Daily Business Report — Aug. 4, 2010
Industrial market Stabilizing
For the first time in seven consecutive quarters, San Diego’s industrial market showed positive net absorption, posting 169,842 square feet for the first half of 2010, according to a report by Voit Real Estate Services. Overall, rates of vacancy and availability have stabilized with continued rates of positive absorption – all indications that the industrial market is beginning to improve, said Jerry Holdner, vice president of market research. The availability rate for marketed direct and sublease space in the second quarter of 2010 was 12.33 percent – a slight increase from the previous quarter. “Although the vacancy rate has slightly risen over the past year, it is lower than last quarter’s figure, which is encouraging,” said Holdner. “Positive absorption is the big story, and with a no new deliveries in the pipeline to drive vacancy up, the market is beginning to stabilize.” The amount of unoccupied direct/sublease space is slightly lower than last quarter’s figure, finishing at 8.62 percent. Overall, the Central Suburban industrial market posted the lowest vacancy rate in the county at 4.18 percent.
Local Scientists Offer Academic Aid in Oil Spill Disaster
In reaction to the massive May oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists from Scripps Institute of Oceanography are providing academic aid to curb the environmental disaster. “In the oceanographic community, a number of us were trying to figuring out how to help because it was a national crisis,” said Dan Rudnick, a professor of oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. “We certainly had the ability to measure oceanographic conditions and we had a feeling that we could help.” U.S. Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contacted Scripps, asking if they could help. “Around a couple weeks after the oil spill, when it became clear the spill was going to continue, we had two contacts from people asking if we had any instruments and expertise we could bring to bear on the problem,” Rudnick said. NOAA Senior Technical Data Manager Samuel Walker said NOAA chose Scripps among a number of other partners because of their specializations. “There are quite a few institutions, agencies and even companies that are using the same sort of technology in the Gulf right now. But (Scripps) was a natural place to go because there’s a lot of expertise there,” said Walker, who is part of the coordinating subsurface monitoring unit. — Regina Ip, San Diego News Room
Former Cadillac Dealership Purchased for $4.8 Million
Care/West Vista Way LLC has purchased property at 1515 Auto Park Way in Escondido — the site of a former Cadillac dealership that vacated the site in 2009 — for $4.8 million. The 23,852-square-foot facility includes a smog station, alignment rack, wheel balancer, tire machine, brake machine, de-ionized car was, 24 lifts and 28 service bays. Jim Rinehart of CB Richard Ellis represented both Care/West Vista Way LLC and the seller, Young Family Auto LLC.
Bill Walton to Speak on Clean Energy
Basketball legend Bill Walton, now executive chairman of CONNECT’s San Diego Sport Innovators, will be the featured speaker at the Aug. 17 meeting of the Green Chamber of San Diego County. The topic will be San Diego as a hub for clean energy, solar and energy efficiency. The meeting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hotel Solamar, 435 Sixth Ave., in Downtown San Diego. Members pay $10, nonmembers $15. Unregistered at the door, $20. To purchase tickets, visit greenchambersd.com.
Author Keynotes SDSU Green Event Aug. 27
Jerry Yudelson, author of “Dry Run, Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis,” will be the keynote speaker when San Diego State’s College of Extended Studies hosts is third annual green event Aug. 27 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. in the SDSU Extended Studies Center. The event is titled “Blue is the New Green: Water in the Built Environment.” “Obviously, the water crisis is a big issue in San Diego,” Yudelson said. “We want to get people to think about water and energy issues. Collection, distribution, and treatment of water consumes almost 20 percent of all electricity produced in California.” Yudelson, who has written 12 books, is a former national board member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a current registered professional engineer. He is an expert in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system and is among the leading green building consultants in the country, specializing in helping project teams in the conceptual design and schematic design phases, and assisting with goals. The fee to attend the event is $30 to the public and $20 to students and USGBC members.Breakfast will be served and parking is complimentary. Yudelson’s new book will be premiered and handed out complimentary at the event. For information, visit www.neverstoplearning.net/greenevent or call (619) 594-7078.
