The vacant District 2 City Council seat has created a leadership vacuum that is severely complicating the efforts of JMI and Lennar to move forward on the $1.3 billion Ballpark Village project in East Village. The project is in the district, and the developer’s compromise with labor and housing advocates that will greatly expand St. Vincent de Paul’s homeless services has area business and property owners seeing red. Others fear the precedent of a privately negotiated community benefits agreement. The council may punt until the elections in November, and maybe even until January in the likely event a runoff is required.

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Watch for a hard press in the coming months from civic groups to convert the Navy’s eight-block Broadway Complex into mostly park with the government picking up the tab to relocate the military offices to the 32nd Street Naval Station.

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Dan Novak, who established Channel 4 San Diego as a station for Padres games and much more, and led the effort to broadcast games in high definition, is leaving Cox to work at Qualcomm in its MediaFlo division. An $800 million investment, MediaFlo is Qualcomm’s effort to create a broadcast network that can transmit 50 to 100 channels of programing to cell phones and similar devices using a separate wireless signal. At 30 frames per second, the broadcast quality would parallel typical TV and double what is now provided with video on cell phones. Novak, once right hand man to Cox G.M. Bill Geppert and later in a corporate reshuffling named g.m. of his own division in San Diego, also negotiated the deal that will consolidate Cox’s broadcasting and advertising sales divisions into DiamondView Tower, the office building being constructed overlooking right field at Petco Park. Seems doubtful Novak will now get such a cool office.

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A new two-story, 12,660-square-foot fire station addition to Fire Station No. 4 will be part of Cosmopolitan Square, a multi-tower, 235-unit condominium project for the full block bounded by J Street and Seventh, Eighth and Island avenues. Developer Simplon Ballpark has landed CCDC design review approval of the project that also will include 12,485 square feet of retail space, 17,106 square feet of office space and 450 parking spaces. The developer will rehab three historic buildings, build four new ones and convert the old fire station into retail space.

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Under wraps at Broadway and Sixth Avenue Downtown, the 99-year-old Fletcher Building is being renovated as Fletcher Skylofts, 21 luxury lofts above 7,500 square feet of retail space. Mihos Construction is handling the $12.5 million, one-year project of Champion Development Group of Los Angeles, which also is rehabilitating the catercorner, 76-year-old Samuel Fox Building for residential lofts priced from the $400,000s. The sales office for both is at 531 Broadway. Call (619) 235-6025.

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Affordable housing Downtown received a $5.6 million boost when CCDC recommended the Housing Commission spend the funds on six projects that will offer 768 apartment units and a 20-bed emergency shelter. The money was collected from the inclusionary housing tax paid by Downtown builders.

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Democracy in action? The fairest distribution of office space may be at Best Best & Krieger on the 15th floor of the new Broadway 655. To lower the costs and maximize the space, the firm designed each office, including those of the partners, the exact same size, and with the exact same furniture.

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Greg Shannon heads up the new San Diego division of Shea Properties, which opened an office in Del Mar. Shannon is a San Diego resident and former president of Sedona Pacific Corp., which was responsible for securing entitlements for its redevelopment project in the Ballpark District. Shea is increasing its presence in San Diego County with projects at the Solana Beach Train Station and the Balfour Corporate Center office condo project in Carlsbad. Before founding Sedona Pacific, Shannon was v.p. of Shimizu Development, the highest ranking American officer for that company. He was in charge of developing One America Plaza Downtown.

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Villa di Capri, a 5.8-acre oceanfront estate in La Jolla, sold for $23.5 million, the second highest-priced home sale in San Diego County history. Bonnie Adams, sales associate for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, represented the seller. Neither the seller nor buyer wanted to be named. The home features seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, a tennis court, racquetball court, gymnasium, lap pool, Jacuzzi and ornate fountains. It is the largest privately owned single oceanfront parcel in the county.

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Bosa Development is forming an interest list for its newest Downtown residential tower, The Legend. The 23-story tower overlooking Petco Park will encompass 170 one- and two-bedroom condos, eight townhouses and a 28,000-square-foot ground floor retail area. Amenities include a seventh-floor clubroom, rooftop decks with outdoor fireplace lounges, barbecue areas, rooftop pool/spa/garden and fitness center with steam room and sauna. Completion is slated for summer 2007. More is at legendsandiego.com.

