Daily Business Report-March 24, 2015
A replica of the famous wicker ‘Electriquette, which transported fairgoers at the 1915 Exposition.
Airport Art Exhibit Celebrates
Balboa Park Centennial and
Panama-California Exposition
San Diego International Airport has unveiled “Balboa Park & the City: Celebrating San Diego’s Panama-California Exposition,” the largest and most ambitious year-long exhibition offered by the airport’s Art Program.
Intended to support and enhance the city of San Diego’s year-long Balboa Park Centennial celebration, the airport-wide exhibition includes original artwork and historic images, collectibles, and artifacts that bring the 1915 Panama-California Exposition to life.
“With 30 installations spread among all three terminals, the exhibition offers a truly immersive experience that takes you back in time,” said Thella F. Bowens, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
The exhibition includes historic items, replicas and images from seven local institutions and collectors, including: City of San Diego, Parks & Recreation Department; San Diego History Center; the Committee of 100; David Marshall, AIA; and Sandor W. Shapery, Shapery Enterprises.
The exhibition’s images include historic photographs and postcards presented in large format documenting the unique history, landscape and architecture of the Park.
The Art Program solicited original artwork that is representative of or inspired by Balboa Park and the city of San Diego from local artists. Ten participants were selected to exhibit their work based on their aesthetic and creative representation of the Park and unique use of media.
Exhibition highlights include:
• A replica of the famous wicker “Electriquette,” which transported fairgoers at the 1915 Exposition.
• Lighting designs by Jim Gibson, inspired by the ornate fixtures at the 1935 Exposition.
• Original works by Guillermo Acevedo, a celebrated illustrator and documentarian of San Diego’s landmarks and historic sites.
Breakfast Dialogue Takes On
San Diego’s Transportation Future
Historically, transportation has been presented as cars vs. transit, but times are changing. With more choices, come more challenges — and more opportunities as government is no longer our sole provider, and never will be again.
On Thursday, March 26, 7:30-9 a.m. at Balboa Park’s The Prado, Citizen’s Coordinate for Century 3’s Breakfast Dialogue will present “Transporting San Diego Forward: What Choices are in Our Future?”
Guest speakers will cover transportation technology, science, legislation and more, and discuss how San Diego can provide what’s best for our people while balancing the interests of many.
Moderated by Kathleen Ferrier, director of advocacy for Circulate San Diego, speakers for the event include:
• Denny Zane, executive director of Move LA, will discuss the success and challenges of ballot measures leveraged to fund and expand transit in Los Angeles — relevant to San Diego as we consider a 2016 initiative.
• Alan Hoffman, executive director of The Mission Group, will outline a proposal for a speedy, integrated, affordable rapid transit system, dubbed the “Quickway Proposal,” that is truly competitive with driving, closes the last mile gap and forms a framework for on-demand services.
• Sean Walcott, founder and director of RideScout, an online app that allows people to make real time choices about their transportation options. Sean will talk about the private sector’s role through car share, bike share and beyond in our changing transportation future.
• Wade Rosado, director of analytics at Urban Insights Associates, will discuss the science of transportation. Urban Insights provides research on how to use existing infrastructure more efficiently and optimize all available modes of transportation while maximizing convenience.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for members, $40 for nonmembers and $23 for students. For reservations, visit www.c3sandiego.org or call (858) 277-0900.
City Council Approves $120 Million
Bond Issue for Infrastructure Projects
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a bond issue that is expected to generate $120 million to pay for road repair and construction projects.
The bond was approved previously but was tied up in court for about a year. The city is going ahead with issuing the bond even though court rulings in its favor are being appealed.
Councilman Mark Kersey said approving the bond again is like “déjà vu or Groundhog Day.”
“This really represents the needed repairs that people tell us they want to see in their neighborhoods,” said Kersey, who chairs the panel’s Infrastructure Committee.
“We’ve got almost $50 million for streets and roads, we’ve got money for three fire station construction projects as well as the design for two others, we’ve got some library money, we have some (Americans With Disabilities Act) money, we’ve got some sidewalk money,” Kersey said.
James Nagelvoort, the city’s director of public works, said he would bring a finalized project and cost list to the Infrastructure Committee in May. He said his staff is checking the budget for the projects for any cost changes brought about by the delay.
According to a list provided by the mayor’s office, the project list includes:
fire stations in Hillcrest, Mid-City, Point Loma, Skyline, and Home Avenue in City Heights; libraries in Hillcrest/Mission Hills, San Carlos, San Ysidro and Skyline; almost $22 million in storm drain improvements, repairs to the Mission Beach boardwalk and South Mission Beach lifeguard station; and
$49.2 million in road repaving.
