a continuous podium structure, the design incorporates significant areas of open space around portions of the development.

Architectural plans identify landscaped urban spaces along areas of the south and northeast portions of the property.

The tower itself has generally been positioned toward the northwestern portion of the site, leaving other portions of the block available for landscaping, pedestrian areas and residential amenities.

This approach helps create a less imposing street-level environment while providing additional outdoor space for residents and pedestrians.

The development has also been shown with a dedicated residential arrival area and motor court accessed from Island Avenue.

Final landscaping, circulation and site configuration may change before construction.

First & Island Amenities

Bosa has not yet released the final amenity package for First & Island.

Preliminary architectural information indicates that a substantial resident amenity area is planned within the lower portion of the tower, including outdoor space associated with approximately the fourth level.

The project has also been designed with significant outdoor areas and terraces.

A final list of amenities has not yet been announced, so features such as swimming pools, fitness facilities, lounges, guest suites or concierge services should not yet be considered confirmed.

Bosa’s recent San Diego condominium projects have generally included extensive resident amenity programs, but amenities from other Bosa developments should not automatically be assumed to be included at First & Island.

Additional details are expected once the project approaches construction and the public sales process.

First & Island Location

First & Island occupies an exceptional location within Downtown San Diego’s Marina District.

The property encompasses the entire block bounded by:

First Avenue to the west
Second Avenue to the east
Island Avenue to the north
J Street to the south

This places the future tower within an established residential neighborhood that includes many of Downtown San Diego’s most recognizable condominium buildings.

Nearby residential towers include:

Horizons
Pinnacle Marina Tower
Harbor Club
CityFront Terrace
Renaissance
Park Place

The property is also conveniently located between the Downtown waterfront, Gaslamp Quarter and San Diego Convention Center.

Nearby destinations include:

San Diego Bay
Seaport Village
The Headquarters
Embarcadero Marina Park
San Diego Convention Center
Gaslamp Quarter
Petco Park
Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

The Convention Center trolley station is also located nearby, providing convenient access to San Diego’s regional trolley system.

First & Island and the Marina District

The Marina District is one of Downtown San Diego’s most established residential neighborhoods.

Unlike portions of East Village where significant redevelopment opportunities remain, the Marina District is largely built out.

That makes First & Island particularly significant.

The site represents one of the last major undeveloped full-city-block properties capable of supporting a substantial new residential tower within the neighborhood.

A new luxury condominium project by Bosa could therefore become one of the most important additions to the Marina District in many years.

It may also establish a new benchmark for new-construction condominium pricing within the neighborhood once sales begin.

First & Island Views

The location of First & Island should provide a variety of city and water views depending upon residence orientation and elevation.

Potential views may include:

San Diego Bay
Coronado
Point Loma
Pacific Ocean
Downtown San Diego skyline
San Diego Convention Center
Petco Park
East Village

Western and southwestern-facing residences should generally have the strongest potential for water views.

However, First & Island is located within a mature high-rise neighborhood.

Existing surrounding buildings include Horizons, Pinnacle Marina Tower, Harbor Club and other substantial Downtown structures.

As a result, views will vary considerably depending upon floor level and orientation.

Final floor plans and exact tower placement will be necessary before individual residence views can be evaluated accurately.

How Tall Will First & Island Be?

Current City development information identifies First & Island as a 35-story tower.

Permit-era information has generally placed its height at approximately 410 to 415 feet.

Until final construction documents are released, the most appropriate description is therefore:

Approximately 35 stories and roughly 410–415 feet in height.

At that scale, First & Island would become a prominent addition to the Marina District skyline while remaining generally compatible with the height and scale of other major Downtown residential towers.

First & Island Building Size

Architectural information for First & Island references approximately:

273,129 square feet

of development area associated with the current approximately 215-residence concept.

That figure could change if Bosa makes additional revisions before construction.

Final gross building area, residential saleable area and common-area square footage have not yet been publicly announced.

First & Island Construction

Detailed final construction specifications for First & Island have not yet been publicly released.

The project is being designed as a substantial 35-story residential high-rise, but final structural systems, foundation design, exterior wall systems and other construction details should not be considered confirmed until Bosa or the project team releases final construction information.

Additional technical information is expected to become available as the project progresses from permitting into construction.

First & Island Parking

Final parking counts have not yet been publicly confirmed for the planned condominium version of First & Island.

Preliminary project designs incorporate vehicle access and a dedicated residential arrival area associated with Island Avenue.

Because the development occupies an entire Downtown block, the final design will need to accommodate resident parking, loading, service access and vehicle circulation while maintaining pedestrian-friendly street frontages.

