Daily Business Report-May 30, 2013
Atkinson Hall (middle) is the home of the newly renamed Qualcomm Institute.
UC San Diego Renames Research Division to Honor Qualcomm Inc.
UC San Diego is paying tribute to Qualcomm by renaming its division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2). The multidisciplinary research center will now be known as the Qualcomm Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, the UC San Diego Division of Calit2, or Qualcomm Institute for short.
The name change recognizes the critical role Qualcomm, and, more recently, its affiliated Qualcomm Foundation, have played in Calit2 since the state of California created Calit2 and three other technology institutes spread across nine University of California campuses. During the tenure of Dr. Irwin Jacobs, founding chairman and CEO Emeritus of Qualcomm, the company committed $15 million in support to the institute for its first five years. Gifts to Calit2 since then (including recent grants from the Qualcomm Foundation) have pushed Qualcomm’s philanthropic support of Calit2 to just under $26 million over the past 12 years.
Calit2 will remain the name of the combined institute, which includes the divisions at UC San Diego and UC Irvine.
San Diego Economic Index Rises
The USD Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County rose 0.5 percent in April. Leading the way to the upside was a strong increase in the outlook for the national economy. Building permits, initial claims for unemployment insurance, local stock prices, and help wanted advertising were also positive, although to a lesser extent. The only negative component was consumer confidence, which was down only slightly. With April’s increase, the USD Index has now increased for eight consecutive months and 16 times in 17 months.
The outlook continues to be for solid growth in the local economy for the rest of 2013 and probably into the early part of 2014 as well, said Alan Gin, author of the index. San Diego County is on pace to add nearly 30,000 jobs this year, which would be the best year for job growth since 2000, he said.
North Park’s Jack in the Box to Remodel
From Tom Shess’ Blog: Pillar to Post. www.tomshess.blogspot.com
Jack in the Box has closed its 30th and Upas restaurant on Tuesday after being operational at that site since 1961. A sign on the fenced-in property alerted the public to the nearest Jack in the Box.
Of course, the closure begged the question: what’s going on?
Pillar to Post made a quick call to Jack in the Box spokesman Brian Luscomb, who provided an equally quick reply:
“Jack in the Box is in the process of remodeling that restaurant. Yesterday (May 28), we closed the restaurant in preparation for demolishing the interior next week. We expect construction will take approximately 10 weeks,” said Luscomb.
North Park residents not in the local planning group loop will note, last year the San Diego Planning Commission denied the company’s application to build a new Jack in the Box restaurant at this location. “At that hearing, the commission noted that we could proceed with remodeling the existing building, and in the months following that hearing we’ve worked with the city of San Diego on securing all of the necessary permits for the remodel,” said Luscomb.
“Although we’re disappointed that we were unable to proceed with our plans to build a new restaurant and make other improvements to the property, we believe the remodeled restaurant will significantly enhance the property and that the locations of the driveways are not changing,” added Luscomb. “Nor is the location and size of the building – meaning we are not demolishing any of the exterior walls.
“When the restaurant re-opens, the hours of operation will be the same, but the interior will be completely different. We’ll be installing our new kitchen, and the restaurant will include all-new furnishings and amenities, including ceramic tile floors, decorative pendant lighting, graphic wall hangings and a mix of seating styles.”
Kyocera Solar Modules Power San Diego County’s First Net-Zero Energy Apartments
Kyocera Solar Inc. announced that its solar modules are providing 100 percent of the power needed by H.G. Fenton Co.’s recently opened Solterra EcoLuxury Apartments in Scripps Ranch. The 338kW installation produces enough renewable electricity to power average residential and common area use in the 114-unit project. CleanTech San Diego, Smart City San Diego and SDG&E collaborated.
Solterra is the first apartment community in San Diego to derive all of the electricity residents need for daily living from the sun. Convenient technology features including in-home displays and smart thermostats will give residents the power to manage energy usage from their smartphones and make lifestyle choices that allow the system to generate the power they use. The 1,380 Kyocera solar modules were installed by San Diego-based Home Energy Systems Inc. on the roofs of the four apartment buildings, mounted atop carports and ground-mounted on a slope at the property’s south end.
San Diego City Council Majority Favors Budget Deal, June 10 Eyed for Vote
With a majority of City Council members backing five-year agreements with the city of San Diego’s employee unions, Council President Todd Gloria on Wednesday tentatively scheduled a June 10 vote on the pact, City News Service reports. The tentative deals, announced Tuesday, would gradually restore most of a 6 percent pay cut to employees, in effect since 2009, by reducing furlough days and lowering health care costs. The agreements still need ratification by the rank-and-file of six labor groups, after which council members would vote on final adoption. They gave the deals an initial go-ahead in a unanimous closed-session vote, city officials said.
