August 2003
Federal Waterman Here For Western Summit
Vista Visions Of A Commercial Village
Move It, But Not Alone
Jobs Flow To Creative Regions With Creativity
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*** The San Diego Telecom Council, The Debra Owen Gallery and local museum curators are teaming to support an Oct. 4 dinner and art auction to benefit High Tech High. The night’s goal is $100,000 to fund a wireless lab; the long-term goal, to supply the region’s future technology leaders. Chairing this event are Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs and Fred Muto and Lynn Hart Muto. Sponsors committed so far are Qualcomm, title sponsor; Kyocera Wireless, presenting; Fleishman-Hillard, PR; Gateway, technical; and Red Door Interactive, Web site strategy. The host committee for the Oct. 4 dinner is a who’s who of San Diego’s tech industry. For details, go to www.hightechhighart.org where visitors also encounter a trick sign-up form by Kintera that allows for pure donations from those whom the mood might strike. Tickets start at $60 for dessert and dancing. *** Watching state Finance Director Steve Peace lecture Republicans, “Give us a budget, not a speech,” reminds one that as a state senator and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, the self-proclaimed architect of electricity deregulation wrought all sorts of havoc before working his current magic. His efforts seem seamless. Hence, for some San Diegans who’ve known him since youth, recalling Gov. Davis may bring special satisfaction. And a friend of David Malcolm, too. *** After four years of serving as a judge for the Metropolitan’s 40 Under Forty competition to honor young leaders, Randa Trapp has earned higher recognition. The Sempra Energy counsel has been appointed by Gov. Davis to the Superior Court. Others filling court vacancies are Robert Dahlquist, Theodore Weathers and Patricia Garcia. Even if the governor is recalled, the judges stay. ***
Colette Carson Royston, replacing Mary Walshok as chair of the San Diego Foundation board, and four new board members have started their terms. Royston, a founding member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation, has been vice chair for two years. Walshok, dean of UCSD Extension, will continue as immediate past chair. New board members are Dennis V. Arriola, v.p. of investor relations for Sempra Energy; Jerome Jerry Katzin, community leader; Carisa M. Wisniewski, CPA and partner at Deloitte & Touche; and John D. Wylie, president of the Nicholas/Applegate Mutual Funds and chief investment officer of Investor Services Group. *** During its last one-week membership drive, nonprofit XLNC1, 90.7 FM, the classical music station, brought in more than $45,000 in pledges, adding about 500 members to the existing 1,500, says Jean Oelrich. Because the Chula Vista station with a Tijuana tower is heard worldwide at xlnc1.org, “pledges came from as far away as South Korea and South Dakota as well as Mississippi, New Jersey and Ohio.” Wrote a Cincinnati listener, “Your music makes the Internet come alive.” With his unmistakable voice, Kingsley McLaren has joined the station, showcasing masterpieces at 6 p.m. Saturdays. *** The most handsome tower ever to grace the San Diego skyline, the Manchester Grand Hyatt second tower, opens this month. The official Aug. 8 opening will be observed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a private party hosted by the hotel owner and developer, Douglas F. Manchester, founder and chair of Manchester Resorts. A 9:30 p.m. fireworks show is scheduled. Originally opened in 1992, the hotel has expanded from 875 to 1,625 rooms to become the largest in Southern California. Its two towers, one with 40 stories and the other 33, are connected by a four-story building with a rooftop pool. The $240 million expansion will add 300 to the hotel’s payroll, bringing its staff to more than 1,000 and making it one of San Diego’s top 50 employers. *** South County commuters who daily suffer the I-5 crawl at the border of San Diego and National City can take comfort that their pain is not unnoticed. Sandag reports that I-5 is being planned for an additional lane going in both directions between 24th Street in National City and Harbor Drive in Downtown. The design is scheduled for completion in 2004 with construction beginning soon after, if budget allows. No decision on whether it will be a car pool lane. ***