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Essex Property Trust has secured CCDC design review approval for a 12-story, 177-unit market-rate apartment project at Front and Ash streets. Designed by Naylor and Chu, the project includes shopkeeper, studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, 9,573 square feet of retail space and 222 parking spaces.

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The annual Downtown by Design Home Tour is Oct. 15 and 16. Shuttle bus stops run from lofts to penthouses, privately owned and occupied, at Renaissance, The Grande North, The Meridian, El Cortez, Gaslamp Square and Billboard Lofts. Registration is at Tin Fish, Fifth Avenue and L Street. Multiple tours will run between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Main sponsors of the Downtown Residential Marketing Alliance tour are Countrywide Home Loans and Sapphire Tower. Tickets are $25. Call (619) 233-5008 or visit sdliving.com.

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Poway’s Underwater Kinetics has a bright idea in flashlights: using a patent-pending dual lens bezel instead of reflectors and making them waterproof up to 10 feet. Running on four AA alkaline cells, the UK Zoom Light produces 35 lumens of light that will be distortion-free and consistently bright for five to 12 hours from a bulb that never needs changing in a package half the size and weight of three C-battery lights. Suggested retail price is $39. Visit ukbright.com.

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San Diego County Water Authority is hosting Oct. 13 its seventh annual “Creating Paths to Partnerships Networking Forum” for contractors, consultants, vendors, small businesses and suppliers who are interested in the water industry in San Diego County. The 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 7450 Hazard Center Drive. The cost is $75 for those who preregister and $90 at the door. Register at pathsreg2005.com or call (858) 522-6515.

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Lennar and Centex Homes are partnering to build Eureka Springs, a new 161-acre master-planned community in northeast Escondido. Grading is under way and sales are expected to begin in early 2006 with completion projected for October 2007. Comprised of four neighborhoods, the Eureka Springs community will have 340 homes. The neighborhoods will offer an assortment of floor plans ranging from 2,267 square feet to 4,290 square feet, and include three to five bedrooms. For more information and to join the interest list, call (866) 600-0295 or visit eurekaspringsliving.com. The on-site sales center is expected to open this winter.

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Oceanside’s Darlene Banogon is the new membership priority program director of Executive Women International. The executive assistant to the president of North Island Credit Union was appointed to the position during the group’s 58th Leadership Conference & Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. Nine San Diego chapter representatives attended the gathering.

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The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation is preparing for the fifth annual Union Bank of California’s Children’s Historic Street Fair. Set for Oct. 30, the event in front of the William Heath Davis House at Fourth and Island avenues will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with contests, games, prizes and displays. The fair marks the end of daylight saving time. All children who fill out a “passport to the past” by visiting every historical booth, will get a $1 gold coin from Union Bank. To learn more or obtain tickets, call (619) 233-5008 or visit gaslampquarter.org.

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Cornelis de Jong has been named account director of the newly formed urban division of Interactivate Inc., an online marketing firm. Prior to that appointment, de Jong was senior marketing manager of Web strategy and branding for Bally Total Fitness. His new position will manage marketing programs for a growing list of California urban builders and developers.

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San Diego writer Jennifer Coburn has moved from chicklit to mommylit with her new book “Tales From the Crib,” to be released in January by Kensington Publishing. Advance reviews have called it “deliciously fun” and “horrifyingly hysterical.” Coburn’s first chicklit novel, “The Wife of Reilly,” has been optioned for film by Vin Di Bona Productions and Gold Circle Entertainment, the folks behind “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” In addition, Coburn has an essay in a book by Jenny Cruise titled “Flirting With Pride & Prejudice,” and a novella in Jane Green’s upcoming holiday anthology “This Christmas.”

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After nine years at 520 Fifth Ave. in the Gaslamp Quarter (and 25 years total in the county), Golden Pacific Arts Gallery is having a closing sale this month. “The Gaslamp’s getting pricey for us small-time operators,” says proprietor Catherine Wall. “It’s tough because I’ve sat on the meetings to keep the neighborhood safe and clean and encourage diverse retail. A lot of people make their money from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and that’s where the cash is.” Wall has no immediate plans to relocate the fine art and jewelry gallery.

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The application deadline for local entrepreneurs to fly with the San Diego Tech Coast Angels is Oct. 31. Successful applicants will be invited to discuss their emerging companies and investment opportunities in November. The free symposium also will include a presentation on what aspiring business leaders need to know about angel financing. To take financial wing, apply at connect.org. For typical investment criteria, visit techcoastangels.com.

