San Diego Real Estate Blog

Earlier this month, the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee unanimously approved the Conger Project, which aims to replace a gas station on Pearl Street with commercial property and townhomes. 

La Jolla Light reported that the committee’s approval allows the Conger Project to move forward to the La Jolla Community Planning Association. From there, it will be elevated to the city Development Services Department, should it pass muster. 

In years prior, the Conger Project experienced several rejections that ultimately forced the developers back to the drawing board. The plan that won approval this month is courtesy of a new architect, Alcorn & Benton, and incorporates requested changes made by previous committees. Prior designs were considered too tall and boxy, among other things, to fall in line with the La Jolla Community Plan. 

Since being disapproved in 2013, the project has gone through a number of changes. According to La Jolla Light, the alterations took the Conger Project from three stories with a ground floor restaurant and retail space to a two-story structure with 20 percent less commercial space.

In 2013, La Jolla Light reported that the location on Pearl Street originally housed a car wash, but has been the gas station’s address for over half a century. The property has belonged to three-time CFO and current CEO of La Jolla Gasoline, Mark Conger, for 16 years. 

If the mixed-use project is approved, it will hold four retail and 12 residential units encompassing over 23,000 square feet. According to La Jolla Light, the entire Conger Project will be awash in an off-white color that falls in line with the requisite La Jolla pastels. The underground parking garage will hold over 40 vehicles and be accessed from Eads Avenue. Environmental and traffic studies must be conducted to determine if any issues will present themselves under the current architectural design. 

Should the project gain approval from future committees, the 76 gas station on Pearl Street will be exchanged for ground floor retail spaces and brand new townhomes in La Jolla.

For information about homes in La Jolla visit our La Jolla real estate page or contact DeSouza Select Properties.