Daily Business Report — Aug. 2, 2010
San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s August Rundown
San Diego building contractors are falling over each other to feed on the abundance of civic projects coming online at the same time. Read how the scramble is affecting the job market, prices and the economy in the August issue of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, which hits the streets this week.
Also in the August issue:
• David Rottenberg’s report on the family-friendly atmosphere at Donovan’s restaurants and Donna Marganella’s take on the renovated West Coast Tavern in North Park.
• Councilman Todd Gloria’s plea for a permanent home and care center for the homeless.
• A Q&A with Charles Black, the city’s lead negotiator for the proposed Downtown Civic Center.
• How San Diego’s nonprofit organizations are surviving in the rickety economy, as reported by Janine Rojas.
• A history of the U.S. Grant Hotel as it prepares for its centennial celebration, reported by Manny Lopez.
• Plus San Diego Scene and other notable features.
New VA Outpatient Clinic Completed
Construction of a new 84,000-square-foot outpatient clinic for the Department of Veterans Affairs facility in the Seagate Corporate Center in Oceanside has been completed. Rockefeller Group Development Corp. is the developer of the build-to-suit project. Smith Consulting Architects, based in Carmel Valley, provided architectural design services. San Diego-based Raymond Fox & Associates, the consulting medical architect, provided interior design services. Reno Contracting of San Diego was the general contractor. The Corporate Center is at 1300 Rancho Del Oro. Scott Cairns served as the principal-in-charge for Smith Consulting Architects, with Gary Baker serving as the design principal and Jon Ohlson as project architect. John Buckel of Capital Partners Development Co. was the project development manager. Burkett & Wong provided structural design services. Tim Thiele and Dawn Wilson of RBF Consulting were the civil and traffic engineers. Ridge Landscape Architects was the landscape architect.
Homeless Housing Poposal Advances
The board of the Centre City Development Corp. voted last week to ask the city Redevelopment Agency to approve an exclusive negotiation agreement with Connections Housing Downtown LP for the rehabilitation and operation of the World Trade Center building for a homeless service center and housing facility. The developer has proposed a one-stop service center with a medical clinic, 150 interim housing beds and 75 permanent supportive housing units to meet the needs of homeless individuals. The board also recommended that the Redevelopment Agency negotiate with the city the acquisition of the World Trade Center building at 1250 Sixth Ave. Downtown.
India Street Industrial Building Sold for $2,629,000
Village Enterprises Group LLC has purchased an industrial building at 3443 India St. in San Diego for $2,629,000. The property was formerly occupied by Advantage Rent-a-Car and has 21,600 square feet of improvements. The seller was Gorge LLC, trustee Kay Smith. The property will be used as an eCommerce fulfillment center. Allen Evans, Shane Harmon, Rob Hixson and Rich Kwasny of CBRE represented the buyer. The seller was represented by Bud Marsh and Marc Frederick of Colliers International.
Frederick Schenk Wins American Assn. for Justice Award
Frederick Schenk, a partner with the Casey Gerry law firm, has earned the Wiedemann Wysocki National Finance Council Award from the American Association for Justice for his commitment to the legal profession and his efforts to improve the civil justice system. The award is named in honor of Fritz Wiedemann and James Anthony Wysocki, two New Orleans-based attorneys who died in a plane crash while traveling to an AAJ event. Schenk serves on the organization’s board of governors. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Schenk co-authored the LexisNexis California Automobile Litigation Handbook. He was awarded the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award” by the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and is a former president of that group. Schenck also is past-president of the Civil Justice Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to funding pro-consumer advocacy. Schenk earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from UCLA.
Team Recommended for Bridge Lighting Project
An artistic team comprised of European and North American members has been recommended to artistically light the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. A public art selection panel selected the team led by artist Peter Fink of FoRM Associates in collaboration with Speirs and Major Associates and Buro Happold. The panel’s recommendation now goes to the Board of Port Commisioners for review, tentatively scheduled for September. The panel selected the Peter Fink team over two other finalists, the Bideau Company and the team of Ned Kahn/ Patrick McInerney/ Arup. The selection was made after a series of meetings where panelists interviewed the three teams and evaluated concept proposals based on the established criteria for the project. The preliminary cost estimate of the project is between $4 million and $5 million, which may be obtained through private sources, grants and fundraising. Once funding is secured, a feasibility study on the project will be conducted. The lighting project is a partnership between the Port of San Diego and Caltrans, which has jurisdiction over the 2.1-mile San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.
Coronado Speed Festival Scheduled for Sept. 25-26
The 13th annual Coronado Speed Festival, one of the highlights of the 2010 Fleet Week observances, will be staged Sept. 25-26 at Naval Station North Island. The event will feature nine different race groups with cars racing on a 1.7-mile course. This year’s race will celebrate the heritage of Shelby American cars, including the Cobra, Daytona Cupe and GT40 and GT350. An open paddock feature will give spectators the opportunity to interact with the drivers and crew. A car club exhibit will have more than 1,200 cars and there will be an array of military static displays and vendors. The weekend event is the only open house offered by the Navy on the West Coast. Tickets are on sale. For more information, visit fleetweeksandiego.org.
Small Business Workshops
Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:
• Aug. 3 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).
• Aug. 4 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Aug. 6 – Tax Considerations for Small Companies – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Aug. 7 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Aug. 9 – California Sales & Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).
• Aug. 10 – Marketing for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Aug. 11 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).
• Aug. 12 – Internet Marketing 301: Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.