From the window of his One America tower office, veteran real estate broker Kraig Kristofferson marvels at the many cranes helping build new condominiums. “It isn’t slowing down,” says the partner and v.p. with CB Richard Ellis in San Diego. “I have calls from developers every day looking for sites.” The 30-year veteran of the market is amazed that land for housing is so much more valuable than that for office. Residential property is selling for $200 to $300 a square foot and developers are charging $400 to $500 a square foot for the finished product. Fancy, finished office buildings sell for $250 a square foot. “I can see how (the housing boom) got started, but to see it continuing is what amazes me,” he says. “I hope it all works.” He does worry about Downtown zoning laws that allow housing on office sites but not vice versa. “I hope we have some office building sites left.”

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“He’s my favorite on the City Council,” said Donna Frye, a Democrat, about Brian Maienschein, a Republican, as the two read a proclamation honoring broadcaster Gloria Penner for receiving the inaugural Gloria Penner Award for Civic Service. Penner, who for 34 years has hosted television and radio shows on KPBS, was honored April 24 by The League of Women Voters of San Diego. The award now will be presented annually. Catherine Stoll, the league’s co-president, said an obligatory background search on Penner did turn up some dirt. After one of her shows a Libertarian group memo said Penner seemed to strongly favor funding for public libraries. “That’s it,” Stoll said. “That’s all we could find.”

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Cheap professional design services are being made available by the San Diego chapter of The American Society of Interior Designers as part of a fund-raiser during ASID Spring Spruce Up 2003. Throughout the month of May, for $75 an hour with a maximum two hours, ASID will send a professional designer to your home or business to discuss space and offer design suggestions. Participating designers come from throughout the county and have expertise in a wide range of design specialties. Requests may be made for a designer with a given specialty and/or from a certain geographic area. For information, call the ASID office, (858) 274-3345, or hotline, (858) 646-9896. Or click on www.ASIDSanDiego.com.

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At sunrise on May 10, a traditional San Diego spectacle will unfold as teams line up at the Beachcomber/Pennant bars on Mission Boulevard in South Mission Beach to register for The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club’s 50th presentation of the World Championship Over-The-Line Tournament. The 700 teams compete July 12-13 and July 19-20 at Fiesta Island. That’s an even larger spectacle.

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Tim Larrick, who graced the halls of the San Diego Museum of Natural History, Imperial Savings, Phillips-Ramsey and the streets of San Diego before moving to the Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, has taken seriously ill with pancreatic cancer, and at presstime was being moved from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to UCLA Medical Center. Wife Tali, the former principal of Harborside School, remains by his side. Well wishers may address him at the Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.

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Construction is nearing completion on five estates for this summer’s Tour d’Elegance by EastLake in Chula Vista. The walking tour is July 11 through Aug. 10. Tickets are $12. For information, call (619) 835-9003.

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Look for Rob Lankford to figure out this month, again, whether his 655 West Broadway office tower is going to break ground, again, or go back to the drawing board, again.

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For the second consecutive year, VR Business Brokers’ San Diego office ranked No. 1 in the 77-office VR international network for 2002. VR sells mainstreet and middle-market businesses to private investors, equity groups and companies. Last year, the San Diego office sold 37 San Diego-based companies, resulting in more than $50 million in transaction value. The firm’s largest transaction was more than $5 million, and its smallest less than $100,000. The firm’s average was $500,000. In addition, VR San Diego associates earned top honors. Steve Mort placed second in the national top producer category and Fred Renzoni finished fourth. Office owners Bill Lange and Ken Oppeltz split fourth place among all office owners for individual production. For details, visit www.vrsandiego.com.

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As Otay Ranch surpasses the 3,000-finished-home mark, one of its builders, The Corky McMillin Cos., has announced plans for the first neighborhood in Phase II of McMillin Lomas Verdes. Sandra Perlatti, McMillin’s senior v.p. of marketing, says the neighborhood will feature Spanish, Italian and European Country designs, and eventually will comprise 163 single-family homes. Sized from about 2,350 to 3,200 square feet with three to five bedrooms, 2.5 to three baths, and three-car garages, the neighborhood will have both one- and two-story houses. Lots will average 6,800 square feet with prices starting in the low $400,000s. An interest list is being gathered at www.mcmillin.com.

