Daily Business Report-Sept. 16, 2014
Rendering of the public market planned by restaurateur David Spatafore in partnership with the McMillin Companies.
Restaurateur to Bring San Diego’s
First Public Market to Liberty Station
Coronado restaurateur David Spatafore is partnering with the McMillin Companies to develop a $3 million sprawling public market out of a 1920s-era warehouse building at Liberty Station in Point Loma.
Serving as a one-stop specialty shop as well as a daily farmers market, the concept is reminiscent of similar public markets in other progressive cities such as Napa’s Oxbow Public Market, Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market and Vancouver’s Granville Island.
The project is set to debut in summer 2015.
The public market would offer year-round fresh produce from surrounding regional farms, locally procured seafood, old-fashioned butcher services, homemade tortillas, artisanal breads and pastries, wine and coffee merchants handcrafted goods, among others.
Located at 2816 Historic Decatur Road within Liberty Station, the market is being built out in a 22,000-square-foot venue in the north end of the complex, and adjacent to Stone Brewing. The space, which was originally built as the Naval Training Center’s commissary in 1921, will pay homage to its historic roots by housing a diverse mix of merchants, each hand-selected for their passionate support and ardent commitment to San Diego’s culture, according to Spatafore, principal of Blue Bridge Hospitality.
The expansive indoor area features high-ceilings in a communal setting and the space will also include a massive outdoor patio, promoting a social atmosphere.
“Liberty Public Market presents small businesses the chance to sell their goods on a much larger scale,” said Spatafore. “Liberty Station is a coveted retail location in San Diego. It’s highly trafficked and centrally located with prime visibility and free parking. This project allows the little guys to be a part of a very big business opportunity. Not only that, but it offers some of the area’s premier local wholesale distributors the chance to have a brick and mortar presence, as well as access to the every day consumer. It’s a win-win scenario.”
Blue Bridge Hospitality is a group of restaurants based in the city of Coronado — MooTime Creamery, Village Pizzeria, Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q, Coronado Coffee Company, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge. The collective’s first restaurant, MooTime Creamery, was a family effort led by Spatafore 16 years ago. In the fall, Blue Bridge is set to open Stake Chophouse + Bar on Orange Avenue in Coronado.
Air Force to Buy 3 Northrop Grumman
RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft
The Air Force will spend $354 million to buy three RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft from Northrop Grumman Corp.’s division in Rancho Bernardo, the company announced Monday.
The new aircraft are “Multi-INT” models that carry sophisticated imaging and electronic signals sensors capable of collecting multiple types of intelligence from high altitudes for up to 32 hours.
The purchase will expand the Air Force fleet to 37 in 2017.
Fuselages for the RQ-4 are built in Moss Point, Miss., and final assembly and testing is conducted in Palmdale.
“Northrop Grumman is proud that the RQ-4 Global Hawk has become an indispensable ISR resource for the Air Force. These new systems will provide further opportunities to keep our warfighters safe,” said Mick Jaggers, Global Hawk program manager.
— Times of San Diego
City Council Confirms New Head of Civic San Diego
The San Diego City Council on Monday unanimously confirmed Reese Jarrett as president of Civic San Diego, which handles major development projects for the city. Jarrett, who was nominated by Mayor Kevin Faulconer almost two months ago, formerly headed the now-defunct Southeastern Development Corp.
Jarrett, who was previously with the real estate firm E. Smith and Co. and was a partner in Carter Reese & Associates, served as the SEDC president in the 1980s.
The SEDC, a city organization that worked on projects in Southeast San Diego, went out of business when the state phased out redevelopment agencies. Its functions were turned over to Civic San Diego, which was created to work on projects in the post-redevelopment era.
Much of the discussion on Jarrett’s appointment had to do with improving neighborhoods in Southeast San Diego and City Heights. Civic San Diego can bring some of the same tools to the effort that were used to make downtown development successful, the mayor said.
Jarrett said he was “humbled, honored and blessed” to become head of the organization.
— City News Service
San Diego Humane Society,
Project Wildlife Explore Merger
The San Diego Humane Society and Project Wildlife announced they are exploring the possibility of merging “to determine if combining resources and expertise will ensure the continuity of saving injured wildlife such as birds, raccoons, opposums, and raptors including baby owls.”
The announcement follows a request earlier this year by Project Wildlife that the Humane Society consider taking it into its fold. Project Wildlife said it has struggled financially the past few years and, despite a dedicated but very small staff, the administrative and fundraising functions have been challenged to keep pace with the demanding need for lifesaving wildlife services.
“In the busy baby animal season, Project Wildlife can take in up to 300 injured or sick animals each week and as the only local emergency trauma center for injured wildlife, they must always keep their doors open to these animals,” according to the announcement.
“San Diego Humane Society has always been our partner, so a merger is a natural next step in our organization’s evolution,” said Beth Ugoretz, executive director for Project Wildlife. “Their animal welfare expertise and compassionate staff will help us save even more injured or sick wildlife and that is what’s most important.”