William Morrison Joins San Diego Law Firm
William Morrison has joined the San Diego law firm of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith as an associate in the corporate and business law practice. Morrison previously was an associate at Blanchard, Krasner & French. He also has worked in the intellectual property department of a local medical devices company and in the chambers of the Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Morrison received his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Texas A&M University and his law degree cum laude from the University of San Diego.
Health Care District Gives $25,000 to Fire Foundation
The Grossmont Healthcare District board of directors has approved a $25,000 grant to the nonprofit San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency Services Foundation for supplies and equipment to be used during medical emergencies and rescues by volunteer fire departments serving rural East County communities, including Dehesa, Dulzura, Harbison Canyon, Jacumba, Lee Valley, Portrero and Mt. Laguna. The supplies and equipment include new ropes to replace frayed and worn out ropes, along with new pulleys, anchors, brakes and harnesses, for rescues in canyons over steep embankments, as well as medical supplies, such as slings and stretchers, to treat trauma victims.
Cindy Watson Named COO of Concerro Inc.
Cindy Watson has been promoted from vice president of client services to the newly created position of chief operating officer at Concerro Inc., a health care staffing company. Watson has more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry. She joined Concerro in 2008. Before that, she was vice president of strategic operations at AllianceCare. She also previously served as vice president of InteliStaf Healthcare where she managed the clinical, marketing, sales and business development functions for locations across the United States. Watson earned a bachelor’s degree from College of Saint Rose, and a master’s degree in communications disorders from Syracuse University.
Susy Espinosa Joins McMillin Realty
Susy Espinosa has joined McMillin Realty as a real estate agent. Espinosa has more than nine years of experience in the field, previously working for Prudential California Realty and Ashlon Realty. She attended the Universidad de Baja California, studying public relations, as well as Kelsey Jenney College in San Diego.
Parkside Apartments Receive Green Certification
Parkside, a 77-unit affordable housing development in Downtown San Diego, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the United States Green Building Council for achievement in green homebuilding and design — the highest level of certification possible. Parkside is the first affordable housing development in San Diego that has been certified LEED Platinum. Parkside offers 77 new homes for families and individuals earning 50-60 percent of Area Median Income ($41,300 for a family of four in 2009). Wakeland Housing and Development Corp. developed the apartment homes with public financial support from Centre City Development Corp. working on behalf of the city Redevelopment Agency.
San Diego BBB Continues TV Advertising Campaign
The San Diego Better Business Bureau this month will air its “Famous Faces” television advertising campaign that features local business owners stating the importance of ethical business practices. President and CEO Sheryl Bilbrey said more than 765 30-second commercials are scheduled to air during the month of August on several local TV stations, including KUSI-9, KFMB-8, KSND-7, XETV-6, KSWB-5, XDTV-13, KPBS-11, KBNT-17, XHAS-33, KGTV-10 and Azteca-15, as well as two cable systems, Cox Communications and Time Warner. The 2010 campaign, which began with the airing of about 700 commercials in June, features 11 BBB-accredited business owners who pooled a combined $150,000 to fund the purchase of airtime. In addition to the paid spots, Bilbrey said TV outlets agree to provide free bonus spots that run as public service announcements, thus providing additional exposure to each “Famous Faces” participant. This year’s “Famous Faces” included Henry and Tina Bellini of All American Paint and Body Inc., Mary Jean Anderson of Anderson Plumbing Heating & Air, John Brady of California Bankruptcy Group, George Coles of Coles Fine Flooring, Corky Mizer of Corky’s Pest Control, Larry Coval of Cox Business, Bill Drew of Drew Auto Center, Jerry Navarra of Jerome’s Furniture, Gary Marrokal of Marrokal Construction, Gregg Cantor of Murray Lampert Construction and Sue Ostrowski of Western Health HomeCare.
August’s San Diego Metropolitan
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 this month:
• 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.
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.
