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At the March 26 session, it appeared those leaning toward the larger project were Chair Hal Sadler and directors Julie Dillon and Victor Vilaplana. Opposed were Robert Ito, Reese Jarrett and Jennifer LeSar, with LeSar and Jarrett suggesting the compromise was too large. Director Gil Johnson was the most undecided. A CCDC closed session is set for 11 a.m. April 9 when directors will be briefed on how redevelopment law looks at developers profiting from selling condemned land. JMI wants to sell the property, although for how much, if any, above CCDC’s $125 per square foot purchase cost is unknown, as is whether the amount would be a profit because of the expenses JMI is incurring in the transaction and planning. One original land owner who was condemned out, Bud Fischer, spoke of a lawsuit. Also at the secret session — about which CCDC attorney Helen Holmes Peak sharply corrected JMI’s Executive V.P. Charles Black’s assertion that only narrow private discussions were appropriate — Keyser Marston will provide an analysis of what level of intensity is necessary to make the property developable. When the closed session ends, CCDC directors are scheduled to start a public meeting in Council Chambers where they may vote. A delay also is possible to allow for another special meeting or two. City Council discussion may slip to April 28. *** It is almost normal news these days that a 225-unit apartment project on the Yellow Cab block at 14th and Market streets in the East Village has received conceptual design approval from the CCDC board. What has Downtowners buzzing is that three supermarket chains are competing to occupy the 44,000 square feet of retail in the project proposed by EV LLC. Parking will be accommodated in 425 spaces in three underground levels. *** When it opened on Prospect Street 90 years ago, La Jolla’s Grande Colonial hotel had state-of-the-art wiring: in-room electric lights. Now the landmark lodging is so wired, it’s gone wireless, adding free high-speed ADSL Internet access in its 75 guest rooms and wireless connectivity in its public areas, including the Nine-Ten restaurant. *** Southwest Marine has agreed to provide Knight & Carver use of its expansive dry docks — the largest non-military docks on the West Coast — for haulouts of large vessels like cruise ships. Knight & Carver builds and repairs luxury yachts and commercial passenger vessels at its National City yard. With 5 percent of its business now military, the 185-employee company says more Navy work is a possibility. ***
*** In typical (for these times) good news/bad news, in the fourth quarter San Diego was the nation’s eighth most successful community in terms of raising venture capital, up from 10th in the third quarter. The flip side is the $159.6 million placed with 24 companies is down 39 percent from the $262.9 million placed with 33 companies in the fourth quarter of 2002. Half those funds went into bioscience firms. IDUN Pharmaceuticals did best with $22.8 million. *** Bids are due July 24 for a 10-year commercial concession contract at Old Town State Historic Park, which attracted 6.4 million visitors in 2002. The California Department of Parks and Recreation projects annual sales in excess of $25 million. Over the last 31 years, Diane Powers turned the concession from a dump into today’s Bazaar del Mundo, which employs more than 500 people and is the most successful concession in the state park system. Last year, Powers’ lawyers beat back an effort to favor a bidder who runs a union shop. She expects to compete for the contract. For info, contact Alexia Spivey at (858) 642-4213 or Aspivey@parks.ca.gov. *** Working with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the San Diego World Trade Center has begun providing 100 hours of training to 50 San Diegans, fluent in an Asian language, in the nuances of exporting telecom and biomedical products from San Diego to Asian markets. Dubbed “Export Facilitators,” the graduates will be offered on a part-time basis to assist the companies entering those Asian markets. Small and medium-sized enterprises that have sold products successfully in the U.S. or international markets for at least three years, and have a desire to export or expand their exports to at least one of eight major Asian markets, can apply to participate in the program. For information, contact Hugh Constant at hconstant@sdwtc.org or (619) 615-0868, Ext.103. *** Rep. Duncan Hunter will be honored by the San Diego County business community on his selection as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee at a luncheon