By combining resources and expertise, Project Wildlife can continue as a program of San Diego Humane Society and provide emergency and rehabilitative care for injured animals who have no other options, the organizations said.
The Humane Society just recently combined forces with the Escondido Humane Society and PAWS San Diego.
San Diego No. 1 Destination for Veterans
Who’ve Served in Iraq and Afghanistan
About six weeks into his new job as chief of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald made a stop in San Diego to visit the VA Medical Center in La Jolla. San Diego County is the No. 1 destination for veterans who’ve served in Iraq and Afghanistan and the biggest challenge in our region said McDonald is building up enough capacity and personnel to properly serve them.
“I’ve been really excited to come here because in many ways San Diego the community is on the cutting edge of working together to create one Department of Veterans Affairs,” McDonald said.
McDonald says he came to San Diego to learn more about treatment programs like the ASPIRE Center in Old Town helping vets transition back into society.
“Some say they’re waiting too long for care, that’s not the case as much here in San Diego, as in other parts of the country, although we have to be forward looking recognizing that many of our veterans who are leaving the service are settling in San Diego and we have to build our capacity ahead of that curve,” he said.
San Diego’s VA Medical Center is adding more than 200,000 square feet of space to deal with appointment delays and troops suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
“Across the nation we’ve got significant problems with transparency, accountability and our issues with integrity are well documented, but I’m convinced the framework for changing VA is in place,” McDonald said..
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Converting 32nd Floor into Event Spaces
The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego is “reinventing” its 32nd floor, converting it into four large event spaces for private functions. Bayview, a 2,700-square-foot event space and the largest of the four, is due to be completed this month. The 32nd floor is located in the hotel’s Seaport Tower.
“Each of the venues will echo the contemporary design aesthetic that has been introduced throughout the hotel as part of the property-wide transformation,” according to a hotel announcement.
Shortly after Bayview renovations are complete, the property will be hosting its annual Over The Edge For Brain Cancer event. Participants Rappel 365 feet from the Manchester Grand Hyatt to raise funds for brain tumor research in San Diego. The Nov. 1 event will include food, and fitness vendors.
Upcoming Meetings…
Public Utilities Commission Holds Hearing on
SDG&E Proposal to Add $10 to Everyone’s Bill
San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposal to add fixed charges of $10 a month to every customer’s bill and impose default time-based pricing along with the new charges is the subject of a public hearing today before the California Public Utilities Commission in San Diego.
The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Al Bahr Shriners Center, 5400 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego.
The Utility Reform Network, an opponent of the proposal, claims it would
eliminats conservation incentives and means higher bills for vulnerable consumers who use little energy, and lower bills for big users
“SDG&E wants to take California, and San Diego, in the wrong direction,” said TURN executive director Mark Toney. “We should be rewarding customers who conserve, not raising their bills to subsidize energy hogs. Default time-based pricing could subject low-income customers and senior citizens to rate shock — and is antithetical to statewide goals to reduce emissions.”
Port’s Climate Action Plan Workshop
The Board of Port Commissioners is asking the public to attend a Wednesday workshop on the Climate Action Plan. The board will hear about progress the Port and its tenants have made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, followed by a discussion with local representatives about energy initiatives being pursued or considered throughout the region and potential ways to fund the initiatives.
The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. in the Training Room of the Port Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, San Diego.
Healthy Buildings Conference Sept. 23
San Diego Green Building Council will host the Healthy Buildings and Communities Conference on Sept. 23 that will focus on the impacts of community and building design on health and well-being. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the SDG&E Energy Innovation Ceter, 4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego.
Elizabeth Baca from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research will deliver a keynote address. Peter Rumsey of Point Energy Innovations will give a talk on the passive and “timeless” strategies that can be used to optimize building performance.
Breakout sessions will highlight topics such as: zero waste, watershed management and green infrastructure, healthy building materials, energy efficiency for existing buildings and more. Panelists will also introduce three regulatory case studies in San Diego County on the path to “Healthy Communities.”
The cost to attend the event is $40 for San Diego Green Building Council members, $50 for nonmembers and $60 for walk-ins. Registration is online at: www.usgbc-sd.org/event-868747.
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Procopio Senior Counsel to Receive Bar Award
Eric D. Swenson, senior counsel with the Procopio law firm, has been named recipient of the V. Judson Klein Award by the Taxation Section of The State Bar of California. He will accept the award on Nov. 8 at the annual meeting of the California Tax Bar and California Tax Policy Conference awards luncheon in Coronado.
Established in 1978, the award is named after the first chair of the Taxation Section. Klein was known for his keen and imaginative intellect, passion for the law, great personal integrity and legal professionalism. The award is given annually to a tax attorney who has demonstrated this same high level of professionalism, passion, and excellence in the tax law field, according to the Taxation Section. Recipients are selected by the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section.