“San Diegans who want their streets repaired will find a lot to like in this package,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. “We’re moving full steam ahead with improvements to neighborhoods throughout San Diego.”
According to a staff report, the City Attorney’s Office believes the appeal was not filed in a timely manner, and it plans to ask for the action to be dismissed.
— City News Service
City’s Environmental Committee
Mulls San Vicente Power Plant
A proposal to build a hydroelectric power plant in the San Vicente Reservoir
near Lakeside goes before the San Diego City Council’s Environment Committee for scrutiny Wednesday.
City staff will brief the committee members on the proposal, ask for comments and request approval of the concept for the project, which is in conjunction with the San Diego County Water Authority.
Called the “San Vicente Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project,” the plan could result in a 500-megawatt power plant, generating enough power to replace the local share of energy that was received from the now-closed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
City and Water Authority officials also say the power would generate enough revenue to offset the increasing cost of water in the drought-stricken region. The project would require construction of an upper reservoir that would pour into the existing body of water.
Such a plant could also help San Diego reach the state’s — and its own – – goals for the use of renewable energy. A plan to address climate change that’s currently being developed by the city could set a target of the year 2035 for using renewable energy sources — like solar and wind power — for all of the city’s power.
The Water Authority last year completed a project that raised the San Vicente Dam by 117 feet in order to create more storage space. It could take four more years to reach the new capacity, depending on rainfall.
— City News Service
Porto Siena Condos Get a Makeover
Reconstruction was completed on the 12-year-old Porto Siena HOA complex located at the corner of India and Cedar streets in Little Italy.
The 88-unit condominiums and their attached, street-front restaurants and coffee shops have been plagued by water intrusion and defective initial construction since originally built in 2002.
The $3 million reconstruction performed by Nautilus General Contractors and managed by ASPM-SanDiego encompassed repair, replacement and reconstruction of all defective areas and components.
“This is one of the more comprehensive condo reconstruction projects to be undertaken in many years in the Little Italy village,” said Vito Altieri, president of the Porto Siena Condo Owner’s Association. “ASPM-SanDiego’s management of the project was extremely professional and they took excellent care of our owners and property these past six months.”
The six-month reconstruction began in June, 2014 and concluded on schedule.
One Paseo Opponents Claim Enough
Signatures Gathered on Petitions
Petition signatures aimed at getting the San Diego City Council to overturn its approval of a 23.6-acre mixed-use housing, retail and office development in Carmel Valley are scheduled to be turned in to the county Registrar of Voters Office today.
If a group called Protect San Diego’s Neighborhoods collected enough valid signatures opposing the $750 million One Paseo project, the City Council would have to rescind is approval or place the issue before voters. They need around 34,000 signatures to qualify.
A spokesman for the group, Jeff Powers, told City News Service that “we’re over the threshold.”
However, more than 23,000 forms have been received by the City Clerk’s Office from people asking that their signatures be withdrawn from the petition. That’s roughly eight times more than have ever been received in a referendum effort.
Powers said that historically, only 20 percent of such requests are granted.
The opponents contend One Paseo will destroy the affluent community by attracting an influx of vehicle traffic to an already congested part of town.
The 10-building development will encompass nearly 1.5 million square feet of floor space, including shops, offices, a movie theater and more than 600 housing units south of Del Mar Heights Road, between El Camino Real and High Bluff Drive.
— City News Service
Personnel Announcements
Director of Philanthropy Hired
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has named Christopher A. Lee, formerly of PCI (Project Concern International), as director of philanthropy on the institute’s La Jolla, California campus.
Lee was most recently vice president of PCI in the global health and development organization’s San Diego headquarters, where he managed private fundraising operations, marketing and communications. Prior to his position at PCI, he worked for seven years at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, where he was director, then vice president, for external relations.
Lee previously held fundraising positions with Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore and Villanova University in Philadelphia, and worked as a legislative staff member for then-Congressman Alan Mollohan on Capitol Hill.
Frank Downey Joins Xpera CM
Xpera CM, a construction management consulting firm with offices in San Diego and Los Angeles, announced that Frank Downey has joined the firm as a senior project manager in the San Diego office. Downey is providing project resolution consulting for a portfolio of construction projects in Southern California. The 30-year industry veteran has a track record of successful projects in his career, including a number of large multi-family residential developments and K-12 and college campus projects.
Some of Downey’s San Diego project highlights include the North Block Lofts (250 residential units), 900 F Street (160 units), 32nd Street Bachelor Officers’ Quarters (190 military housing units), $40 million Pacific Ridge School (phases one and two), and Aviara Community Park for the city of Carlsbad.
