Daily Business Report-May 2, 2013
The Old Police Headquarters to Become Trendy Destination Venue
Future visitors to the Old Police Headquarters Downtown will be treated to an array of dining, retail and entertainment venues that could not have been imagined in the building’s heyday — 1939 to 1987— when it was home to cops and crooks, er, alleged crooks. Today it’s being refashioned into a $40 million trendy destination spot by Terramar Retail Centers, the managing member of Seaport Village Operating Co., which holds a 40-year ground lease on the property from the Port District.
Terramar just recently disclosed the names of some of the top restaurants that will operate at the 100,000-square-foot property to be called “The Headquarters” — Pizzeria Mozza, The Cheesecake Factory, Puesto, Eddie V’s, and Seasons 52.
Pizzeria Mozza’s 4,350-square-foot restaurant will have an open kitchen, wine bar, indoor dining room and central dining patio, plus two private dining rooms – one upstairs in the former police chief’s office (34 guests) and a more intimate room for 11 guests downstairs. The Cheesecake Factory will operate in a 10,400-square-foot space. Puesto will offer Mexican street food and gourmet Mexican dishes. Eddie V’s will offer premium aged steaks and fresh seafood. Seasons 52 is a fresh grill restaurant offering a healthy lifestyle cuisine – no dish contains over 475 calories.
The Old Police Headquarters property has four existing buildings set around an interior courtyard. Upon completion it will offer up to 30 shops and restaurants. The main courtyard will feature fountains and colorful landscaping.
Governor Signs Legislation to Speed Business Filing Process
Gov. Brown has signed legislation that gives $1.6 million to the Secretary of State’s Office to speed the state’s business filing process and eliminate a massive backlog of filings. “The sooner Californians can form their businesses, the sooner they can put other Californians to work,” said Brown. The backlog of business filings has grown to more than 100,000 in recent months. The business filings have taken up to three months to be processed. The aim of the new legislation is to help reduce waiting times to between five to 10 days by November.
SDSU College of Extended Studies Names Interim Associate Dean for Programming
San Diego State’s College of Extended Studies has appointed Francesca Ringland as the interim associate dean for programming. Ringland, an SDSU alumni and native San Diegan, joined Extended Studies in 1986. Since that time she has worked in a variety of roles focusing on program development and administration. She has worked with such groups as SDSU academic colleges, departments, and faculty, with San Diego school districts and the U.S. military community, and with San Diego businesses to provide customized programs for nontraditional life-long learners.
San Diegan Appointed to Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Sid Voorakkara, 42, of San Diego, has been appointed senior business development specialist at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Voorakkara has been a partner at Ten Page Memo LLC since 2012. He was statewide program officer and San Diego regional program officer at the California Endowment from 2005 to 2011, field director of public affairs at the United Nations Foundation from 2003 to 2004 and director of production and client services at Home Front Communications from 2000 to 2002. Voorakkara was communications adviser to Minority Leader Richard Gephardt from 1999 to 2000. He is a member of the advisory council for the San Diego Community College Board of Trustees and a member of the San Diego LGBT Community Center Board of Directors. Senate confirmation is not required. The pay is is $90,000 a year. Voorakkara is a Democrat.
SDG&E to Award $1 Million in Grants to Local Environmental Programs
San Diego Gas & Electric kicked-off its annual Environmental Champions initiative, a $1 million charitable giving campaign that funds local environmental nonprofit organizations in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations for programs that engage and educate young people in the community as stewards of the environment in the areas of natural resource conservation and protection, habitat preservation and restoration, and waste and recycling. Grant awardees will receive up to $25,000 for individual projects and up to $50,000 for collaborative projects with partner environmental nonprofit organizations. Grant winners will be announced this summer. For more, visit www.sdge.com.
Northrop Grumman Receives $14 Million Contract Option
Northrop Grumman Corp. has been awarded a $14.1 million contract option from the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command to complete developent of a radio-controlled system to protect aircraft, land vehicles, watercraft and structures from improvised explosive devices. The majority of the development work will be performed in San Diego.
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Lowrider Police Cruiser Hits the Streets
The San Diego Police Department unveiled its newest set of wheels in the Skyline area Wednesday – a lowrider police cruiser. It was the brainchild of the lowrider community, said Mayra Nuñez, who approached the police department with the idea. “We’re trying to reach the community and bridge the gap between law enforcement lowriders and the community overall,” said Nuñez, Lowrider community liaison. “We’re trying to erase the negative stigma that low riders have had throughout the years.” Nuñez said the vehicle costs around $50,000 and took about seven months to complete. It was paid for through private donations from local businesses. Jonathon Mercado painted the pinstriping on the vehicle. “It`s a real honor to be part of this,” said Mercado. “In a way, I`m kind of giving back to the community because this car is going to be shown all around the community.”
San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne said the Guardian, as it’s called, will attend community events, parades and car shows. “It’s an exciting piece of equipment,” said Lansdowne. “It also is one of those items that builds trust instantly between the community and police department. They see us as part of the community as opposed to visiting people in the community and this car will bridge that gap.” (Fox5 San Diego).
