Daily Business Report — Oct. 6, 2010

Preserving Mission Hills

When George W. Marston and Kate O. Sessions first left dusty boot prints across what is now one of San Diego’s loveliest echoes of Eden itself, Mission Hills was prickly with dry scrub and chaparral. Today, Mission Hills is not only lush and naturally beautiful. It boasts one of the city’s largest, mostly intact collections of historic homes from the early 20th century. Mission Hills Heritage, a nonprofit preservation organization, is proposing to expand the Mission Hills Historic District by 99 homes. Read Ann Jarmusch’s story in the October issue of  San Diego Metropolitan.

McMillin Center for Real Estate is Launched

Michael Lea, who formerly taught at Cornell University, UCSD and the University of Pennsylvania, has been named the first director of The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate at San Diego State. The center was formally launched last week before a crowd of more than 300 people from the local real estate industry, faculty and students and university officials. The launching was at the Parma Goodall Alumni Center, which was partially funded by a grant from the Corky McMillin family. Lea said he is looking for mentors for his students, “for those who can provide case studies for our students to study, those who can provide meaningful internships for students and those who want to guest teach as well.” SDSU President Steven Weber said the university has a $2.4 billion annual financial impact on the region, produces half of the engineers in San Diego and is now committed to providing cutting-edge research to enable the real estate industry to react quickly to changing market trends. “Corky is a name that means integrity and civic leadership. Those are the principles we like to associate ourselves with at San Diego State University,” said Weber.

For people who want to donate to the center, there are two different levels of sponsorships. The first is the leadership level, which starts at $7,500, and the second is the center level that starts at $2,500. The center will feature a donor wall that will include listings of the board of directors, the leadership council and the center partners and donors.

Union of Pan Asian Communities Receives $50,250 Grant

The Union of Pan Asian Communities in San Diego received a $50,250 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs with training and technical assistance to start, operate and grow their businesses. The grant, delivered under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME), also will provide capacity-building services to microenterprise development entities to strengthen the quality of their programs. The Union of Pan Asian Communities was one of 92 nonprofit groups from around the country sharing in a total of $8 million in grants from the SBA. Competition for PRIME grants was open to applicants in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. This year, SBA received 215 applications. A total of 92 grants were awarded this year to 57 second-year recipients and 35 new participants from 43 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. PRIME grants are intended to help small businesses with five or fewer employees that are economically disadvantaged, and to businesses owned by low-income individuals, including those residing on Indian reservations and tribal lands. Such help is offered through a network of qualified nonprofit organizations that provide business training and technical assistance.

Four Leases Signed for La Jolla Office Building

Four leases have been signed for space at 888 Prospect, a 61,000-square-foot, Class A office building overlooking La Jolla Cove, bringing total occupancy to 82 percent.

• Wells Fargo Advisors LLC, signed a six-year, $1,598,257 lease for 7,906 square feet of office space, Suites 300, 302, 320. The lessee was represented by Chris Powers of Cresa Partners and Reynolds McCabe of Travers Realty. Pascal Aubry-Dumand and Michael Dyer of Cushman & Wakefield represented the lessor, 888 Prospect LJ, LLC.

• California Healthcare Institute signed a seven-year, $785,083 lease for 2,671 square feet of office space, Suite 220. The lessee was represented by Jerry Keeney of Cassidy Turley. Pascal Aubry-Dumand and Michael Dyer of Cushman & Wakefield represented the lessor.

• US Medical Instrument signed a 36-month, $676,225 lease for 6,612 square feet of office space, Suite 100. The lessee was represented by Jim Laing and Chris Holder of Cushman & Wakefield. Pascal Aubry-Dumand and Michael Dyer of Cushman & Wakefield represented the lessor.

• Imperial Capital Group signed a lease for 1,403 square feet of office space, Suite 210. This was a relocation from its previous location now occupied by Wells Fargo Advisors. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Both the lessee and the lessor,were represented by Pascal Aubry-Dumand and Michael Dyer of Cushman & Wakefield.

One West Bank, the successor-in-interest to La Jolla Bank, is to remain in its ground floor, 3,500-square-foot retail banking office in the building.

Artisan Design Group Wins ICON Award

Artisan Design Group has been awarded the Building Industry Association’s ICON Award in the “Best Interior Design – Attached Project” category for its design of a penthouse model at Sapphire Tower in Downtown San Diego for Centurion Partners and Urban Housing Partners. The model on the 25th floor reflected “urban luxe” design with strong globalization influences.  “The condo’s clean lines, rich textures, wood tones and stone and metallic accents create an elegant backdrop for the spectacular floor –to-ceiling views of Downtown and San Diego Bay,” said Jaimi Julian Thompson, president of Artisan Design Group. The home was recently sold fully furnished for $2.2 million — the highest sale in the 92101 ZIP code this year. Artisan Design Group has designed a replacement model that is now open for viewing. The ICON award is Artisan Design Group’s seventh major award in 2010. The firm has also earned accolades from the National Association of Home Builders, The National Kitchen & Bath Association and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Mike Gonzales Joins RBF Consulting

Mike Gonzales has joined RBF Consulting as a senior natural resources project manager and senior associate in the firm’s San Diego office. Gonzales has more than 23 years of experience in environmental compliance and project management. Gonzales previously was with PBS&J where he managed the preparation of environmental documents including the development of mitigation programs to facilitate construction of master plan projects impacting sensitive habitats. Prior to that, he served as the environmental review coordinator for the city of San Diego Water Department Capital Improvements Program. Gonzales is a graduate of UCSD.

SCORE San Diego Small Business Workshops

Fees range from $29 to $109 depending on the program.

• Oct. 7 – Financial Statements – 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).

• Oct. 8 – Internet Marketing 301: Pay-Per-Click – Carlsbad – 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).

• Oct. 12 – Tax considerations for Small Businesses – Carlsbad – 9:30-11:30 a.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Oct. 13 – 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).

• Oct. 14 – Legal Issues: Contracts and Leases – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Oct. 15 – 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).

• Oct. 16 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Oct. 18 – Internet Marketing 303: Social Media – 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).

• Oct. 19 – Financing Your Business – Carlsbad – 9:30 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Oct. 20 – Import/Export – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Oct. 22 – Internet Marketing 302: E-mail Strategy – 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).

• Oct. 22 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; FREE! Please pre-register).

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.