When Jason Hughes took over as president of the San Diego Children’s Museum about eight months ago, “people didn’t want to donate, thinking the property would go back to CCDC,” says Hughes. “Perseverance has paid off. I don’t think anybody out there thought it could be done, and I was marginal. This was a brutal project.”
But with a $5 million donation from Irwin and Joan Jacobs, another $2.5 million from two other families, and agreements from Torrey Pines Bank and First National Bank to provide construction financing, the $25 million museum project on Island and First avenues has become “eminently financeable. We have the banks lined up; it’s done,” says Hughes. “But we still need the community’s support. What we don’t want to do is open this museum and have a difficult time paying the debt service. Our new goal now is to pay the debt before opening. That leaves us about 18 months to raise another significant sum.
“Except for the Jacobs and two other families (who request anonymity), this project wouldn’t have happened.” Subs are being asked to rebid the project. Hughes hopes construction will resume in March. The parking, basement and ground floor already have been built as part of Pinnacle Development’s Museum Tower.
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It probably was the first time that young proteges of Jim Bartell and Karen Hutchens spoke from the same podium: There were Kevin Tilden, president of the San Diego Convention Center Corp., and Kevin Faulconer, newly minted City Council member. “Four days on the job; I don’t take credit for anything,” said Faulconer at the groundbreaking for the 1,190-room Hilton on the former site of the Campbell Shipyard. Ray Carpenter, who used to occupy the property, said his proposed Spinnaker Hotel next to the Hilton has been stalled by rising concrete and construction costs and his limit of 250 rooms. If the port allows more rooms and he attracts more equity, his project may proceed.
That’s no sweat off Ernest Wooden’s back. He’s senior v.p. of Hilton Hotels Corp., who assures, “We’re so positive about this project, we’ve put our own money in it,” rather than franchise it out. Hilton has a “98 percent name recognition factor across the globe,” says Wooden.
Mayor Sanders to Carol Wallace, CEO of the Convention Center Corp.: “I worry every day that someone will offer you $1 million to leave. Don’t believe ‘em.”
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At the latest retirement luncheon for Leon Williams, the longtime chair of the Metropolitan Transit System, his “integrity” was acknowledged 104 times by emcee George Mitrovich and 19 speakers. Must be true, but there was playful exaggeration: “As I drove down Harbor Drive, I thought, all that (development) comes from this one man,” said Wes Pratt.
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 The sales office for Davidson’s luxury home neighborhood Coda at The Crosby, has been recognized as the best in the nation by the National Sales and Marketing Council, a part of the National Association of Home Builders. The awards pay tribute to superior new home sales and marketing achievements. Coda was a finalist for three additional National Gold Awards.
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Q-déjà vu? Qualcomm, which has overcome significant industry opposition both in securing regulatory approval for its CDMA wireless technology in the early 1980s and then buy-off on its 3G standards a decade later, now is facing something similar in its efforts to bring broadcast digital to mobile devices via its MediFLO technology. In late January, a group called the Mobile DTV Alliance announced its support for a competing technology called Digital Video Broadcasting — Handheld, or DVB-H. The group includes Mobile Media LLC, Nokia, Motorola, Texas Instruments and Intel. Of course what they really object to is that Qualcomm’s Forward Link Only (FLO) technology is proprietary, meaning if it takes off, Qualcomm stands to reap (more) licensing riches.
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Events at the San Diego Convention Center this month are expected to attract 29,300 out-of-town visitors and contribute $94.6 million to the region’s economy. The big one, attracting 23,000 conventioneers, will be the Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society convention and trade show Feb. 13-16. For 2006, center events are expected to generate a $1.16 billion impact that includes $25 million in tax revenue to the city of San Diego. Hotel room usage will rise 9.2 percent to 722,400 room nights and overall attendance will set a record at 1,016,103 with more than half being out-of-town delegates.
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Sen. John McCain will speak March 18 at the Coronado Chamber’s 21st annual Salute to the Military at the Hotel Del. Table sponsorships are $1,300 (four tickets and VIP reception) and tickets $400. Call (619) 435-9260 for details.
