Allegro Towers is a 240,000-sf mixed-use residential/commercial building on the east side of Kettner Boulevard between Beech and Ash streets. Allegro LLC is the owner and developer, with Leo Frey, vice president, providing project oversight.

Construction is scheduled to begin late this year, with completion slated for mid 2004. Gafcon, a San Diego-based construction consulting firm, is the construction manager.

The schematic was approved by the Centre City Development Corporation of San Diego on Aug.15.

Located on a 30,000-sf lot blocks from San Diego Bay, the project will include about 204 apartment units featuring bay views, plus 9,000 sf of commercial space. The multi-level building will include a 24-story tower, a five-story level and a 10-story level surrounding the tower, and four levels of underground parking for about 270 vehicles.

The project also will feature a ground floor courtyard and a pool with a view deck located on the south side of the tenth floor. Ted Bumgardner is serving as the project executive for Gafcon, with Joshua Hanna as project manager. Austin Veum Robbins Parshalle is the architect, with Doug Austin serving as principal-in-charge and project director, Zane Ely as project manager, and Matthew Kilgore as project architect.

Maier & Siebel of Larkspur, the owners of a 19-story, 172,000-sf office structure called the Ward Building at 610 West Ash St., filed suit in San Diego County Superior Court to stop the apartment last year. The lawsuit is pending.