The Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma is set to get a 74-unit luxury apartment complex within the next two years on the former site of a longtime auto body shop.
Hawley Lofts is slated for 2844-2918 Lytton St., across from Liberty Station.
The 37,135-square-foot site, formerly occupied since 1965 by Hawley Auto Body and Paint, was acquired in May by Carlsbad-based Mana Investments for $3.925 million.
“We have completed demolition of the previous structures and are currently waiting on our building permit. We hope to break ground in late November,” said Mana Investments partner David Hood.
Hawley Auto Body relocated off Miramar Road east of Interstate 805. Representatives of the business could not be reached for comment.
Ken Robak of Pacific Coast Commercial, who represented the seller, the Donald L. Hawley Trust, said in a statement that “this sale signifies an exciting development opportunity for Mana Investments and a significant step forward for the San Diego community. The forthcoming Hawley Lofts project will offer exceptional living accommodations while honoring the legacy of one of the city’s most enduring auto body and repair businesses.”
The project will offer both housing and a community space for tenants and locals, including co-working office spaces, a large rooftop kitchen and lounge area, a landscaped courtyard, parking, an indoor/outdoor fitness center, storage lockers and more.
Eight of the apartments are intended to be affordable for lower-income residents, though Hood did not give a range on rents. “Given how far out we are from completion and how fast markets are moving, we can’t really say at this point where rents will land,” he said.
Beyond offering housing, the complex signifies larger efforts to revitalize the nearby Midway District, Hood said.
“Some of these projects include the Midway Rising project (sports arena redevelopment), the Post development (former post office site) and the potential for the NAVWAR redevelopment, which could include a major transportation hub for the community,” Hood said. “Hawley Lofts is right in the center of the excitement and will bring a fresh look and perspective to the neighborhood while offering much-needed housing to the local community.”
“San Diego continues to attract people from all over the U.S. due to its incredible climate and the diverse and expanding employment hub,” Hood continued. “However, construction has not kept up with growth for decades, so we currently have a large housing shortage. Hawley Lofts will bring … workforce housing [that is] often forgotten in some of the luxury apartment developments. When combined with the other redevelopment in the area, we are hoping to help transform the neighborhood into a vibrant community for the future.”
Mana Managing Partner Orville Power added that “Hawley Lofts will provide much-needed rental housing to Liberty Station, which was developed with no apartments. We expect demand will be strong given there is limited new apartment product in Point Loma offering views.”
With the revitalization efforts happening across the area, Mana Investments made it a point to honor the longtime auto body shop in the name of its project, Hood said.
“The business served as a landmark in the area and was part of the fabric of the local community,” he said. “We wanted to preserve its legacy when constructing the new development.”
Point Loma Association Chairwoman Sandy Hanshaw said she wasn’t familiar enough with the project to comment.
