Daily Business Report — Nov. 28, 2012
Prime Point Loma Bayfront Property Acquired
For Residential and Commercial Development
Colrich, a San Diego-based home builder, has purchased a Point Loma bayfront property — one of the last bayfront sites in the area — with plans to build a complex of residential and commercial condominiums and live/work commercial spaces. The 1.65-acre site is located at 1271-1273 Scott St. and 2810 Carleton St. The project was approved in 2008 and has received a site development permit, tentative map, general plan amendment, coastal commission approval and coastal development permit. The original owner put the site up for sale because of the recession. The development will include 36 residential townhomes and condominiums, six street-level commercial condos, four live/work commercial spaces and one level of subterranean parking. The residential segments will be broken into seven two-bedroom and 29 three-bedroom units totaling 64,579 square feet. Fourteen residential units and the live/work spaces will front San Diego Bay. Commercial and live/work units will total about 18, 303 square feet. Colliers International represented Colrich in the acquisition.
City and Civic Leaders to Mark the Start of Construction
Of a New Urban Plaza Adjacent to Horton Plaza
A group of city and civic leaders will hold groundbreaking ceremonies on Thursday for a new urban plaza adjacent to Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego. The 10:30 a.m. program will include a ceremonial “demolition” of the former Robinsons-May/Planet Hollywood building and the unveiling of a five-foot tall bronze plaque honoring leaders in the development or revitalization of Horton Plaza Park and shopping center. The officials also will dedicate a time capsule that will be unearthed in 50 years. The event is the result of a 2011 decision by the San Diego City Council to approve a public-private partnership between the Westfield Group and the city to demolish the former Robinsons-May/Planet Hollywood building and transfering the land to create the plaza. The project will also restore and beautify Horton Plaza Park and fountain adjacent to this property. When completed in spring 2014, the new urban plaza will serve as a central gathering area and provide a venue for more than 200 events a year. Among officials attending the event will be former Gov. and Mayor Pete Wilson, Mayor-Elect Bob Filner, Mayor Jerry Sanders and representatives from the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Save Our Heritage Organisation, US Development and San Diego Downtown Residents Group.
Tourism Marketing Tax Approved
But is it Legal?
San Diego’s Tourism Marketing District was launched as a pilot program five years ago to collect funds from hotels to pay for marketing campaigns aimed at tourists. On Monday, KPBS reports, the City Council voted to authorize the district to collect 2 percent of gross room revenues from hotels with 30 or more rooms to continue the sales and marketing programs. Smaller hotels would pay 0.55 percent. Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, or ConVis, told KPBS about 75 percent of ConVis’ income comes through the tourism marketing district. He said it currently generates $30 million a year, and expects that amount to increase because the new district is bigger. Some have expressed concern about the precedent of private individuals assessing and collecting taxes, essentially without oversight or accountability. But Terzi told KPBS, “it’s not a vote of the people issue.” Read: www.kpbs.org/news/2012/nov/27/tourism-marketing-tax-approved.
Colliers Executive Elected to Lead San Marcos EDC
Chris Williams, an associate of Colliers International’s North County office, has been elected president of the San Marcos Economic Development Corp. (SMEDC). Williams, a member of SMEDC since 2009, joined Colliers International specializing in the representation office landlords, developers and tenants. Other newly elected officers are Mike Sannella as vice president, Peter Schluederberg as treasurer and Paulette Khoury as secretary. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
City Council Supports Job Training Program
The San Diego City Council approved spending $200,000 to save a job-training program from going dormant a second time Tuesday, City News Service reports. The funds will go to the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Hire-a-Youth program. Hire-a-Youth was federally funded from the late 1980s to 2000, when support ended, according to Margie de Ruyter of the program. Hire a Youth was revived in 2009 with $10 million in federal stimulus funds. She said about 5,000 youths have gotten summer jobs, internships and training over the past three years. City Council President Tony Young said the program was vital in underserved communities. Young and Mayor-elect Bob Filner urged business owners to get involved in Hire-a-Youth. Half the $200,000 comes from the city’s Community Projects Fund and the other half from seven of the eight City Council Offices.
Council Approves Copley-Price YMCA Recreation Facility
The San Diego City Council has approved a permit for construction of the new Copley-Price YMCA recreation facility on property bounded by 43rd Street, El Cajon Boulevard, Meade Avenue and Fairmount Avenue. The Copley-Price YMCA building will feature 7,200 square feet of roof deck and balcony space, a 7,300 square foot enclosed pool, outdoor recreation space, and a 296-space parking structure. The first floor of the building will include a gymnasium, four classroom areas, a day care area, 17 office spaces, storage areas, locker rooms for men and women, a community room, two kitchen areas, a lunch room, and a teen center area with an open gathering space, a computer room, a tutoring room, and a homework room. The second floor will consist of a large fitness equipment area, four group exercise room, five bathrooms, an office space, and a roof deck. Outside will be a pool, a splash pad, a soccer arena, a synthetic turf warm up area, a play yard, and a picnic area. Construction is to begin in spring 2013. “This project will bring much-needed recreation options to the communities of Mid-City and return this prominent block to productive use,” said Councilmember Todd Gloria, who represents the area.
Aztecs to Face BYU in Poinsettia Bowl
San Diego State’s Aztecs and the BYU Cougars will play in the eighth annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20 at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. The bowl matchup pits the Mountain West champion-Aztecs (9-3 overall, 7-1 MWC) against longtime rival BYU, which finished the season 7-5. This year’s game will mark the Aztecs’ third straight bowl appearance. The Aztecs last played in the Poinsettia Bowl in 2010, when they beat the Navy Midshipmen 35-14 in front of 48,049 fans, the largest crowd in the seven-year history of the game. Last year, the Aztecs traveled to New Orleans and were edged by the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 32-30 in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Tickets for the game are available by calling TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000, or visiting www.poinsettiabowl.com.
Metz Public Relations Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Metz Public Relations is celebrating its 25th anniversary, a year topped off by the firm winning major awards for its work. Principal Barbara Metz was recently honored with the Andy Mace Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Relations by the San Diego Press Club. Metz also was presented the Extraordinary Member Award from the San Diego Diplomacy Council for her citizen diplomacy efforts. . She and her partner Hector Torres have entertained and/or provided lodging for more than 100 foreign dignitaries who have visited San Diego as guests of the U.S. State Department. She also received a presidential citation from the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers for Distinguished Service.
New Sales Training Office Opens in Carlsbad
Sales Growth Associates and Sandler Training, companies involved in sales and management training, have joined to open a new office at 2173 Salk Avenue, Suite 250, in Carlsbad. SGA/Sandler Training offers monthly executive briefings that help sales executives improve sales effectiveness. The new location, part of Sandler Training’s network of over 250 centers around the globe, will serve San Diego County focusing on small to medium companies that have a desire to improve their sales team effectiveness.
The Daily Business Report is produced by SD METRO. Contact: Manny Cruz (619) 287-1865. manny@sandiegometro.com.
