Daily Business Report-Feb. 17, 2016
The unmanned MQ-4C Triton approaches the runway at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Sept. 18 after completing its inaugural cross-country flight from California. (U.S. Navy photo)
Northrop Grumman’s Triton Unmanned
Aircraft Completes Operational Tests
AUVSI News
Northrop Grumman announced that its MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft has completed its operational assessment for the U.S. Navy.
Pending a final analysis of this milestone, which occurred at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., it clears the maritime variant of the Global Hawk to transition to low-rate initial production.
The platform was tested for more than 60 hours in the air by Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons VX-1 and VX-20 and Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19. The teams look at sensor imagery and validated the performance of the Triton’s radar at different altitudes and ranges.
“Operational assessment for Triton included several flights which exercised the weapon system through operationally relevant scenarios that demonstrated its readiness to meet the Navy’s maritime intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance needs,” said Doug Shaffer, vice president of Triton programs at Northrop Grumman. “As a result of the flight tests, the program moves one step closer to a milestone C decision later this spring.”
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Eight-Story Luxury Apartments
Planned for Pacific Highway Site
Wood Partners, an Atlanta-based multifamily developer, has purchased a site at 1919 Pacific Highway — directly across from the the Waterfront Park — for $15 million and plans to develop an eight-story, 110-unit luxury apartment project.
The apartments would have unobstructed views of San Diego Bay. A mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units is planned. The designer is Carrier Johnson + Culture Architects.
The seller was Thomas Chen Associates. Victor Krebs of Colliers International represented Wood Partners and Thomas Chen Associates in the transaction.
Construction Starts on $20 Million
Apartment Project in Chula Vista
Construction has started on Creekside Pointe, a new apartment development in western Chula Vista. Valued at $20 million, this is the first multifamily project to be built in the area in 15 years.
The site at Third Avenue and L Street, across from the San Diego Country Club, was to be developed several years ago, but the original developers were unable to make the project financial viable.
In 2012, a partnership controlled by Mexico City-based consumer electronics manufacturer Diamond Electronics, acquired the 5.5-acre parcel at a distressed property sale. After completing design, the owners were unable to reach acceptable terms with a contractor to allow the project to move forward.
In 2015, Xpera CM was retained to provide complete construction management services and get the project back on track, beginning with rebidding the project and selecting a new general contractor.
The Creekside Pointe development will feature 118 market-rate residential units, including one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans ranging from 768 to 1,414 square feet. There will be four live/work loft units and a small commercial unit, a requirement of the city of Chula Vista. The development will also feature a park with playground, open space trails, and a resort-style pool and spa.
The new contractor for Creekside Pointe is San Marcos-based R&R Construction, also known as Richard & Richard Construction. Rodriguez Associates Architects & Planners Inc. is the architectural firm.
Construction is slated for completion in spring 2017.
Sunroad Acquires Apartment Properties
San Diego-based Sunroad Enterprises has acquired Sonoma Ridge Apartments in Peoria, Ariz. and Bristol Bay Apartments in Sparks, Nev. Sonoma Ridge and Bristol Bay are the first properties to be acquired under Sunroad Enterprises’ new Multifamily Division.
The acquisitions were done in partnership with Loma Linda University Endowment Fund’s multifamily investment platform and Security Properties Inc. based in Seattle. The management will be through Madrona Ridge Residential, an affiliate of Security Properties, who will renovate common areas and unit interiors over the next two years at both properties.
Point Loma’s Dottie Laub Gifts $1 Million
For Liberty Station’s Arts District Buildings
Longtime Point Loma resident Dorothea “Dottie” Laub has made a $1 million naming gift to the NTC Foundation to rename Dance Place San Diego, located in the arts district of Liberty Station, the Dorothea Laub Dance Place. The NTC Foundation has oversight of the 28-acre arts district.
“We are extremely grateful to Dottie Laub and the Laub family for their continued and generous support of this community project,” said NTC Foundation Executive Director Alan Ziter.
Dottie and her late husband, Richard “Dick” Laub, have been supporters of the project since its inception in 2000. Most recently, the historic NTC Command Center, the iconic building at the center of the former Naval Training Center, was renamed the Dick Laub NTC Command Center thanks to a one-time $1.5 million donation from the Laub Family.
This is the third building naming gift received by the NTC Foundation since it was founded by the city of San Diego to renovate and operate 26 historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma, now called Liberty Station.
“The funds will be used to embark o
n much needed short-term maintenance of our 70-90 year-old historic buildings,” said Richard Opper, NTC Foundation board chair. “It will also be critical in helping assure that we can keep the leasing costs affordable for nonprofit civic, arts and cultural groups in the arts district. This support helps us stay on mission going forward.”
Cal State San Marcos Names Attorney
To Cybersecurity Advisory Board
Attorney Madeline Cahill, a partner with Carlsbad-based Cahill & Campitiello, has been named to the Cybersecurity Advisory Board for California State University San Marcos’ recently launched Cybersecurity Professional Science Master’s Program. The advisory board will advise the University on its master’s program, the only Cybersecurity PSM in California.
The only attorney selected to serve on the board, and one of only a few attorneys in Southern California who practices in the highly specialized area of law, Cahill has evolved her employment law practice to focus on strategy development and legal counsel in the areas of data security and forensic law.