*** Carlsbad’s annual State of the City report and video is set for Aug. 28 during a luncheon at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara. Sponsored by the Carlsbad Chamber, the progress report relayed by Mayor Lewis is expected to attract more than 350 people, says Jan Sobel, chamber president. After the presentation, breakout sessions on habitat management, traffic and growth are planned. Tickets are $33 for chamber members; $43 for others. Call (760) 931-8400 for more. *** Sam Guedouar is the new g.m. of the U.S. Grant Hotel. Guedouar has been with Wyndham, the hotel’s owner, since 1996 and replaces Jim Hollister. Hollister was the interim g.m. for more than a year overseeing both the Grant and Emerald Plaza. He remains at Emerald Plaza. *** Free calendars may snow from the sky when 10,000 real estate agents from throughout California descend on the San Diego Convention Center Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 for “Realtor Expo 2003.” Learn more about the California Association of Realtors event by visiting www.realtorexpo.org. *** The county’s Office of Trade and Business Development will host three more seminars on how small businesses can plan for disasters, be they earthquakes, terrorism or fires, but nothing on government-induced cutbacks. Lockwood Mesa Partners also will offer tips for resuming operations once the initial incident has passed. Topics include backing up data, alternatives for receiving supplies and prioritizing operations. The seminars are scheduled for Aug. 12 in El Cajon, Aug. 14 in San Diego and Aug. 15 in Chula Vista. Call (858) 495-5494 for times and places. *** Harold Krasner, owner of Downtown’s Harold Stevens Jewelers, is moving from a third floor suite at Wells Fargo Plaza to larger space on the ground floor of 525 B Street, next to Starbucks. “I certainly didn’t want to leave the Downtown area, I just want to be more accessible and visible to customers,” Krasner says. *** Douglas Wilson Cos. has formed a commercial real estate acquisition division to purchase properties for its own portfolio and for its joint ventures. Tigg Mitchell is head of the division. Mitchell also serves as director for Wilson Thorn, a related entity specializing in brokerage services and property management. *** Downtown’s newest 7-Eleven is seeking a permit from CCDC to sell adult beverages from its location within the Camden-Tuscany project at 1670 Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy. ***
*** The 26,632-square-foot office building Downtown at 1500 State St. has sold for $5.1 million to Zagara Realty LLC, a New Jersey company. Dennis Mulligan of IPC Commercial/TCN represented the buyer; Chuck Wasker of IPC Commercial the seller. Jamie Nalley at Chicago Title handled the title; Della Michaelson at Chicago the escrow. *** USD’s new president, Mary E. Lyons, will give the State of the University address at a luncheon Sept. 17 in the Hahn University Center. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. *** An application has been submitted to the city by United Hansel to construct a two-story, 18,000-square-foot office building with a 9,000-square-foot underground parking garage on a 4.75-acre lot at 444 and 480 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. The project architect is MJK Architecture and Planning. City staff is recommending approval. *** The Fashion Valley ARCO is seeking a conditional use permit for a 661-square-foot car wash on a 25,741-square-foot site with an existing service station. The address is 6899 Friars Road. A public hearing will be scheduled. Contact Kathy Henderson, project manager for the city, at (619) 446-5241 for information. *** Tommy Bahama, the island-themed apparel retailer, opens this month its second location in San Diego, this one in the middle of Fashion Valley. The store, renowned for colorful Hawaiian printed shirts and casual clothing, will be located near Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. La Jolla is home to the area’s first Tommy Bahama store. *** San Diego-based House-hold Auto Finance has teamed with eBay to offer auto buyers a seamless way to find it, buy it and finance it online. The eBay Financing Center includes services that provide car buyers the ability to research, purchase, inspect, finance and receive vehicles. Household Auto Finance, a unit of Chicago-based Household International, has been headquartered in San Diego for five years and employs about 1,200 people at its two Kearny Mesa locations. *** Andrew Kline’s Athletic Appearance has formed a strategic alliance with Walters International, a Los-Angeles based, 30-year-old powerhouse in the speaking industry to collaborate on speaker promotion and athlete appearances. CEO Kline is a former SDSU football player who was drafted by the St Louis Rams in 2000 and retired after multiple concussions. ***
*** Starting this month, those who work or live Downtown can get to a Jazzercise class nearby. Sarah Jones will begin Aug. 11 with classes at noon Monday through Thursday, at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, at Dance With Me Academy, 1020 Eighth Ave., at Broadway. Cost is $33 per month, but to to get participants started, Jones is offering a free month to those who take a friend and sign up for two months. For details, call (619) 548-1713. *** A business suit clothing drive, Clothes 4 A Cause, runs throughout this