Design Scene Is Booming in South Cedros District : Renewal: Businesses moving in see the Solana Beach corridor as artistic hot spot of North County.
MPLA Associates is just one of several design-related businesses in the old Teledyne building, which is only a part of the growing South Cedros design district.
When owners Sean MacLeod and Bill Lettin closed escrow on the building in January, it was an empty, great-looking, early-1960s building of concrete block. They remodeled it into showrooms and offices and added landscaping, including several stately palm trees.
A new brick-and-green paint job emphasizes its clean, modern lines.
The project has attracted a range of mostly design-oriented tenants. These include architect Dick Friedson, the Susan Street Fine Art Gallery, Dunia (exotic clothing), Peck & Peck (assorted design artifacts) and CKL Design, headed by interior designer Cynthia Lambert.
“We wanted to do this largely because of the South Cedros corridor that’s going in,” Lettin said. “It’s becoming the design and artists’ center for North County. We believe this area will be jumping soon.”
MacLeod and Lettin plan a larger-scale renovation of their building in two or three years, including live/work lofts. San Diego architect Ted Smith has done preliminary designs.
Just up the street are several other design-related businesses.
Lynne Anderson and Marcia Petravicius, owners of MPLA, hope to make their store a focus for local as well as international design. They are devoting one room to furniture by local designers, including Paul Henry, Laurie Roberts, David Baird, John Nalevanko, Jennifer Luce and Lane McClelland. They also plan to display international designer furniture, such as classic Le Corbusier lounges or Eames chairs, on a consignment basis.
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All in all, coastal North County, best known for its rad surf culture, is gaining a design conscience, due largely to Solana Beach.
The rise of the South Cedros design district--and the well-designed revitalization of Solana Beach with the new Beachwalk shopping center, designed by architect Tom McCabe, and a planned mixed-use transit station designed by Rob Quigley--brings a welcome design vibration to the area.