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The San Diego Science Alliance marks 10 years with a gala from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. William H. Rastetter, executive chairman of Biogen Idec, is keynote speaker. Tickets begin at $75. Visit sdsa.org.

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The Centre City Advisory Committee (formerly the Redevelopment Project Area Committee) holds elections this month for 17 two-year terms on the 28-seat body that reviews Downtown projects and plans. Only Downtown business, property and residential owners or tenants may vote. A candidate forum will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Horton Plaza Lyceum Theatre, with voting from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26 at the Downtown Information Center, Arts College International and Twiggs Bakery Coffeehouse. Candidate registration forms are due Oct. 18. Call (619) 533-7142 or visit ccdc.com/ccac.

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The city’s new College/Rolando branch library is open on Montezuma Road. Designed by McGraw/Baldwin Architects and built by EMS Construction, the $6 million, 15,000-square-foot structure allows plenty of natural light in on a glass block wall, terrazzo floor and stone-clad spine.

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Marlee J. Ehrenfeld’s MJE Marketing Services has moved into new offices at 3131 Camino del Rio N., Suite 150, in Mission Valley and has claimed three new clients. The firm was retained by the San Diego Bar Association to design a new brand identity and by CaseDox system managers to design a new Website and marketing plan. CaseDox is a legal case management system developed by a group of lawyers and is marketed as a rented monthly service. Ehrenfeld’s company also was hired to provide public relations for The Financial Expo, which will take place Nov. 18 and 19 at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in Mission Valley.

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The San Diego Performing Arts League unwraps its first pictorial wall calendar in an El Cortez soiree from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 24, with hors d’oeuvres, wine and music by member organizations. Calendars are $20. Event tickets, including calendar, are $40 by Oct. 19 or $50 at the door. Call (619) 238-0700 or visit sandiegoperforms.com.

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University of California, Berkeley professor George Lakoff amplifies his book “Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think” at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 in the UCSD Price Center Ballroom. Applying linguistics to politics, Lakoff, a progressive, says conservatives have won the fight over political language by being able to frame symbolic phrases like “tort reform” and “tax relief” to convey their ideas. The lecture is free.

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The third annual Invention to Venture workshop hosted by the Jacobs School of Engineering’s von Liebig Center is set for Nov. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at UCSD’s Faculty Club. The event is a hands-on introduction to the process and practice of technology entrepreneurship, with some special sessions this year for life sciences entrepreneurs. Non-UCSD folks pay $50 in advance to attend, $10 more at the door. More info is at merchantz.zenn.net/nciia/UCSD_2005_reg.

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That’s Lou Smillie’s artwork on the wall of Toni Atkins’ mayoral office on the 11th floor of City Hall. More of his work can be seen in the lobby of Del Prado Condo Tower on Upas Street.

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Laurel Bay LLC has bought for $6.9 million the 17,943-square-foot retail condominium property on the ground floor of Laurel Bay, between Kalmia and Laurel streets on Fifth Avenue. The space is 75 percent leased. Bill Shrader of Burnham Real Estate represented the seller, Hammer Laurel Condominiums LLC. Greg Wagner of Capital Growth Properties represented the buyer. Laurel Bay includes 150 for-sale residential condominiums.

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Finalists for the local chapter of the AeA’s 12th annual High Tech Awards will be on pins and needles for the Oct. 20 awards luncheon at the Hilton Torrey Pines. The awards honor local technology companies for their achievements in technological innovation, civic contributions and industry accomplishments. Up for recognition and their categories are: Software/Internet — Captiva Software, Claritas, Document Science and ImageWare; Internet/Web Commerce — Entriq, MIR3, Websense and WebsideStory; Computers & Related Products: Dot Hill Systems, RSI ID Technologies, Verari Systems and Wintriss Engineering; Communications Products & Services — Continuous Computing, iTech, Tachyon, ViaSat and WFI; Technology/IT Services — Enviance, ID Analytics, ProfitLine and Techflow; Semiconductors, Industrial & Analytical Instrumentation — CommASIC, Elgar Electronics, Entropic Communications and Palomar Technologies; Medical Device/Instrumentation — CardioDynamics, MedVantx, Ophthonix and Triage Wireless; and Emerging Growth: Akonix Systems, Alignent Software, Infommersion, Staccato Communications, Streamload and Xifin. For more information, visit aeanet.org/sandiego.

