Urban Life Reimagined: New, Innovative Mixed-Use Downtown Attractive to Top Employers

While the remote work trend continues for some businesses, others?are dropping anchor in urban cores across the country seeking walkable, mixed-use campuses that are attractive to a new generation of workers that demand more community connections.?

Trading the traditional office park in the “Burbs” for a vibrant downtown node supports creative collaboration among employees, is closer to customers and partners, and gives businesses a chance to visibly invest in the community.?

Many companies assert that the energy and authenticity of a downtown location enforces a clearer brand identity and boosts corporate culture, thereby distinguishing them from the competition. A downtown location can be a deciding factor for prospective employees in the escalating talent war.

One vibrant downtown thoughtfully designed to attract innovative companies – from startups to established organizations – is North City. Centered in the heart of San Marcos, CA, in northern San Diego County, North City has progressively transformed into a vibrant downtown district boasting modern architecture, exciting restaurants, approachable public art, taprooms, coworking and entertainment spaces, plus modern and diverse housing options, all with an emphasis on sustainability and aesthetics.?

The neighborhood development has grown substantially over the last decade and continues to attract more residents, visitors, retailers and businesses into its work/live/learn/play community.??

North City is catalyzed by its proximity to California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), the state’s fastest-growing CSU, and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Recently ranked #1 in the country for social mobility, CSUSM’s diverse student body is a wealth of motivated talent with 80% of graduates focused on remaining in the region after graduation.

North City is a vibrant mixed-use community encompassing nearly 200 acres. Approximately 25% complete, the project will ultimately include 3,400 residential units, 375,000 square feet of retail, up to 1.5 million square feet of commercial office space, 20 acres of beautiful parks, and public/community spaces to enjoy the best weather in the world.

Below, we take a deeper dive into what makes this future bustling mixed-used metropolitan district an attractive locale for employers and workers alike.

Talent: As companies compete for top talent, being in a vibrant neighborhood has become a crucial selling point. Current and prospective employees want a sense of place, teeming with restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions, entertainment, and nightlife, as well as easy access to public transportation. North City delivers a convenient, energizing, and flexible ecosystem so that work-life seamlessly blends into daily life for today’s modern workforce.

North City is located adjacent to CSUSM, the Cal State system’s fastest-growing university. Companies have access to CSUSM’s top talent pool, with currently 17,000 enrolled students, though expected to reach 25,000 students by 2030. North City businesses also have the unique opportunity to partner directly with CSUSM’s cutting-edge programs, including cybersecurity, biotechnology, nursing, and engineering.

Post-graduation, over 80% of graduates stay in the local and regional areas. Finding top-tier talent has never been this easy.

Fortune recently voted San Marcos as one of the 25 Best Places to Live for Families in the U.S. Just one more reason why North City is tops for companies looking to plant their flag in one of SoCal’s most desirable destinations. Greater work-life opportunities equal greater talent.

Work, Play, Eat, Live: North City is a walkable, synergetic, dog-friendly, and amenity-rich community, featuring exciting restaurants, coffee shops, community events, outdoor plazas and paseos, a weekly Farmer’s Market, and more. The young downtown already includes coworking office space, brewery and cider taprooms, a boutique bowling alley and arcade, public art installations, and a climbing gym/fitness center.?

A range of housing solutions are available from modern lofts and apartments to townhomes and single-family homes. North City’s master-planned and diverse residential neighborhoods emphasize community and are surrounded by green parks, trails, and top public and charter schools. Competitive pricing draws in professionals, families, and empty nesters from around the county, state, and country looking for a lively community to work, play and enjoy what the area has to offer.?

North City is under construction for the tallest residential development north of UTC. Estimated for completion in 2025, North City will deliver over 460 amenitized and diverse residential units in a 12-storied, modern building, along with 20,000 square feet of sought-after retail space, underground parking, and extended public paseos and green space.

And did we mention a planned 450-room hotel for your company’s guests?