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CCDC is recommending the conversion of G Street to one way eastbound from Pacific Highway to Front Street as part of the design for the Downtown San Diego Quiet Zone. The zone consists of 13 train crossings, from Park Boulevard to Laurel Street. The new rules would limit, but not completely prohibit, the sounding of train horns.
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The Burnham Institute’s CEO John Reed is the world’s No. 1 cited researcher in the field of general biomedicine, says Science Watch in its Doctors Of The Decade report. In an overall ranking of doctors with the highest number of citations between 1995 and 2005, Reed’s 23,729 citations placed eighth. He was the only researcher from San Diego listed. Institutionally, Harvard dominated, earning eight of the top 20 spots, with its Meir J. Stampfer, an epidemiologist, placing first with 34,872 citations.
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 Albert Deisseroth
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Albert Deisseroth, president and CEO of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, begins a one-year term as president of the International Society of Cancer Gene and Cell Therapy on April 1. He was elected at the annual meeting of the organization in December in Shenzhen, China.
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In a marked contrast to the city of San Diego’s fiscal condition, a National League of Cities’ survey of city financial officers showed that 63 percent were better able to meet their city’s financial needs in 2005. This year, 59 percent expect fiscal conditions to get even better. The largest cities (71 percent) are doing the best. The positive results are a first since 2001. When asked to identify items that had “the most negative impact” on their ability to meet city needs, 34 percent cited pensions.
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An ad hoc coalition has asked the Downtown Business (Improvement District) Association of Escondido to survey its 800 members for their stance on the CW Clark Inc. plan to build a seven-story Marriott Hotel and eight-story condominium mixed-use project on West Valley Parkway. The hotel would be next to, and the condominium project across the street from, City Hall. The Planning Commission discusses the project Feb. 14 and the City Council March 1. Opponents argue against the $100 million-plus project’s height, parking allowance, environmental impact and relationship with the adjacent California Center for the Arts.
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 Bosa Development has sold 102 of 170 residences since last month’s opening of its sales office for Legend, a Downtown residential tower adjacent to Park at the Park at Petco Park, at 121 W. Market St. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 23-story Legend is scheduled for completion in summer 2007. The complex will have two restaurants and boutiques on the ground floor. For more information, call (800) 694-2674, or visit legendsandiego.com.
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This month, 90-year-old Walter Zable who founded Cubic in Point Loma 55 years ago, enters the 2-year-old Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for Connect, the San Diego life-science and tech business fostering program. Zable moved the company to Kearny Mesa in 1955, when it was teeming with rabbits not startups. “It was pretty primitive in those days,” Zable says. “People didn’t accept microwave.” He has most enjoyed how technology has changed over the decades. “That’s the beautiful part of this game — it’s really an avocation.”
Connect will fete Zable at an 11 a.m. lunch program Feb. 22 at Estancia La Jolla Hotel. Tickets are $120-$140. For more information, call (858) 964-1300 or visit connect.org.
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While Ford is cutting jobs, Toyota will spend $37 million through 2007 to increase production at its Tijuana plant to an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles and 200,000 Tacoma truck beds. The plant began operation in 2004 and produces Tacoma pick-ups and truck beds for sale in the United States and Mexico. Plant operations include welding, paint and assembly, with a work force of 800.
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Doug Barnhart, CEO of Douglas E. Barnhart Inc., succeeds Ted Roth as chair of the San Diego International Sports Council, the organization that helped bring three Super Bowls, the X Games and America’s Cup to San Diego, among other sports events. Barnhart’s term extends through 2006.
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 Daniel Redfern
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Home builder Bill Davidson went to the world of Fortune 500 execs to land Daniel T. Redfern as the new CFO for Del Mar-based Davidson Communities. Redfern spent 15 years with PepsiCo Inc. and 10 years with two major accounting firms. Davidson expects Redfern to bring the company “boldly into the new century.”