Northrop Grumman, NASA Renew Earth Science Partnership
Northrop Grumman Corp. and NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center have extended the NASA Space Act Agreement and will continue sharing Northrop Grumman-produced Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for science missions and flight demonstrations, including hurricane surveillance, atmospheric research and exploration of new mission capabilities. “In the last five years, the Global Hawk has flown over the eye of hurricanes, examined the effects of greenhouse gasses and conducted cutting-edge autonomous aerial refueling trials,” said George Guerra, vice president of the Global Hawk program for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector. The agreement will continue until April 30, 2018, and allows for joint use and shared cost of the NASA Global Hawks.
Grand Opening Saturday for Joint-Use Lemon Grove Library
San Diego County Library and the Lemon Grove School District will hold a grand opening celebration for the new joint-use Lemon Grove Library at 10 a.m. Saturday at 3001 School Lane in Lemon Grove. The new 14,000-square-foot building will be used by the Lemon Grove Academy for the sciences and humanities as well as library patrons. The new library features separate spaces for children and teens, study rooms, a computer lab and lounge seating. Customers can enjoy wireless internet, laptops for in-branch use and check out their materials using self-service kiosks.
Special Olympics and Adconion Direct Sponsor Annual Spring School Games
Special Olympics Southern California is partnering with Adconion Direct to host their annual Spring School Games on Friday. More than 100 athletes from six schools are expected to participate in the event taking place at Mira Mesa High School. Athletes will compete in basketball skills competitions and 5-on-5 games as students and volunteers cheer them on. School Games is part of a growing effort to provide commensurate experiences for individuals with disabilities in the school setting. Students that often are not able or allowed to participate in athletic events are given the opportunity to train, compete and excel in the athletic arena. The event will begin with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at Mira Mesa High School and the competition will start at 9:45 a.m. Award ceremonies will be held throughout the day to honor the athletes as they finish competing. Each athlete who competes will receive an award.
Environmental Health Coalition Adds 2 Team Members
Aurora Zabish and Seamus Kennedy have joined the Environmental Health Coalition, Zabish as the associate director of administration and Kennedy as the senior development associate. Zabish previously spent six years as business and human resources director for the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park and chairing the committee for Casa de Balboa. She studied business administration at San Diego State University. Kennedy previously
worked with nonprofit organizations, including the Democracy Alliance and Jacobs Center for Nonprofit Innovation. He graduated from San Diego State University with degrees in both history and political science and will soon graduate from the University of Notre Dame with a master’s degree in nonprofit administration.
Bill to Expand Abortion Access Clears California Assembly
Assemblywoman Toni Atkins’ bill that would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to perform early-term abortions has won approval from the California Assembly, KPBS reports. Supporters say the measure is needed to improve access in rural parts of the state. Women’s health advocates say more than half of California counties don’t have an abortion provider. Atkins’ bill attempts to rectify that situation. It would let nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants perform a type of non-surgical abortion called aspiration. It’s usually done in the first trimester. Opponents say it’s too risky to allow non-physicians to perform abortions. Atkins represents the 76th Assembly District.
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REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Oceanside Apartment Complex
A five-building, 40-unit apartment complex at 1202 Missouri Ave. in Oceanside has been sold for $4.17 million. The buyer is DJ&E Investments LLC. The seller: Lucy Nannizzi. CBRE San Diego represented the seller. They buyer was represented Avezta Equity.
Automotive Property in El Cajon
The Gunter Family Trust has purchased a 15,877-square-foot automotive property for $2,037,000. The building, which is located at 332 N. Johnson Ave. in El Cajon, has been leased to Caliber Collision Centers since August 2000. The seller, Coneen Family Trust, was represented by NAI San Diego. The buyer was represented by Lee & Associates.
South Park Apartment Complex
The 10-unit apartment complex in South Park at 3211 32nd St. has been sold for $1.055 million. The buyer was Judy Anderson. The seller was Leah S. Robbins of Four Square Financial LP. Sperry Van Ness Finest City Commercial represented the seller. Star Realty South County represented the buyer. The two-story 3,993-square-foot building consists of 10 legal units and one nonconforming unit. The property was built in 1937 and has been remodeled.
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