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Kay Wagner reports the San Diego Children’s Museum, through Pinnacle Market Development (US) LLC, has closed escrow on the $11.9 million purchase of its new 50,000-square-foot Downtown home. Designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, the new museum will be located along Island Avenue, between Front and Union streets, facing a new Children’s Museum Park designed by Spurlock-Poirier. The museum and park are expected to be completed by early 2005. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for late this month. During the two years of construction, the museum continues to serve the public through outreach programming, traveling exhibits and special events. For information, www.sdchildrensmuseum.org.

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Construction of the seven-unit Victorian House at 1632 Union St. in Little Italy is nearing a June completion. Units range from one-bedrooms with 1.5 baths starting at $375,000 to two-bedrooms with 2.5 baths starting at $559,000. The largest condo is 1,558 square feet. A unique tri-level unit with 1,286 square feet in the front of the building sports a wrap-around porch for $529,000. Custom interiors include granite slabs in the kitchen, 9.5-foot ceilings, Jacuzzi tubs, walk-in closets and city and bay views from upper floors. Developed by Marcello Buontempo, Victorian House is represented exclusively by Anthony Napoli at Keller Williams Realty, (619) 750-3558.

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There’s nothing small about the new home for Brecht Minis in Escondido. Bill Brecht’s new 5,734-square-foot, two-story, steel-framed building was designed by Smith Consulting Architects.

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More than 18,000 of the nation’s leading architects are gathering in San Diego for the American Institute of Architects 2003 National Convention and Expo. The convention, hosted by AIA’s San Diego chapter, runs May 8-10 at the San Diego Convention Center. This year’s theme, which will highlight both design excellence and San Diego’s reputation as a center for scientific research, is “Poetry + Proof.”

The conference program includes more than 160 continuing education programs, 40 tours and 65 special events. Daniel Libeskind, who was recently selected to design the rebuilding of the World Trade Center in New York, will be part of a May 10 panel discussion. Other features of the program include the AIA 5K By the Bay and a Wok-Crawl-Swing gallery tour hosted by AIA San Diego’s Young Architects group. For information, visit www.aiasandiego.com.

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Marshall Compton has been selected by the Chula Vista City Council as its representative to the San Diego Port Commission. Compton replaces William Hall, a captain in the Naval Reserve who was called to active duty. Compton, a former president of the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce and a former state director of the California Association of Realtors, will serve as the interim commissioner until Hall returns.

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A veteran San Diego erosion control professional has been honored for outstanding achievement in promoting effective erosion and sediment control practices around the world through her work as an engineer and educator. Carol Forrest, a v.p. of URS Corp., picked up the 2003 Sustained Contributor Award from the International Erosion Control Association during an award ceremony at the annual IECA conference in Las Vegas.

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SeaWorld has completed construction on the new home for SeaWorld Adventure Camps and classes will begin in July. The project features a single-story building with three classrooms and an auditorium, and a two-story dorm for up to 128 campers. For information, visit www.seaworld.org.

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In some good news for small business owners, California’s Healthy Families Program has designated Community Health Group the 2003 community provider plan for San Diego County. This means CHG can provide comprehensive health coverage for $4 to $6 per child per month to families who qualify for the program. If a business’ employees have children with no insurance or not enough insurance, the plan could be valuable. More than 54,000 San Diego children up to age 19 are enrolled in the program. For information, call (800) 224-7766 or click on the Healthy Family’s Program link at www.CHGSD.com.

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Mama’s Kitchen is best known for delivering meals to San Diegans living with HIV and AIDS. In fact, it recently delivered its 2.5 millionth. But Alberto Cortés, executive director, reports the agency also last year dropped off more than 3,500 bags of groceries. Volunteer drivers handle the task using their own cars, and receive no gas money. To learn more, attend the 12th annual Mama’s Day at 6:30 p.m. May 9 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. More than 50 of San Diego’s top restaurants and award-winning chefs will showcase their signature dishes. Tickets are $100. Visit www.mamaskitchen.org for information.

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The Carlsbad Chamber will pay tribute to 19 teachers during its May 9 Outstanding Educational Programs Awards Dinner. The event is set for 6:30 p.m. at La Costa Resort and Spa. A sellout is expected. Call Eileen Letts at the chamber for details, (760) 931-8400.