Parking information will be updated once final plans are released.

Bosa Development

Bosa Development has played a major role in shaping Downtown San Diego’s residential skyline.

The company has developed numerous high-rise condominium communities throughout Downtown San Diego, including:

Horizons
Park Place
The Grande
Discovery
Electra
Bayside
Savina
Pacific Gate

Bosa is also developing Andia, one of Downtown San Diego’s newest condominium projects.

First & Island represents another major opportunity for Bosa to develop a high-end for-sale residential tower on a prominent Downtown site.

Bosa Confirms Plans for a Condo Tower

Recent public comments from Bosa Development founder Nat Bosa provide important insight into the future of First & Island.

Bosa has stated that the company plans to develop a condominium tower at First and Island Avenues.

These comments are significant because earlier versions of the project had appeared in City records as a rental apartment development.

Bosa has subsequently indicated that the company does not currently intend to pursue additional rental developments in San Diego.

Higher interest rates and changes in development economics have led the company to focus future residential development primarily on for-sale condominiums.

This makes First & Island particularly notable as one of Bosa’s potential next-generation condominium developments in Downtown San Diego.

Why Construction Has Not Started

First & Island remains in the planning and permitting stages despite continued development work on the project.

Bosa has indicated that broader economic conditions are an important consideration when determining when to begin future projects.

Factors affecting large-scale residential construction include:

Interest rates
Construction costs
Financing conditions
Material costs
Economic uncertainty
Condominium demand

Bosa’s current Downtown development focus has also been centered on its active condominium project, Andia.

A project appearing in the City permitting process should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation that construction will begin immediately.

Bosa has not announced an official groundbreaking date for First & Island.

First & Island Construction Status

First & Island should currently be considered a:

Future Development / Building Permit Stage

The project continues to appear within City of San Diego development information, indicating that it remains active within the Downtown development pipeline.

However, Bosa has not announced dates for:

Groundbreaking
Construction start
Sales launch
Model residences
Pre-sales
Completion

Until Bosa formally announces a construction timeline, First & Island should be described as a future condominium development.

215 Residences vs. Earlier 211-Residence Plans

Anyone researching First & Island may encounter references to both 211 residences and 215 residences.

Both numbers have appeared during different stages of the planning and permitting process.

Earlier City development information referenced approximately:

211 residences

More recent City information and architectural material reference approximately:

215 residences

The updated figure indicates that the development program has continued to evolve.

For current purposes, approximately 215 residences is the more appropriate figure, while recognizing that the final condominium count remains subject to change.

First & Island Frequently Asked Questions

What is First & Island?

First & Island is a future residential high-rise planned by Bosa Development for Downtown San Diego’s Marina District.

The project is currently expected to become a luxury condominium tower.

Where is First & Island located?

The property occupies the full city block bounded by First Avenue, Second Avenue, Island Avenue and J Street.

Who is developing First & Island?

First & Island is being developed by Bosa Development.

Who is the architect for First & Island?

The architectural design is by Amanat Architect.

How tall will First & Island be?

Current plans identify approximately 35 stories and roughly 410–415 feet in height.

How many residences will First & Island have?

The latest available development information references approximately 215 residences.

Earlier plans referenced approximately 211 residences, so the final total may still change.

Will First & Island be condos?

Bosa Development founder Nat Bosa has publicly stated that the company intends to develop a condominium tower at First and Island.

Earlier versions of the project had been planned as rental apartments.

What types of condos will First & Island have?

Bosa has not released a final breakdown of residence types.

The number of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and penthouse residences is not yet publicly available.

How large is First & Island?

Current architectural information references approximately 273,129 square feet of development area.

Is First & Island under construction?

No.

The project remains within the development and building-permit process.

When will construction begin?

No official construction start date has been announced.

When will First & Island condos go on sale?

Bosa has not announced a sales launch or reservation program.

Has pricing been announced?

No pricing has been released.

Have floor plans been released?

Bosa has not released final condominium floor plans.

First & Island Condos for Sale

There are currently no First & Island condominiums available for purchase because Bosa has not yet launched public sales for the project.

Once the development moves closer to construction, additional information is expected regarding:

Floor plans
Residence sizes
Pricing
HOA fees
Interior finishes
Parking
Amenities
Deposit requirements
Pre-sale dates
Construction schedule

SV Premier Real Estate will continue monitoring First & Island for new information as the project progresses through the development process and Bosa releases additional details.

Information on this page is based on publicly available City development records, architectural information and developer statements. Proposed specifications, residence counts, floor plans, height, amenities and development timing remain subject to change until formally released by Bosa Development.

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