Glad to see progress!
Either the architect or Carlsbad planning didn’t want a high retaining wall, so they split up the wall into two parts and put the cabinets between them. Unfortunately, this resulted in the cabinets being elevated over the parking lot.
IMHO, they could have achieved almost the same look, without cabinets staring down onto you, by building a large back retaining wall, and keeping the front wall and setting the cabinets at parking lot level.
This screams of too many cooks in the kitchen. A committee compromise.
At least progress is being made. Love those huge bus bars!