April 28. The noon to 1:30 p.m. event will be at the Four Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Drive. Cost is $60 per person, and reservations must be made before April 21 by calling The Monger Co., (619) 232-7100. Sponsoring the meeting are the San Diego Regional, Chula Vista, Poway and San Diego East County chambers of commerce and the East County EDC. *** The tree that adorns the top of the 14-story 99-unit luxury condominium Park Laurel on The Prado Tower One is a symbol to Park Laurel homeowners that construction of their dream homes is nearing completion. The tree was hoisted onto the building during a topping-out ceremony at Bertrand at Mister A’s — the restaurant that sits atop a building across the street. Tower One is more than 90 percent sold and has only four residences available in the first phase, with the sale of homes in the second tower scheduled to begin in the third quarter. *** The new kids on the block Downtown are not in City Hall but Kiddie Hall, opening this month in the Comerica Bank building at 600 B St., where the city is finishing a 13,000-square-foot, $1.2 million child care center, including eight classrooms and two new outdoor playgrounds. Space is available for 150 children, from infants to 5 years old. Registration priority is being given employees of the city and Comerica building tenants, but other children may be taken depending on availability. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is dependent on age, part-time/full-time and city employee/non-city employee considerations and ranges from $58 to $196 a week. For information, call (619) 696-5042 or (619) 533-6511. *** “Our job is not to balance the state budget, our job is to revitalize depressed neighborhoods,” says Donna Alm, a CCDC v.p., of proposed state raids on city redevelopment agency budgets. Various cut packages are in hearings. With those exploratory meetings in Sacramento, there are readiness meetings Downtown. “What can be delayed? What can be downsized? What can be eliminated? We already know we’re going to take a hit. Just don’t take away our ability to revitalize,” Alm appeals. ***
*** Capstone Advisors, a San Diego-based joint-venture partner for real estate developers, has reached $1 billion in total development build-out value for its residential portfolio. The company invests in single-family detached, single-family attached, and multi-family housing, as well as land development projects. “Exceeding $1 billion of build-out value for our residential investments during the past four years demonstrates our commitment to our residential partners,” says Alex Zikakis, company president. “Our goal for the future includes expanding our residential investments to the Eastern U.S., similar to what we have done with the commercial division. At the same time, we are committed to being an extremely responsive real estate investment partner here in the Western U.S.” *** San Diego artist David Linton, who has been providing the images that have anchored San Diego Scene for nearly seven years, will be doing a free watercolor demonstration April 5 at The Art Store, 1844 India St. Linton will talk about watercolor paints, brushes and paper from 1 to 3 p.m. *** Cheese and fish don’t generally go together, but they will in Little Italy as Precious Cheese sponsors a new wall mural depicting 1930’s tuna fishermen straining to make their catch at sea. “I Pescatori” by Renee Garcia-Fletcher occupies an exterior wall at DiZinno Thompson, 2215 India St. Little Italy Association President Marco LiMandri says the north side of Little Italy, with its emerging array of art galleries, bears more interest, so the mural has been painted there. Precious will sponsor more historical murals annually at other Little Italy locations. *** Imagine getting to your favorite San Diego harborfront restaurant by docking your boat on the bay just outside. You can do it today at Peohe’s in Coronado (and a few others) but the San Diego Port Tenants Association would like to see more restaurant docks on the bay. The rub is who will build and pay for them: the Port of San Diego or its tenants? So the association has formed an eight-member committee consisting equally of port staff and tenants to assess the challenges and conditions of the bay’s few existing recreation craft slips, develop a needs survey for tenants and boaters and study other ports’ experience, says Richard S. Cloward, SDPTA executive director. “Tuna Harbor would be a great place for dock-and-dine,” he says. *** CBS has picked Formula, a Downtown-headquartered PR firm, to launch a program publicizing and promoting auditions for