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John Laing Homes has been named America’s Best Builder by Builder magazine. The Newport Beach-based company has four projects on the market in San Diego — Isla Vista and Cordelane at La Costa Greens in Carlsbad, Woodley’s Glen at San Elijo Hills in San Marcos and Rosemary Lane at 4S Ranch in Rancho Bernardo. It also has three others opening later this year — St. Cloud and Breakaway at Arrowood in Oceanside and Silhouette at 4S Ranch. “We’ve built this company on delivering the best new home buying experience possible to our customers and providing a learning environment that promotes professional growth for our employees,” says Larry Webb, the company’s CEO.
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An expert’s perspective on the state of housing in California will be presented Feb. 16 during UCSD’s Economics Roundtable, 7:30-9 a.m., at the campus Faculty Club. Christopher Thornberg, senior economist at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and author of the quarterly “Anderson Forecast for the State of California,” will discuss “The California Economy: Housing Boom or Bubble?” The $50 registration fee covers the program as well as breakfast and parking. For more information contact emunk@ucsd.edu or visit www.econ.ucsd.edu/roundtable.
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Blessed with a strong and diverse economy, San Diegans often are unaware of how hard other communities are scrambling to grab a piece of the county’s commercial mojo. On Feb. 22, the San Diego Venture Group will tackle this topic with a breakfast session titled “Regional Competitiveness: How Does San Diego Rank in the Critical 3 E’s?” Those “E’s” are economy, environment and equity. A panel of business leaders will discuss an economic indicators study that benchmarks San Diego against 18 regions with which it competes for business and investments. The 7-9 a.m. event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla is free for SDVG members; $45 for those who reserve by Feb. 17 and $55 at the door. Details are at sdvg.org.
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Following a record 2005 when it acquired $200 million in commercial property, San Diego-based Equastone expects to boost that amount to $500 million this year. It owns and manages properties in California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Texas and expects to place at least $300 million of the total in those markets. “Despite industry reports that good deals are hard to find, we continue to find good opportunities, particularly when the real estate needs significant physical improvements and has significant vacancy,” says Jeff Schindler, Equastone’s chief investment officer. “We intend to hire an additional acquisitions director to expand our acquisitions capabilities and ensure that we achieve our goal.”
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The San Diego Opera Ensemble takes off to MCAS Miramar March 3 for double duty – singing a fully costumed and staged opera program for kids at 4 p.m. and for adults at 7 p.m. in the Bob Hope Theatre on base. The ensemble visited Camp Pendleton last month and continues its opera education outreach throughout the school year.
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MiraCosta College Community Services offers a morning workshop, Designing Your Dream Home, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the college’s San Elijo campus on Manchester Avenue in Encinitas. Led by La Costa architect Sam Chereskin, topics will include whether to call an architect or a contractor, how to estimate cost and what zoning and building permits are needed. The fee is $39. To register, call (760) 795-6820.
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 Sandy Duncan
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Sandy Duncan stars in the Old Globe’s West Coast premiere of Lee Blessing’s “A Body of Water,” the story of a couple’s intimate discovery of each other, in the Cassius Carter Centre Stage Feb. 11 through March 19. The Globe also has extended its world premiere “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” conceived by Twyla Tharp on the music of Bob Dylan, now open through March 12. For tickets, call (619) 234-5623 or visit theoldglobe.org.
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A Sally Ride Science Festival for girls in grades five through eight will be held Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Price Center on the campus of UCSD. Ride is the first American female astronaut. GlaxoSmithKline is the presenting sponsor. The event will feature a keynote speech by Ride, Discovery Workshops led by women professionals ranging from veterinarians to rocket scientists, and a street fair with booths, exhibits, food, music and a drawing for prizes. An adult track is available for parents and teachers on topics such as hands-on science and gender equity. The cost is $18 in advance and includes lunch and all festival activities and materials. Advance registration is required. Visit sallyridescience.com or call (800) 561-5161.
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 Melissa Drake
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Melissa Drake has been named the sixth president of the San Diego Employers Association, succeeding Joe Sczempka, who resigned after working in the position since 1997. Drake previously was director of compensation services for SDEA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCSD and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Drake teaches in the HR Management Certificate program at SDSU. She is a past president and current programs director for the Compensation & Benefits Association of San Diego.
