Old California Restaurant Row was a beloved fixture of San Marcos, California when it opened in the 1970s. In the following years, the city’s population boomed, tastes changed, and the site saw less use. Carefully balancing the client’s goals and the city’s vision with the community’s fondness for this place, KTGY’s designers reimagined Restaurant Row from the ground up. What was a mall in a sea of parking is now a bustling mixed-use site with new commercial opportunities and housing, steeped in old California charm.
Taking cues from the public, the new development preserves parts of the old buildings and emulates their character while improving on how the land is used. Aligning to the San Marcos Boulevard Complete Street Project, the new design creates over 200 highly desirable two- and three-bedroom townhomes in a human scaled environment with street improvements and transit access. Units facing major streets overlook commercial space, incorporating over 10,000 square feet for casual dining. Townhomes facing the interior of the site face motor courts and private lawns, creating open space for residents while landscaped promenades and paseos connect residents and businesses to their community.