This is the location you’ve been looking for.?

Transportation: Companies recognize the benefit of giving employees transportation alternatives for their daily commutes, so they choose locations that provide options for employees to walk, bike, and take public transit to work each day. North City – perfectly positioned between Orange County, Temecula, and downtown San Diego – shares an on-site SPRINTER light rail station with CSUSM, and features direct access to State Route 78, as well as major thoroughfares through North County, such as Twin Oaks Valley Road.??

Walkability: A growing interest in walkable and live-work-play central hubs are breathing new life into downtowns across the country. North City is a master-planned development, intent on providing an active and culturally rich city center with abundant opportunities to socialize, shop, dine, conduct business, and enjoy a variety of events - all in a walkable, urban environment.?

Sip & Shop: North City includes a vibrant mix of restaurants, cafes, shops, entertainment venues, and cultural attractions. Visitors, residents, and workers can enjoy top culinary experiences, as well as unique retail offerings – from locally crafted beers and hard ciders to award-winning Neapolitan-style Italian cuisine, top-quality sushi, ice cream, coffee, and more. The North City experience is being curated with the foodie in mind.

No Place Like Home: Many companies locate downtown to become part of the groundswell of reinvestment in a city’s center. At North City, employers have an opportunity to create an office campus to call their very own while contributing to the redevelopment of the greater area. This type of socially responsible investment in the community is also an invaluable tool in recruiting new hires and retaining top talent.

North City provides the opportunity to be a community leader and help fuel local commerce and innovation while also creating a diverse and thriving ecosystem for any business and the community at large.?

Community Connections: CSUSM’s vibrant on-campus community intermingles its life and energy with North City. Much of the university is physically located within the North City boundaries, such as the QUAD and North Commons buildings, both campus-affiliated living communities for students. CSUSM’s Extended Learning Building, which includes the CSUSM Innovation Hub and 15,000 square feet of ground floor retail, is located right in the heart of North City, and features a pedestrian bridge to the CSUSM campus.

Future plans are in motion for added student housing initiatives within North City, further establishing North City as more than a vibrant downtown, but also as an extension of the college community.

Smart Growth: North City’s deliberate combination of mixed-use buildings, residences, destination-worthy restaurants and entertainment, student housing, campus facilities, and community gathering spaces has charted a new course for how purposeful development can inspire and support an entire community.?

North City’s sustainable and modern architecture is attractive to both companies and employees alike. The office buildings are designed to be more than simply functional, but also to blend seamlessly with the character of this new vibrant community. The next-generation workforce will appreciate its well-lit, open spaces for collaboration, creative mixed-use concepts, modern vibe, and whimsical public art.

Public Art: Eye-catching, colorful public art is sprinkled throughout North City. Stroll the grounds to find a show-stopping, 100-foot mural of a “Grand Oak Tree” photograph by Philipp Scholz Rittermann, a playful recycled-materials sculpture from Patrick Amiot titled “Batman Playing Checkers”, several painted murals by local artist, Hugo Fierro, and more innovative works by renowned creatives. The blending of artworks around everyday life fosters a sense of community and pride within North City.?

Fun Fact: North City also features established trees that were saved from being cut down, including a 100-plus-year-old 35-foot oak tree, the centerpiece of North City’s main intersection.

North City is a result of the City of San Marcos’ progressive foresight for revitalization and smart growth, and the unique vision of Developer, Sea Breeze Properties, LLC. A true mixed-use community that lifts not just San Marcos, but all of North County San Diego, North City is a dynamic and thrilling project.

Surf’s Up: Let’s not forget that one reason a big percentage of CSUSM graduates – who are earning degrees in engineering, nursing, biology (that are fueling the local tech economy) – want to stay in San Diego is for its beaches. North City provides a rich, bustling environment that is only a short 15-minute drive to the coast, allowing workers to hang loose while experiencing the urban lifestyle. This is San Diego County at its finest.??

Come vibe with us and #explorenorthcity.