Developer Rob Lankford has again delayed the start of construction on his 655 West Broadway office tower, which was supposed to break ground in May. This time, Lankford is “highly confident” the $150 million, 23-story project will break ground in September with the law firm of Milberg Weiss as the anchor tenant. The building would open in the first quarter of 2005 and be the first new commercial high-rise Downtown in fourteen years. As to the delays — the project was supposed to break ground last year — Lankford says a weak national market complicates an already complex situation. While lenders he brings to town are impressed with the Centre City, they are puzzled, he says, that no other commercial projects in the area have broken ground.

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Cindy Davis, Thomas Warwick and John Morrell, current v.p.’s of the San Diego County Bar Association, have declared their intentions to run for 2004 SDCBA president. The seat will be voted on at the June 10 board meeting. Davis is a deputy city attorney with the office of the San Diego City Attorney. Warwick specializes in criminal defense law and is a partner at Grimes & Warwick. Morrell is a managing partner at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack specializing in bankruptcy and financial reorganization.

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‘Little Dancer, Age Fourteen’ is one of 73 sculptures by Edgar Degas in an exhibit opening this month at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park. Degas in Bronze: The Complete Sculptures will run from June 28 to Sept. 28. The exhibit is one of only four complete sets of Degas’ bronzes in existence and it comes from the Museo de Arte de Sao Paulo, Brazil. For information, call (619) 232-7931 or visit www.sdmart.org.

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After June 3, builders who have not secured permits for new homes will be subject to the new inclusionary housing tax aimed at funding affordable housing. The fee will grow over three years to total $5,000 on the average 2,000-square-foot home. After approving the concept last summer and again in May, the San Diego City Council will see the ordinance for a second reading June 3. Rather than use an option to create units, most builders likely will pay the tax, expected to generate $7.5 million its first year. The May vote in favor of the policy was 6-2, with Mayor Murphy and Councilman Jim Madafffer opposed.

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At about 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday through early August, millions of dollars in sailing boats begin to assemble off Harbor Island for the start of the Beer Can Race. By 6 p.m., up to 130 boats skippered by some of San Diego’s finest will be ready to take off. From the rocks at Shelter Island, you can take in the spectacular start for free.

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The Uptown Partnership is leading an effort to have the community turn out for the 10 a.m. June 10 City Council budget meeting where an increase in the parking meter fee from $1 per hour to $1.60 per hour is on the table. “Business is not booming in San Diego and a parking meter rate increase couldn’t come at a worse time for our smaller businesses owners that are feeling the effects of the current economic downturn, recession and other economic factors,” says Jeffery Tom, the group’s executive director.

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The Bahia, an 800-pound quartz crystal with hair-like golden rutile inclusions, is on display at the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad. It is the world’s largest transparent gemstone sculpture and the world’s largest cut gem, and it took seven and one-half years to create. Named for the state in Brazil where it was found in 1987, Bahia was created by noted gemstone carvers Glenn Lehrer, G.G. and Lawrence Stoller. The institute is campaigning to acquire the Bahia as part of its permanent collection.

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Keith Chrapczynski and Sheridan Mantor have agreed to co-chair SAM 2003, the annual awards competition and presentation set for Oct. 11 and hosted by the Sales and Marketing Council of the Building Industry Association of San Diego County. Chrapczynski is v.p. of sales and marketing for Carlsbad-based Interior Specialists Inc., where he is responsible for overseeing new builder accounts and services throughout Southern California. Mantor is responsible for the sales, marketing and interior design of 36 penthouse residences set atop the new Omni San Diego Hotel next to Petco Park.

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Howard • Sneed Architecure and Design has landed a premier Downtown contract. The company will design four floors of office, about 70,000 square feet of rentable space, on floors 16 to 19 of the 34-story One America Plaza. The client is Latham & Watkins.

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Pamela Lawton Wilson, an associate attorney for the last six years with Sullivan Wertz McDade & Wallace and this publication’s Legally Speaking columnist, has been elected to shareholder at the firm. She represents clients in litigation matters, including real estate disputes, ADA defense,•political law compliance and civil writs and appeals.