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The 17th annual Women’s Resource Fair for homeless and battered women will be held March 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Civic Center, 202 C St. Downtown. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Resources available will include medical care, education and employment assistance, mental health counseling and spiritual care. The San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, the Lawyers Club of San Diego and the San Diego County Bar Association are sponsoring. For more information, call (619) 338-6620.
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 Harvest Ridge, a mixed-use affordable seniors housing apartment complex at Heritage Towne Centre in Chula Vista, won a Gold Award at the National Association of Home Builders convention. Harvest Ridge was tops in the Mixed-Use Overall Project category in the Best of Seniors Housing Awards. The Otay Ranch Co. is the developer, Lorimer Architecture the designer and Rimrock Construction the builder.
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A singles auction set for 6:30-10 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Martini Ranch Downtown will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For more information, e-mail cchase@cox.net.
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Starting this month the University of California Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation on UCSD’s campus is hosting a six-week program for 18 national security specialists from around the world. Called “U.S. National Security Policymaking in a Post 9/11 World,” the gathering is funded by the State Department with the goal of providing insight into American policymaking. It is directed by Peter Cowhey, dean of UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, and Susan Shirk, a professor from the graduate school. Participants are from Brazil, Mexico, Greece, China, Malaysia, Albania, Philippines, Uganda, India, Canada, Romania, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Niger, Taiwan, New Zealand and Serbia/Montenegro.
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The National Conflict Resolution Center, formerly the San Diego Mediation Center, is again sponsoring Days of Dialogue. This year’s event runs March 19-24 and features free workshops throughout the county and the Peacemaker Awards banquet on March 23. At the banquet, from 6-9 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, awards will be given to Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels in Texas, for providing aid and shelter for 25,000 evacuees of Hurricane Katrina; Travis Stocking, founder of the Gladiators School of Martial Arts and Boxing, for offering young people a positive alternative to gangs and violence with afternoon programs in Southeast San Diego; and The Lost Boys of Sudan and Judith Bernstein for co-authoring “They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky.” It is the story of Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng and Benjamin Ajak, who survived bloody conflict in Sudan to become productive adults in San Diego. Tickets are $125 each or $1,200 for a table of 10. Details are at ncrconline.com/store.
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Jack Abbott’s 80-employee Downtown online marketing firm, Interactive Inc., has returned from the nation’s largest new-home marketing competition with the Gold Award for Best Website for a Builder. The company was recognized at The Nationals for its work in creating the John Laing Homes Homefinding ToolKit. “This award is especially gratifying because The Nationals are equivalent to the Oscars for sales and marketing professionals in the home building industry,” says CEO Abbott.
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E-mail invitations to Michael Shames’ 50th birthday party this month, a fund-raiser for the Magical Symphony Youth Orchestra, which helps convince 12-to-20-year-olds that playing classical musical instruments is cool, are chockful of Shames’ self-effacing and sometimes nonsensical humor. For example, under the section on the invitation where the party will be, it says: “If you did not receive the invitation, then please fill out the form below and send by certified mail to the appropriate address.” The “form” is 66 boxes long and asks for everything from their checking account and PIN numbers to mother’s maiden name, favorite pet’s name and best party. In real life Shames is the founder and head of the Utility Consumers Action Network. He works tirelessly — he barely sleeps — to teach consumers to give out as little personal information as possible. Learn more at ucan.org. Donate enough and get your own party invite.
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“Brava!” will theme the fourth annual Renaissance Ball supporting Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital March 18 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Donald and Darlene Shiley are honorary chairs for the gala to raise funds to refurbish and improve the urgent care center that serves Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital. Suzanne Swanson — (858) 678-6364 — is taking reservations; click on scrippshealthfoundation.org for details.
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The African American Music Foundation of San Diego keynotes its first Spirituals Festival of Sunday concerts at various times Feb. 19 through March 19. Performers include pianist Cecil Lytle and organist Robert Plimpton. Venues include First United Methodist Church (7 p.m. Feb. 19), Bayview Baptist Church (6 p.m. Feb. 26), Spreckels Organ Pavilion (2 p.m. March 5), St. Paul’s Cathedral (6 p.m. March 12), and Point Loma Nazarene University’s Brown Chapel (6 p.m. March 19). A free-will offering of $10-$15 is suggested.
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