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In September’s 40 Under Forty special section, some facts were reported incorrectly. As director of community relations, Kimberly Hale Pudgil is a valuable member of the eight-person San Diego Film Commission, but she does not supervise the staff, Cathy Anderson does. Among Deputy District Attorney Rachel Cano’s many accomplishments was mentoring a teenage girl in the past, not currently. Troy Saxton-Getty is developing a service that will allow TEC members who read TEConline.com to be prompted with other recommended readings ala amazon.com, not through amazon.com. And Gabe del Rio’s proper title is home ownership director for Community HousingWorks, a countywide, nonprofit housing and community development organization that assists people with rental and ownership housing options. San Diego Metropolitan regrets the errors.

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The Prison Industry Authority and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are sponsoring an Employers Forum Oct. 20 to highlight the benefits and advantages of hiring ex-offenders in the community. PIA conducts a re-entry project for inmates, teaching them such skills as welding, metal working, linen management and other skills. The project is built upon the “best practice” of beginning the development of a re-entry pathway for the parolee prior to release. A total of 150 San Diego employers are being invited to the forum to share information about the value of hiring ex-offenders. The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Holiday Inn Mission Valley. For more information, visit the Prison Industry Authority Web site at pia.ca.gov.

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The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana holds its annual leadership awards gala from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Town & Country Resort in Mission Valley. Honored are Sankyo group president Hiroyoshi Horikoshi for business leadership, Notre Dame sociology professor Jorge Bustamante for international education, Sadako Oehler for community service and the late Donald Estes for service to the Japanese community. Tickets start at $90. Call (619) 233-6873 or visit japan-society.org.

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The 50th anniversary Miramar Air Show is Oct. 14 through 16 with parking, general admission and blanket seating all free. Grandstand, box and chalet seating is available online at miramarairshow.com. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a special air and fireworks show from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 15. All three days have civilian and military flight demonstrations — including the Navy Blue Angels — with an F-22 Raptor fly-by Saturday only and a B-2 stealth bomber fly-by Sunday only. On the ground more than 100 varied aircraft will be displayed. Food can be brought in or bought at the show. No large bags or large coolers, alcohol, glass or bikes are allowed. Cameras and lawn chairs are welcome. Call (888) 435-9746.

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Sunroad Centrum, a 1 million-square-foot, three-tower office park including two free-standing garages, begins construction this month. The Sunroad Enterprises project will occupy about one-sixth of the 244-acre, master-planned San Diego Spectrum complex of offices, retail space and 1,500 new condominiums and apartments at the former General Dynamics plant in Kearny Mesa. Sunroad Centrum, designed by Brian Paul & Associates, will encompass buildings of 12, 14 and 16 stories. The 12-story reflective glass building will finish in early 2007. A construction schedule has not been set for the other two towers. Burnham Real Estate is the broker.

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Former Daily Transcript technology staff writer Kent Redding, who moved to Tanzania for three years and formed a safari company, is now offering from his company’s Denver offices a free informational DVD on African safaris. “This DVD provides a great overview of safari options in East and Southern Africa, the best game viewing and adventure travel regions on the continent,” says Redding, president of Africa Adventure Consultants. “It’s perfect for anyone who is considering taking an African safari or who wants to learn more about new options for travel there.” For more information, call (866) 778-1089 or e-mail dvd@adventuresinafrica.com.

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Music from video games like Mario, Zelda, Sonic, even Tron — with a medley from Pong to (Donkey) Kong — compose the score of Video Games Live at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 in the San Diego Civic Theatre. “Game music is not bleeps and bloops anymore,” says Jack Wall, co-creator of the tour and composer of Myst III. Tickets are $18-$53. Visit videogameslive.com.

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Brian Miller remains a bright light in the toy world. On Oct. 22 his Geppetto’s will host a grand opening at its fifth and newest location, the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 3435 Del Mar Heights Road. Next year he’ll open stores in Otay Ranch and the 4S Ranch Town Center. Personally handpicking non-violent toys is one of his secrets to success. “We offer a family-oriented atmosphere, with a unique inventory and personalized customer service and dedication that our customers really appreciate and can’t find other places,” says Miller.

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The San Diego Master Chorale revs up its 120 voices aboard the USS Midway for a gala performance and auction at 6 p.m. Oct. 16. Dinner is catered by The French Gourmet. Tickets start at $125. Call (858) 581-2203 or visit sdmasterchorale.org.