the next season of Star Search. Formula’s president, Michael A. Olguin, says the work will be done from the L.A. office and overseen by V.P. Matt Kovacs. *** The San Diego-based Dental Club, which bills itself as the affordable alternative to insurance, says the number of consumers using its network for dental care increased 118 percent in six months. As of March, more than 11,000 dental patients were enrolled. “A lot of people are falling through the cracks of the existing insurance system, and the Dental Club is a creative and practical way for these people to get affordable, high-quality dental care,” says Dr. Michael Grossman, president and CEO of First Dental Health, the Dental Club’s parent company. For a $60 annual fee ($84 for families), members receive a 25 percent to 60 percent discount, depending on the service, on a fee schedule. The Dental Club is not insurance, but instead resembles the Price Club model where members are provided with a membership card that entitles them to visit any member dentist or specialist office. More than 10,000 dental offices are available through the network, up from 7,000 at the end of the third quarter last year. Visit www.thedentalclub.com for more. *** Sheffler & Martin Inc., a consulting and administration company established in 1987 as Larkin Pension Services has dropped Larkin from its name to reflect the current owners’ names. SMI helps businesses with one to 1,000 employees set up and/or maintain retirement plans. Diane Martin is president and Bill Sheffler v.p.; Margaret Larkin retired in 2002. *** The Gemological Institute of America, known for more than 70 years as the world’s leading educator to the gem and jewelry industry, is opening its headquarters and main campus in Carlsbad to the public on May 3 for its annual educational open house. The most remarkable display is that of Australian opalized dinosaur fossils, on display for the first time in the United States. The 1 to 4 p.m. event is at 5345 Armada Drive. For information, click on www.gia.edu. *** The Corazon de Vida Foundation and North Island Federal Credit Union will sponsor “One Child at a Time: a Celebration to End Child Hunger in Baja California,” a fund-raising event to be held at On Broadway in Downtown. The event includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres, salsa dancing and a silent auction. It will be held from 7:30-10 p.m. April 26. More than 200 guests are expected to attend. Tickets are $62.50 and all proceeds go to feeding orphans in Baja California. For more information, contact Jim McAleer at (949) 476-1144, Ext. 358, e-mail jim@corazondev-ida.org. *** Pacific Sportswear & Emblem Co. is marking 20 years in the custom patch and headwear business. In addition to embroidered patches and hats, the company manufactures custom jackets, lapel pins and keychains. The San Diego firm has national, corporate and specialty clients worldwide, such as the San Diego Padres and Disney. Pacific Sportswear also created the Memorial NYPD, FDNY and Shuttle Columbia patches to raise money for charity. For ordering information, visit www.pacsport.com. ***
*** Schubach Aviation has added a third Hawker 800 XP to its fleet of 14 private aircraft, says Henry Schubach, president of the Carlsbad company. The new aircraft cruises at 514 miles per hour at 41,000 feet, seats eight passengers and two crew members and offers luxury amenities. *** The Sherman Heights Neighborhood Cultural Council is calling on amateur and professional shutterbugs for snapshots of the Sherman Heights area. The council wants historic, celebration and everyday life photos that capture the essence of the neighborhood and its people. Submissions are due by April 19 for a community exhibition that will take place May 24. The images will become part of the San Diego Historical Society collection so that in the future, others can see what Sherman Heights looked like. Contact Louise Torio at shermanheights@aol.com for information. *** A unique Downtown San Diego paper source, The Paperie, has moved two blocks south and across the street into its new location in the Brunswig Building at 363 Fifth Ave. The new location is a distinctive space that allows for expanded selection, says Traci Pham, managing partner. The store, owned by Pham’s mother, Patti Judd, has been named “Most Unique Retail” in the Best of Gaslamp awards for three years. *** ESOP has been called “the incredible tool for business owners,” yet many don’t understand how to use such a tool. For the full story on Employee Stock Ownership Plans, the Beyster Institute has scheduled a meeting from 7:30 to 9:15 a.m. May 14 at the La