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Teague Insurance Agency Inc., a La Mesa fixture since 1954, is continuing to grow. To meet its needs, the firm has moved into a 6,890-square-foot office on Spring Street. Rhule Construction handled the tenant improvements with Dennis Barbieri as project manager and Tom Lockwood as field superintendent.

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Former Police Chief David Bejarano pours for Espie Bejarano (left) and Casey Gwinn (right) at the San Diego Mediation Center’s Peacemaker Awards during the organization’s Days of Dialogue. The men picked up an award for founding The Family Justice Center, where aid for domestic violence victims has been streamlined for maximum service and efficiency. (Photo/Jacque Albrecht)

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CDC Small Business Finance, a leading nonprofit SBA lender, is now accepting applications for the 2003 Arthur H. Goodman Scholarship awards. The deadline to apply is May 30. The awards are given to women and minorities who are graduating from a community college with a minimum 3.0 GPA and history of community service who are moving on to a four-year university. Visit www.cdcloans.com/scholar.htm for details.

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Two employees of San Diego-based BANKtemps, a financial staffing firm, have received the Staffing Professional of the Year award from their respective chapters of California Staffing Professionals. CSP’s San Diego chapter chose Kathie King, v.p. and manager of BANKtemps’ San Diego banking division.

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Alliant International University and Mesa College will provide community college students academic and financial services so they may complete a four-year degree at AIU through specially designed transfer programs. AIU officials will conduct student workshops at Mesa College on admissions and financial aid and will assign faculty and staff to serve as mentors for students who enroll at AIU.

Mesa College officials will identify prospective students, schedule group information sessions for students and arrange for in-service training sessions for college staff. Mink Stavenga, dean of the United States International College of Business at AIU, says Mesa students participating in this 2+2 program, indicating two years at each school, have the advantage of automatic admission to AIU after they fill out the appropriate forms, if they graduate in good standing from Mesa College. Alliant was founded in July 2001, through the combination of the California School of Professional Psychology and U.S. International University.

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Knight & Carver YachtCenter has been named one of the nation’s top 100 inner-city companies in 2002 by Inc Magazine and Harvard University Business School. As one of the largest employers in National City, Knight & Carver builds and repairs large luxury yachts and commercial vessels. Inc Magazine’s “Inner City 100” is an annual list of the 100 fastest-growing private companies located in America’s urban core. Knight & Carver is the first San Diego-based firm to be honored.

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Second Chance hosts the ninth annual Adopt-A-Block on May 17. Volunteers will work to clean 200 blocks in the East Village and Southeast San Diego. Tasks include painting homes of senior citizens, painting a city-block mural, removing weeds and graffiti and planting flowers. More than 1,000 people are expected to participate. Businesses and groups can adopt a block for $350 or sponsor a house for $5,000. For information, contact Sarah Gregory at (619) 234-8888, Ext. 123.

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Downtown San Diego volunteers will be honored for their dedication to the performing arts at the Star Awards at 5:30 p.m. May 19 at Humphrey’s by the Bay. Pictured are: (from left) Marvin Levine, Richard Esgate, Dr. Ken Campos and Linda Castro. Not pictured: Bill Shaw, Harold Dokmo and Robert Gleason.

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San Diego-based Between the Sheets is making sleeping more inviting with its 1,020-thread count bed sheets. Working with mill operators in Italy to develop this product, owners Sandra and Paul Marx say they are the first in the United States to offer bed sheets with more than 1,000 thread count. Most sheets have a thread count of 180 to 320. For information, visit www.betweenthesheetsinc.com.

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As part of the “Year of the Blues,” legendary Chicago guitarist Otis Rush will headline the sixth annual Volkswagen San Diego Blues Festival June 7 along the Downtown waterfront. The day-long event features 10 bands on two stages. More than 5,000 people are expected to groove from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park South. Presented by Hoodoo Productions, the event benefits the San Diego Center for Children and Blues Lovers United of San Diego.

“We’re very excited about having Otis Rush headline the festival because of the influence he has exerted in what we know today as the Chicago blues sound,” says Michael Kinsman, producer of the festival. “He is a pioneer of the rough-and-tumble style of blues that developed in the 1950s and 1960s and has been the guitar model for countless numbers of blues and rock guitarists. The late Stevie Ray Vaughan actually named his band Double Trouble after an Otis Rush song.” Visit www.sdbluesfest.com for details.