‘The Real World: San Diego’ house slated for demolition

The two-story, commercial building overlooking America’s Cup Harbor that housed the season 14 cast of MTV’s “The Real World” in 2003 is expected to be razed as part of the Port of San Diego’s broader redevelopment plan for Driscoll’s Wharf.

The building at 4922 North Harbor Drive, on the eastern portion of Point Loma’s Shelter Island, is said to be a teardown because of its restaurant-style configuration, sunken floors and presumed foundation issues.

As it stands, “The Real World: San Diego” house is slated for demolition in early 2026, after the Port completes an environmental review of proposed changes to the marina.

“That building was the one (at Driscoll’s Wharf) that, after a bunch of due diligence, we realized that there is no useful life left,” said Christian de Manielle, who is the Port’s real estate department manager. “The layout of the building isn’t the greatest for potential commercial fishing sub tenants. And there are some concerns that we have with the improvements of that building, so we decided to direct the tenant to demolish that one.”

Built in the 1980s as part of the commercial fishing marina that later became Driscoll’s Wharf, the as-seen-on-TV, temporary residence served as the longtime home of the Blue Crab Restaurant until it closed in 2002.

Although the property is on Port of San Diego tidelands, where residential uses are not allowed, the agency OK’d the use of the site as a reality TV set because of the short-term nature of the production, said Tom Driscoll, president of Driscoll Inc.

“They came to us,” Driscoll said of The Real World Productions, Inc. proposal. “Some guy shows up from the production company and we immediately went to the Port. … We took it to the board, and the board agreed to do it for a short-term deal.”

The long-running MTV series, which debuted in 1992, popularized the reality TV genre, with each season defined by a different city and a new cast of seven strangers.

For its first San Diego season, the production company made some minor tweaks to the Shelter Island building, which the Port said is 7,747 square feet when counting the outdoor decks.

The production company decorated the former restaurant’s interior with an eclectic, marine theme in most rooms. The group outfitted the space with 30 cameras, according to news articles at the time. A hot tub was added to one of the outdoor decks and a small parking lot was converted into a temporary sand volleyball court. The commercial kitchen, however, was left intact.

“There certainly was an element of fun to it,” Driscoll said of the experience. “It wasn’t too disruptive.”

The season, which was filmed in the second half of 2003, started airing in January 2004. Before airing, the San Diego house made headlines for an alleged rape. A young woman, who was not a cast or crew member, told police she was sexually assaulted at the house by a man believed to be a cast member’s acquaintance. No charges were filed.

“The Real World” returned to San Diego in 2011 for its 26th season. That season was filmed at an oceanfront home in La Jolla’s Bird Rock neighborhood.

After filming, Driscoll said he tried for some time to find another restaurant tenant to occupy the 4922 North Harbor Drive building, but was unable to do so. The property was later leased to Semantic AI, which continues to occupy the building on a month-to-month basis, he said.

Now the Port of San Diego is preparing to take over operations of the larger commercial fishing facility from Driscoll, whose lease for the marina at 4918 North Harbor Drive ended last year and is on hold over.

In 2022, the Port hired engineering firm Kleinfelder to assess the condition of the marina. The firm observed eroded soil beneath the foundation of the 4922 North Harbor Drive building and settlement at its entrance. The Kleinfelder report estimated it would cost $241,650 to stabilize the foundation and make other repairs. The firm, which was not granted access to the building’s interior, estimated a total building demolition cost of $575,562.

The Port has directed Driscoll to tear down the 4922 North Harbor Drive building after it studies the environmental effects associated with the structure’s demolition and the planned redevelopment of the property’s piers.

The environmental review is expected to take 12 to 18 months, with demolition of the one-time residence anticipated in early 2026, de Manielle said. However, the work could take place sooner. Driscoll told the Port, in a July 8 letter from his lawyer, that his company is preparing to apply for a demolition permit.