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Home-builder Western Pacific Housing has begun changing the names of its five divisions doing work in California. Lance Waite, the division president, says the local operation is now known as D.R. Horton Homes - Western Pacific Housing, San Diego. Update your PDAs accordingly.

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Robert Villarreal promises he won’t be an apologist for Bank of America. BofA just tapped him for a community affairs position. Villarreal breathed life into the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as its CEO for the last three years.

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Pulte Homes is preparing for the June 28 model grand opening of Avery Lane at 4S Ranch. Each two-story house ranges in size from 3,390 to 3,843 square feet and includes three to five bedrooms. Prices start in the low $600,000s.

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Local employers will be honored at “Beyond Benefits: Work-Life Programs that Impact Culture,” the seventh annual Leaders in Work-Life Awards Luncheon, June 25 at the Mission Valley Hilton.

Keynote speaker is Robert Blodgett, executive director of the new western regional office of the National Fatherhood Initiative, and author of “Family First: Tales of a Working Father,” a book to help fathers prioritize family while balancing a successful career. For information, visit www.worklifesandiego.org or call (619) 338-8668.

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A new brochure for potential investors outlines SDSU’s Community Economic Development Certificate Program in anticipation of the 2004 class. This program, founded by San Diego community leader Hal Brown, is a resource for community members who have the interest and potential to be leaders within their communities. Since the program began in 1995, more than 150 students have completed the course. Those interested in becoming donors to the program or who wish to enroll an employee or sponsor a scholarship may call the Center for Community Economic Development at SDSU at (619) 594-6437.

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NBC’s successful summer series, ‘Crime & Punishment,’ returns this month for a second summer season, airing at 10 p.m. Sundays. Once again, prosecutors from the San Diego County District Attorney’s office are the stars. Those you’ll see are, from left, Stacy Running, Robert Stein, Jill DiCarlo, Lucy Weismantel, Kurt Mechals and Tracy Prior. Not pictured: Sherry Thompson, Kristen Amador, Enrique Camarena, Wendy Patrick, Corinne Miesfeld, Evan Kirvin, Rachel Solov, Chandra Carle, Blaine Bowman, Randy Grossman, Rachel Cano, John Philpott, Roderick Shelton and Curtis Ross. The show is filmed in high-definition video. (Photo/Paul Drinkwater)

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More than 3,600 undergraduates and 376 graduates will receive their degrees during commencement ceremonies at UCSD on June 8, 14 and 15. Graduation ceremonies for the School of Medicine will be held June 8 on the school’s east lawn, while commencement for the five undergraduate colleges, the International Relations and Pacific Studies Graduate School and the Graduate Studies and Research Division are scheduled June 14 and 15 at various campus locations. Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner, a professor at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and one of the past century’s leading pioneers in genetics and molecular biology, will speak at the School of Medicine’s graduation. A total 141 new physicians are scheduled to receive their M.D degrees during 11 a.m. ceremonies, including eight to 10 class members who will receive joint PhD./M.D. degrees.

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At its 31st annual fashion show, Soroptimist International of San Diego presented its 2003 Women of Accomplishment and Making a Difference for Women awards. Winners were Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Dee Sanford, speaker, trainer and founder of three networking organizations of Dee Sanford International; Jeanette Roache, president and founder, Technology Training Foundation of America, and Mary Catherine Swanson, founder and executive director of Advancement Via Individual Determination. STAR 100.7’s Jeff and Jer Showgram received the Making a Difference for Women Award for establishing Becky’s House for victims of domestic violence.

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Hoover High student and branch worker Nansi Rivas demonstrates how to use the ATM to a Mission Federal Credit Union customer. After six years of planning, the branch opened last month on the campus. A first in San Diego, it is staffed by seven students who complete the same training as other Mission Federal employees.

