A Rare Offering
Live/Work in an Architectural Landmark by Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA
Some properties are simply real estate. This one is a piece of San Diego architectural history you get to live and work inside of.
Welcome to the fourth floor of the Beaumont Building, the five-story landmark that renowned architect Rob Wellington Quigley, FAIA designed, built, and used as his own home and studio for many years in the heart of Little Italy. Instantly recognizable by its twin cylindrical towers and dark, unpainted stucco façade, the Beaumont has stood since 1988 as one of the neighborhood's most distinctive works of architecture, a building that has been published in GA Houses, Architectural Record, Casas Internacional, and West Coast Wave: New California Houses, among others.
Quigley is not just a respected San Diego architect, he is one of the most decorated in the region's history, with more than 70 AIA design awards to his name, the AIA California Council's prestigious Maybeck Award for lifetime achievement, and the AIA California Firm Award. His portfolio includes some of San Diego's most beloved civic landmarks, among them the iconic lattice-domed San Diego Central Library and The New Children's Museum.
The Space
2000 SF Loft
Live/Work
Office
Creative Space
Entire 4th Floor
This isn't a generic loft, it's a genuine architect's studio, reimagined for modern live/work life. The fourth-floor unit occupies its own private world within the building, with a dedicated elevator that opens directly into the unit and an intercom entry system, so clients, guests, or collaborators can be buzzed up straight into the space by appointment, no shared hallways, no compromise on privacy or presentation.
High Ceilings
Built 1988
Wide Open Floor Plan
Inside, soaring high ceilings and a wide-open floor plan create a sense of volume rarely found in San Diego's urban core: the kind of raw, light-filled space that shaped how Quigley himself worked and lived for decades.
Highlights Include
Full Kitchen
Walk-in Closet
Storage
Full Bathroom
Laundry
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Grand open living/office area with dramatic high ceilings, flowing directly into the kitchen, ideal as a creative studio, design office, or loft-style living space
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Full kitchen, ready for daily living or entertaining clients
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Enclosed bedroom/room, plus a semi-enclosed room offering flexible space for a second bedroom, private office, or studio
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Full bathroom with shower
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Closet and all-in-one laundry
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Central heating and air
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Abundant natural light pouring in through generous windows on all three sides (rarity in Downtown), a hallmark of Quigley's passive-design sensibility
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Parking available (please ask for more detail) in the building's shared garage
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Direct private elevator access and intercom entry for effortless, secure by-appointment visits
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Avoid Downtown traffic with easy access to hop on the I-5 freeway
Whether used as a residence, a live/work loft, or a professional office, the layout offers exceptional flexibility without sacrificing the character and integrity of the original architecture.
THE LOCATION
The Beaumont Building sits at 434 W Cedar Street, just inside the residential heart of Little Italy, widely regarded as San Diego's most walkable, vibrant urban neighborhood. Step outside and you're immediately surrounded by:
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The best of Little Italy's dining scene: trattorias, wine bars, coffee roasters, and the famed Mercato farmers market
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Boutique shops, galleries, and design studios
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Little Italy's parks and piazzas
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Easy access to the Trolley, the Little Italy Coaster station, and quick access to the I-5 freeway
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Minutes to Downtown San Diego, the waterfront, and the airport
Few neighborhoods in the country offer this density of culture, culinary excellence, and walkability and few buildings within that neighborhood carry the pedigree of the Beaumont.
Located in the heart of Little Italy, this exceptional space offers outstanding walkability and effortless access to downtown San Diego. With a Walk Score of 90.
Just three blocks from the Little Italy Trolley Station and approximately four blocks from Interstate 5 North and South access, the location offers convenient connectivity throughout San Diego. Nearby green spaces include Amici Park and Waterfront Park.
The surrounding neighborhood is home to some of Little Italy’s most popular restaurants, cafés, and gathering places, including Queenstown Public House, Pappalecco, Café Italia, Ironside Fish & Oyster, Craft & Commerce, Lofty Coffee, and many more.
Walkable. Connected. Creative. Distinctly Little Italy.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
LEASE TERMS & QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Preferred Lease Term
A two- to three-year lease term is preferred. The owner is seeking a qualified tenant who will appreciate the unique character of the space and establish a long-term presence in the Beaumont Building.
Permitted Use
The 4th-floor loft is offered as a flexible live/work space and is suitable for residential occupancy, creative office use, professional workspace, studio use, or a combination of living and working, subject to owner approval, building requirements, applicable zoning, and the terms of the lease.
Tenant Qualification
All prospective tenants must submit a completed application and supporting documentation. Qualification is based on a review of the applicant’s overall financial strength and ability to meet the lease obligations.
Applicants Should Be Prepared To Provide:
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Completed application for all proposed occupants and/or business principals
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Government-issued identification
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Verifiable gross income or financial resources, preferably equal to approximately 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent
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Recent pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, or other applicable proof of income and financial capacity
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Employment or business verification, as applicable
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Credit screening and review of overall credit history
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Rental and/or landlord references
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Professional or business references, when applicable
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Information regarding the proposed use of the space and anticipated occupants
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Business entity documentation and authorized signer information, if the lease will be held by a company or other entity
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Additional financial documentation or guarantor information, if reasonably requested based on the applicant’s financial profile
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All applications will be evaluated using consistent qualification criteria and are subject to owner approval.
Lease Details
• Preferred lease term: 24–36 months
• Longer-term tenancy preferred
• Water, sewer, and trash included
• Tenant responsible for electricity, cable, Wi-Fi, and parking if applicable
• Parking available call for more detail
• Security deposit and initial funds due prior to possession
• Proof of renter’s and/or business liability insurance may be required before occupancy
• Proposed business, office, studio, or other nonresidential use must be disclosed and approved in advance
• No short-term rental or Airbnb use permitted
• Move-in date and final lease terms subject to mutual agreement
• Maximum 2 pets, monthly pet rent applies (ask for more detail)
Additional lease terms, qualification requirements, insurance requirements, permitted-use provisions, and financial documentation may apply depending on whether the space will be occupied for residential, business, or combined live/work use.
Be a part of a Landmark
Properties designed by significant architects for their own use rarely come to market — and when they do, they represent something beyond square footage: a direct link to the creative process of the person who built it. This is your opportunity to work, live, and create inside a space shaped by one of Southern California's most celebrated architectural minds, in the neighborhood that has become synonymous with San Diego's urban renaissance.