The Cybersecurity Program’s advisory board includes 24 industry leaders in telecommunications, health care, government, law enforcement, education, and security, and will advise CSUSM on creating and maintaining appropriate cybersecurity-based programs and initiatives to meet the educational needs of the cybersecurity industry, governmental and defense agencies, computer science and IT practitioners, and the business community.
Scripps Research Begins
Testing Fentanyl Vaccine
City News Service
The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla Tuesday announced successful preclinical testing of a vaccine that prevents fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that some drug dealers use as a mix-in or substitute for heroin, from reaching the brain.
The vaccine, which harnesses the body’s immune system, showed that it can curb addiction and prevent fatal overdoses, according to TSRI.
“We want to stay one step ahead of these clandestine laboratories making illegal opioids for black market demand,” said Kim Janda, a chemistry professor and member of the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology at TSRI. “The importance of this new vaccine is that it can block the toxic effects of this drug, a first in the field.”
National University Partners With
Planetree for Health Care Training
National University announced a collaboration with Planetree Inc., a nonprofit organization, to train a new generation of health professionals in patient-centered care.
Starting this month, National University’s School of Health and Human Services will initiate a school-wide process to evaluate areas for integration and alignment with patient-centered care principles.
This is Planetree’s first partnership with an academic institution. Officials said it offers a unique opportunity to jointly prepare students in patient-centered care, which emphasizes the active participation of patients and their families in the health care decision process.
Planetree has worked with numerous health care organizations across the country and globally for nearly four decades.
The partnerships include those with three Sharp Health hospitals in the San Diego area, which have each achieved Planetree Designation for their patient-centered models, as well as many others.
Spain Selects General Atomics’ Predator
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ Predator Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle to support its airborne surveillance and reconnaissance requirements.
“GA-ASI is proud to partner with the Spanish Armed Forces to offer our operationally proven Predator B RPA to fulfill Spain’s emerging multi-mission requirements,” said Linden Blue, CEO. “We also look forward to working with teammate SENER, a leading engineering company, and developing collaborative partnerships with other Spanish companies to help ensure the long-term success of the program.”
Predator B is currently operational with the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, French Air Force and the Italian Air Force. Some 245 Predator B aircraft have amassed more than 1 million flight hours since first flight in 2001.
Insurance Chief Reaches Agreement with
Allstate to Cut Homeowner Insurance Rates
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced that he has reached an agreement with Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Indemnity Insurance to reduce Allstate’s homeowner insurance rates statewide by an average of 12.6 percent, effective Feb. 1, 2016.
Rate regulation in California applies to homeowners, auto, and other property and casualty insurance. Insurers must get approval from the insurance commissioner before they can raise or lower rates.
Consumers are entitled to “intervene” or participate in California’s rate regulation administrative process. Consumer Watchdog, a consumer advocacy organization, intervened and participated in the negotiations led by the Department of Insurance with Allstate.
Del Mar Moves Forward on Plastic Bag Ban
Times of San Diego
Del Mar is set to be the third city in San Diego County to ban the single use of plastic bags. The City Council voted 5-0 to move forward with a plastic bag ban.
The proposed ordinance will prohibit retail establishments including restaurants and the Farmers Market from providing any type of bag to a customer at the point of sale except a reusable bag or a recycled paper bag unless otherwise permitted under the exemptions section.
The approval comes after more than an hour of discussion and public comment. The majority of public speakers spoke in support of the plastic bag ban. However, some spoke about the burden it would create on local businesses.
“I can completely get the wildlife aspect of it,” said the owner of Urban Beach House. “Del Mar is trying to be a shopping district. In order to create that, you need people to walk around with bags. Tourists are not going to have these bags with them.”
But, city leaders disagreed with the need for plastic bags.
“We’re not an environmentally friendly city,” Councilman Don Mosier said. “My personal observation is that things are getting worst. I think this proposed ordinance is an important first step in helping clean up Del Mar.
Personnel Announcements
Mary Kopp Joins Accumen
Accumen, a health care transformation company in San Diego, has appointed Mary Kopp as vice president of clinical operations. Kopp will be responsible for furthering Accumens’ laboratory offering in the strategic area of test utilization, in addition to working with health system clients.
With more than 30 years of clinical and hospital leadership experience, Kopp has held several senior hospital operational management positions.
Kopp is a trained and certified member of the National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations, and earned a Master of Nursing Science in Leadership degree. Kopp is joining Accumen from HonorHealth (formerly known as “Scottsdale Healthcare”) in Scottsdale, Ariz.
CBRE Group Adds Courtney Murphy as a VP
Courtney Murphy has joined CBRE Group Inc. as a vice president for its Advisory & Transaction Services business in San Diego. Murphy will focus on helping companies build business advantage by achieving real estate solutions that improve their productivity and efficiency.
Prior to joining CBRE, Murphy was a vice president at The Irving Group, where she represented clients from local start-ups to large corporations. She previously served as an account executive and a research analyst at CoStar Group, where she was responsible for territory growth and management. Murphy received a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in corporate finance from Michigan State University.
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Girlfriend’s Guide to Good Health
The Girlfriend’s Guide to Good Health on Tuesday, March 15, will feature Sharp Rees-Stealy physicians, clinicians and experts who will give short, informative and entertaining talks on all the health issues women discuss with their girlfriends; from skin care to eye care, nutrition tips to keep the family healthy and contraception and sex through the stages of a woman’s life.
The program is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sharp Rees-Stealy Scripps Ranch, 1067 Wexford St., San Diego, CA 92131.