month, sponsored by Time Warner Cable. For the fourth year, donated ready-to-wear business outfits will be given to individuals enrolled in job training programs with the San Diego Urban League and YWCA/Becky’s House. Participating men and women receive career development, encouragement and clothing suitable to wear in a business environment. Donations may be dropped off at Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centre or Time Warner offices. For each complete business outfit donated, donors will receive a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit www.timewarnersandiego.com. *** The final night of this year’s Summer Organ Festival concerts will make history as a state of the art digital orchestra — a complete orchestra in one instrument — performs for the first time with the historic Spreckels pipe organ in Balboa Park. The 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 event will feature San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams performing on the organ with Hector Olivera on his Roland AT90-S. The concluding summer concert, in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, is free and open to the public. *** San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union has opened its fifth branch, at 9212 Balboa Ave. The new site houses a full-service branch, a 24-hour ATM and the corporate offices of the credit union. *** Bobbi A. Becker, who has been instrumental in establishing Metropolitan Water District’s business outreach program as a national model in less than two years, has been honored as the 2003 Advocate of the Year by the San Diego chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Becker’s leadership in establishing Metropolitan’s Regional/Small Business Program was cited by NAWBO-San Diego officials in their award as was her management of the program, which most recently partnered with the Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce in a joint effort to expand opportunities for minority-owned small businesses in Southern California. *** The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation has opened a new exhibit room, the Lohmann-Deyo Study, in the William Heath Davis House. Named in honor of Henry and Lina Lohmann and George Deyo, the room is filled with artifacts original to the house. On display are items such as a 1890s rolltop desk, 1894 American lyre harp and antique adding machine. The items have been donated by the Lanuza family, the last residents of the house. The foundation also has on display items belonging to Alonzo Horton, Downtown San Diego founder and house resident. To be seen is a cloth map that became the site of Downtown. For hours and information, call (619) 233-4692. ***
*** Tuesday Morning Corp., closeout retailer of upscale, decorative home accessories, opens this month its fifth San Diego store, a 9,940-square- foot location at 7550 Miramar Road. *** A new San Marcos neighborhood within the San Elijo Hills master-planned community is a project of Capstone Advisors and John Laing Homes. A $7.5 million joint venture, the 86 houses at Woodleys Glen will be between 2,300 and 2,600 square feet with three and four bedrooms and will be priced in the low to mid $500,000s. Grand opening is scheduled for December. *** “Inspiring The Faces of California” will be the theme of this year’s Brindis Gala, sponsored by MANA, a national Latina organization that provides scholarship and leadership programs. The Sept. 6 event will begin at 6 p.m. at the La Jolla Marriott. The keynote speaker will be California State Sen. Martha Escutia. *** The romance, foods and dance of the Argentine gauchos ride into Orfila Vineyards and Winery on Aug. 23 in celebration of “Grape Stomp 2003.” Each year a different wine-producing country is honored and this year it is an Argentine celebration. An event high point is when guests are invited to climb into a vat and stomp the grapes. Tickets are $50; it’s always a sellout. Call (760) 738-6500 by Aug. 12 for guaranteed reservations.
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A massive unpainting job lies beneath all that white sheeting masking the restoration of the historic Riviera Hotel on A Street where Highway 163 begins. A former owner had painted the brick structure white. “It’s costing me $150,000 to remove a $9,000 paint job,” jokes Sandy Shapery, the project’s developer. Shapery says the Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn is on track for an early December opening.
Iomega Corp., a manufacturer of portable data storage devices, has settled into its new two-level, 40,000-square-foot headquarters atop a bluff across from Torrey Pines State Park. The interior architect was Howard-Sneed Architecture and Design. The new environment is designed to encourage creativity and provides contemporary designed spaces for Iomega’s management and engineers.
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