Daily Business Report — Nov. 12, 2010
SD METRO will identify 25 Movers to Watch in 2011 in our January issue and you are invited to submit nominations through Dec. 2. You’ll find a nomination form on our Website (sandiegometro.com). Tell us why you think your nominee will make outstanding contributions in his or her chosen field or community next year and accomplishments so far.
Regional Mayors Luncheon Set for Nov. 17
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) will bring together the mayors of four cities in the county on Nov. 17 to address economic development opportunities that they are pursuing and how they are dealing with uncertainties of the economy. The San Diego Regional Mayors Luncheon will be held at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center’s Atlas Ballroom, 500 Hotel Circle North, in Mission Valley. Registration is at 11 a.m., the program and breakfast is from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The mayor attending are Cheryl Cox, Chula Vista; Jim Desmond, San Marcos; Jerry Sanders, San Diego; and Mary Sessom, Lemon Grove. Moderator will be George Chamberlin of The Daily Transcript. The cost is $35 for SDCTA members and $50 for nonmembers. To register, visit sdcta.org.
Cubic Defense Applications Gets $35 Million Military Contract
Cubic Defense Applications has received a $35 million contract to provide advanced instrumentation for U.S. test ranges. The company will be part of an industry team developing the Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) for military test ranges. If all options are exercised, Cubic’s participation has a potential value of close to $90 million, the company said. The CRIIS program fulfills a Department of Defense requirement to provide data on weapon system testing for a variety of platforms, including advanced aircraft, ships, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground vehicles and dismounted soldiers. Cubic is a key subcontractor on a team led by Rockwell Collins. The U.S. Air Force awarded Rockwell Collins a $140 million contract to develop the first phase of CRIIS. Under contract to Rockwell Collins, Cubic will be responsible for portions of the design, development, packaging and integration of airborne, ground vehicle and shipboard subsystems. Cubic also has responsibility for site installation and activation. Development of the airborne, ground vehicle and shipboard subsystems will take place in San Diego. Ultimately, CRIIS will be operational at eight test ranges: Edwards Air Force Base, Eglin AFB, Nellis AFB, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, NAS Patuxent River, White Sands Missile Range and the Yuma Test Center. Cubic Defense Applications is a subsidiary of Cubic Corp.
South Bay Fish & Grill Does Extensive Remodel
The new owners of South Bay Fish & Grill — Ehab Khalil, Joseph Zakhary and Eduardo Martins — have invested $150,000 into a remodeling of the restasurant on the Chula Vista bayfront. The facelift included changes in both banquet dining rooms. The Captain’s room features new hardwood flooring and a new bar. The Sunset Room has new carpet as well as hardwood flooring, ceiling fans and wallpaper. More upgrades are planned in the future, including an overhaul of the main kitchen and grill. The restaurant was recently purchased by the New England Restaurant Group, which owns several restaurants in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. South Bay Fish & Grill is its first venture on the West Coast. The owners will be expanding their menu and have brought on Beverly Hills chef John Cuevas to develop new items for quick-service lunch as well additional dinner items. New England Restaurant Group also purchased South Bay Fish & Grill’s catering arm, San Diego Catering Concepts, which caters all types of events, from weddings and holiday parties to company picnics and school carnivals throughout San Diego County. The restaurant is at 570 Marina Parkway.
NewSchool of Architecture and Design Professor Honored
Mitra Kanaani, professor and undergraduate department chair at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the AIA California Council Excellence in Education Award. The award recognizes personal dedication and achievement that results in an important contribution to architectural education.Kanaani joined NSAD in 1992. She holds a Doctor of Architecture degree from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico. Kanaani earned a Master of Urban Planning degree and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tehran, as well as an undergraduate degree in musicology from the Tehran Conservatory. Kanaani has served as a leader of several professional organizations, including a term as national secretary of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Costco Purchases Warehouse Building
Costco Wholesale Corp. has purchased a vacant 300,000-square-foot distribution/warehouse building at 2222 Enrico Fermi Drive in San Diego for $17,875,000 in an all cash deal. The seller was Majestic-Otay Partners LLC. The building originally was a build-to-suit for Hitachi Transport in 2000. Costco will operate a packaging facility to serve its retail locations in the Western United States, Western Canada, Mexico and Hawaii. Costco was represented in the transaction by Linda Greenberg, Terry Wirth and Karen Johnson of Colliers International. Majestic-Otay Partners was represented by Rob Hixson and Shane Harman of CB Richard Ellis and Hank Darnell and Kent Valley of Majestic Realty Co.
More Public Park Space OK’d for North Embarcadero Plan
The Board of Port Commissioners have approved an agreement calling for more public park space along the North Embarcadero. It OK’s a three-party agreement between the the Port, San Diego Lane Field Developers LLC and the Navy Broadway Complex Coalition, a citizens group whose appeal with the California Coastal Commission led to the denial of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan last spring. Commissioner Stephen Cushman said the agreement will pave the way for the start of the first phase of the North Embarcadero development. The board at its October meeting approved changes to the Lane Field project, which allowed for the creation of a 150-foot setback park/plaza on the Lane Field property at North Harbor Drive and West Broadway. Since then, the Port staff and Lane Field have been meeting, along with the Coalition, on changes to the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase 1 project, which will result in the Coalition’s support of the project.
Under the agreement, the Coalition will support a revised project to include a 150-foot setback park/plaza on the Lane Field property, the study of a 205-foot setback along North Harbor Drive, and possibly realigning a portion of North Harbor Drive from the B Street Pier to Navy Pier. Under the agreement, the Port would also continue to seek funding to acquire the 1220 Pacific Highway leasehold from the Navy to include the 150-foot setback park/plaza on Lane Field. Lane Field and Unite HERE, which is the union for hotel workers, have reached a separate agreement to ensure there is union labor at the Lane Field hotels.
The Lane Field development originally approved by the Board included two hotels with a total of 800 rooms. The project also included about 60,000 square feet in retail space, two acres of public space and 1,330 parking spots.
SCORE San Diego Small Business Workshops
• Nov. 13 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 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).
• Nov. 15 – Professional Selling – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Nov. 16 – Legal Issues: Organizational Structure – 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).
• Nov. 16 – Restaurant 201 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Nov. 17 – 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).
• Nov. 19 – Internet Marketing 101 – 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 $69, $79 at the door).
• Nov. 19 – QuickBook Basics for Non-Profits – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).
• Nov. 20 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Business Plan – 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 $99, $109 at the door).
• Nov. 22 – Good Governance for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).
• Nov. 22 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).
• Nov. 23 – Internet Marketing 201: SEO – 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 $69, $79 at the door).
• Nov. 23 – 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).
• Nov. 30 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 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).
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.