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The Scripps Polster Breast Care Center was named the prime charity beneficiary for the 2003 Acura Classic, sponsored by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. The centerpiece of the tournament’s charitable effort will be a benefit dinner July 31 in memory of Janis Fitch, a San Diego native and former college tennis player who lost a six-year battle with breast cancer in 2000. For information, call the tournament box office at (760) 438-5683, or visit www.acuraclassic.com.

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The American Cancer Society is seeking business and community leaders to assist with the 2004 Daffodil Days Campaign, one of the society’s most important fund-raising events. Daffodil Days orders are taken in January and February with deliveries in mid-March. The 2003 campaign netted nearly $250,000 that was used locally for research, patient education programs and services. For information, call (619) 682-7447 or e-mail swilson@cancer.org.

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The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe has released 10 of its 15 view-oriented two-acre estate homesites. Parcels start in the low $1 million range. For those on a budget, half-acre sites start at $760,000. For those who don’t want the hassle of designing a house, The Bridges has that covered, offering custom homes from 6,000 square feet to 9,000 square feet and priced between $2.7 million and $5.25 million. Those with less to spend can consider The Villas, ranging from 2,900 to 3,800 square feet and priced starting from $1.34 million. If you want to just see what this place looks like, turn the television to ABC on July 28 for ‘The Battle at The Bridges,’ a nationally televised golf match teaming Tiger Woods and Ernie Els against Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson, a member of The Bridges.

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“Puppetry of the Penis” has included the Lyceum Theater on its American tour. The show has played in Los Angeles and promoters say they added San Diego to this tour to satisfy the busloads of San Diegans trekking to see the show. This is not your usual puppet show, there are no puppets and no strings — and it’s not a peep show. It’s two men on stage wearing nothing but shoes, socks (yes on their feet) and a cape. Dan Lewry and Jim MacGregor of the Australian puppetry group debut their genital origami June 17 and perform through June 29. Tickets range from $29.90 to $44.50. Call (858) 487-4474 for times and click on www.puppetryofthepenis.com for details.

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Celebrating at San Diego National Bank’s newly remodeled Downtown branch at 1420 Kettner Blvd., are (from left) CEO/President Robert Horsman, Councilman Brian Maienschein and bank spokesman Jerry Coleman. The building includes new teller stations, revised residential lending space, new accounts stations, and a state-of-the-art community room. The largest community bank in the region, San Diego National Bank has more than $1.9 billion in total assets and is a well-capitalized financial institution. The bank operates 16 branches.

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For those who’ve always wanted some original artwork but were wary of draining the bank account, the San Diego Art Institute opens this month its C-Note Fundraiser. From June 20 to June 29, members of the Balboa Park institute will sell original works straight from the gallery’s walls for $100, $200 or $300.

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Expertly versed in San Diego’s ongoing quest for a stable source of drinking water is Dennis Cushman, assistant g.m. at the County Water Authority. Water references also flow naturally as part of his sense of humor, as a San Diego Metropolitan editor learned during a 90-minute interview. When thanked for his help, and teased about his humor via e-mail, Cushman floated this response: “‘Water’ you talking about? I just pour out the facts as they are. I realize the whole topic can be a drain, but I have a reservoir of information to tap into. Some would say our mission is a pipe dream. But I say they’re all washed up!”

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As the big-pharma invasion of San Diego rolls on, Hope Engineering reports the completion of structural steel framing for two buildings — one 177,200 square feet and the other 213,700 square feet —on the Pfizer Global Research & Development Campus. The developer is Slough Estates USA Inc. with management services by Project Management Advisors. The buildings will be complete in the fall.

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Structural steel framing is complete for the 50,400-square-foot Municipal City Hall Office Building for the city of Poway. The new City Hall will include a separate 5,900-square-foot City Council chambers. Steel framing for the council chambers is scheduled to begin February 2004 with the entire project done in April. The project design team includes McGraw/Baldwin Architects, shell and interior architects; Douglas E. Barnhart, construction manager; and Simon Wong Engineering, structural engineers.