Jolla Marriott, 4340 La Jolla Village Drive. Cost is $40. To register, call (858) 826-1690. *** Wine Brats of San Diego is holding a pre-symphony wine tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. April 12. This is Wine Brats’ premier event to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and YWCA’s Becky’s House. *** In the Top 25 home-builder guide last month, the manager of Standard Pacific’s San Diego Division, Brian Utsler, was incorrectly identified. San Diego Metropolitan regrets the error. ***
*** Cunningham BMW of El Cajon again has been named a BMW Center of Excellence, winning one of only 25 awards for customer service made among the 350 BMW centers nationwide. Owner Rug Cunningham says it’s due to family — being family owned and operated and treating customers like family for 40 years in the same location. *** For the eighth consecutive year, the mother-daughter real estate sales team of Maxine and Marti Gellens were Prudential California Realty’s top producing agents in La Jolla for 2002, earning the pair the Chairman’s Circle Diamond Award. From January 2002 to January 2003, the Gellenses closed sales on 82 properties worth $97 million in gross sales, a sharp increase from 2001 when they closed 69 properties and generated $93 million in gross sales. *** Nominations are in for the 2003 San Diego Section American Planning Association honors. The annual awards promote excellence in community planning by recognizing the area’s best planning projects, community leaders and journalists. This year, more than 25 nominees will compete for awards in categories including distinguished leadership by a planner, outstanding planning project, and many more. Winners will be decided by a jury of five local planners, including Kathy Garcia of Wallace, Roberts & Todd, John Collum of CCDC, and Gary London of the London Group Realty Advisors and a columnist for San Diego Metropolitan. Winners will be announced at a dinner ceremony on June 5. Dirk Sutro, host of KPBS’s program “The Lounge” will emcee the event. *** As San Diego Padres pitchers toe the mound this spring for their final year in Qualcomm Stadium, let’s hope it’s not a burial mound for the new season. Hey, the Miracle Mets did it in ’69. How about the Prodigal Padres in ’03? In any case, 145 Padres games are on Channel 4 San Diego, broadcast by Matt Vasgersian, Mark Grant and Rick Sutcliffe, with Argy Stathopulos and John Weisbarth handling the pre-game “Prime Time Padres” and “One on One with Jane Mitchell” providing interviews with the Padres. *** Working in war-focused times to fire up interest in the new Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion, PR man Gustavo Friederichsen looked more like a patient than the v.p. of communications and multicultural services while making the rounds of local media late last month. He sported both a broken right foot and a spider bite on his left hand. Friederichsen cracked the appendage playing basketball, but hadn’t figured that out when a weekend home plumbing emergency saw him reach quickly into an arachnid-infested shutoff box to turn off the water. A soft cast is fixing the bone while three shots are counteracting the black widow attack.
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Expect lobbying and PR efforts to intensify as a proposal for development of the property outside Petco Park nears an April 21 City Council hearing. In two intense CCDC committee meetings, the last one March 26, directors struggled to gain a consensus. The central issue in the three-building, 920,000-square-foot proposal is the office building behind center field. JMI, the master developer, chopped its proposal from 11 stories and 161 feet to eight stories and 128 feet. The office would be 243 feet wide. (A city block is 200 feet wide.) CCDC staff recommends six stories, 90 feet tall and 200 feet wide. CCDC staff also wants the development envelope cut to about 800,000 square feet.
The Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce holds its second annual State of the Port address from 9 to 11 a.m. April 24 at the Mission Valley Radisson Hotel, 1433 Camino del Rio S. Featured speakers are Adele Fasano, director of field operations for the new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and Jorge Vargas Coello, Tijuana administrator for Mexico Customs. Co-sponsors are R.L. Jones Customhouse Brokers, Western Maquiladora Trade Association, San Diego Customs Brokers Association and California Trucking Association. Tickets are $40 in advance for OMCC members. For information, call (619) 661-6111.Home | Info | Cover Story | About Us | Back Issues | Search
