Daily Business Report: Thursday, July 29, 2021
Daniel and Phyllis Epstein donate $10 million
for state-of-the-art amphitheater at UC San Diego
Daniel and Phyllis Epstein have committed to provide a $10 million gift to the University of California San Diego in support of a new state-of-the-art amphitheater, signaling a major step in the university’s plan to become a top cultural destination.
In recognition of the gift, the 2,850-seat venue will be named the Epstein Family Amphitheater.
The open-air amphitheater will showcase performing arts, featuring local and international talent in more than 300 performances a year. Its custom-designed acoustic shell serves as part of the stage, optimizing sound for a wide variety of productions, everything from large-scale rock concerts to classical quartets and theatrical dance.
Projection equipment will provide patrons with an intimate view of performances, and allow for the screening of films and live events.
When it opens in the fall of 2022, the amphitheater will create a welcoming entrance from the main campus trolley stop of the UC San Diego Blue Line.
TOP PHOTO: Rendering of the Epstein Family Amphitheater. (Credit: Safdie Rabines Architects)
Civic Center Plaza lenders file to evict
the city after non-payment of rent
By Lisa Halverstadt | Voice of San Diego
Lenders behind the city’s Civic Center Plaza lease are officially trying to evict the city and hundreds of employees from their downtown office space.
Wilmington Trust, a national investment management firm that serves as a trustee to investors who supplied upfront cash for the Civic Center Plaza lease, on Tuesday filed an unlawful detainer lawsuit, a legal action to evict a tenant, in San Diego Superior Court weeks after the city failed to make its July rent payment.
It’s not immediately clear what the filing could mean for more than a dozen city departmentsand about 850 employees who work in the building. The 18-story building now houses the city treasurer’s office as well as departments including real estate, information technology and economic development. City Attorney Mara Elliott and other city attorneys also work at Civic Center Plaza.
Ribbon cutting Aug. 5 for The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the San Diego Symphony’s iconic new venue, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, takes place Thursday, Aug. 5, at 9:30 a.m. Opening weekend for the venue is Aug. 6-8, 2021 with the season running through Nov. 14, 2021.
The Rady Shell is the first permanent waterfront concert venue on the West Coast, and the first bayside concert venue in the nation to be operated by a symphony orchestra,
Dignitaries from around the world to gather
in San Diego Aug. 5 to honor award winner
Dignitaries from across California and leaders of Utilis from Israel and the U.S. will gather on Aug. 5 to celebrate Utilis winning the inaugural Innovation Award from the American Water Works Association.
Utilis received the Innovation Award for its achievements in creating technology to preserve water and promote environmental sustainability.
With this new award, the American Water Works Association recognized Utilis for fulfilling the vision of the association’s Innovation Initiative. AWWA’s ongoing initiative is to inspire and implement innovative thinking and best practices to address challenges within the water industry and achieve significant positive results. The trophy will be presented at this event by Heather Collins, the current vice president of AWWA.
Court denies association’s challenge to
San Diego County’s eviction moratorium
Over a month after a decision was expected, a federal judge has issued a decision denying the Southern California Rental Housing Association’s (SCRHA) request for a preliminary injunction to prevent San Diego County from implementing or enforcing the San Diego County Emergency Eviction Moratorium Ordinance.
U.S. District Court Judge M. James Lorenz denied SCRHA’s motion, citing the temporary nature and public interest of the ordinance. In his July 26, 2021 decision, Lorenz stated that it is beyond dispute that owners are impacted by the eviction moratorium, but he said in the ruling: “However, the harm they are suffering in terms of stress and emotional hardship will be short-lived, as the ordinance is set to expire in the middle of August 2021.”
SCRHA filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. “We are greatly disappointed with this ruling, which leaves housing providers with no recourse to deal with renters who cause problems for their neighbors or who otherwise violate their agreements,” said SCRHA Executive Director Alan Pentico. “Bottom line: This is unfair to everyone. That’s why we will continue to challenge this extreme and unconstitutional law.”
Pfizer vaccine now available to SDSU community
San Diego State University is expanding its on-campus COVID-19 vaccine access to students, faculty and staff with the availability of the Pfizer vaccine.
Student Health Services has begun offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to members of the university’s community, who can still also access the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines on campus.
“The addition of the Pfizer vaccine was a key priority for us to better serve our campus community, especially as we are preparing for an in-person fall,” said Libby Skiles, the director of Student Health Services. “Our priority is to ensure a majority of students, faculty and staff get vaccinated before the first day of instruction, and we are well on that path.”
Hyatt Regency La Jolla appoints new
general manager and executive chef
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine announced the appointment of Todd McAninch as general manager and Laura De Martin as executive chef. The coastal hotel recently completed a property-wide, multiphase $10 million renovation, introducing a remodeled exterior and interior with a transformed lobby, guestrooms and suites plus social and event spaces.
A team member of Hyatt Regency La Jolla’s grand opening in 1989, Todd McAninch joined the Hyatt family over 31 years ago as housekeeping supervisor at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay and has since gained experience ranging from front-of-house to housekeeping management and leadership roles. He most recently served as general manager for Hyatt Centric Park City.
As executive chef, Laura De Martin will oversee the hotel’s multiple food and beverage concepts and lead the culinary team. She attended the famed Cesare Ritz, a culinary arts school in Merano, Italy, and worked primarily in restaurants in Italy and Austria prior moving to the U.S. in 2003. De Martin’s U.S. culinary career began as a Sous Chef at Hyatt Regency Orange County 15 years ago.
Arista completes $63 million Series B financing
to accelerate treatment of orphan drugs
Aristea Therapeutics, a San Diego clinical-stage immunology-focused drug development company developing novel therapies to treat serious inflammatory orphan diseases, announced the closing of a $63 million Series B financing. Led by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC., the financing included participation by existing investor Novo Holdings A/S and new investors Arena Pharmaceuticals and funds managed by Tekla Capital Management, LLC.
Aristea was a spin-out from AstraZeneca in 2018 with Novo Holdings A/S as the founding investor and it is committed to addressing significant unmet medical needs in orphan diseases for which there are currently no approved therapies.
Kyocera celebrates 50 years of manufacturing
The City of San Diego has honored Kyocera International Inc. for 50 years of U.S. manufacturing.
At its founding in Silicon Valley in July 1969, the U.S. company was Kyocera Corporation’s first subsidiary outside of Japan. In 1971, Kyocera International Inc. acquired facilities in San Diego and started producing ceramic semiconductor packages, becoming the first Japanese-parented technology enterprise with manufacturing operations in the State of California.
“Kyocera employees have great dedication, and many of us have 20, 30 or more years of service with the company,” said Kyocera International Inc. President Bob Whisler, a 40-year Kyocera veteran. “We believe our employee loyalty results from our Kyocera Philosophy, our commitment to the principle of ‘Doing what is right as a human being,’ and our ability to offer challenging work that contributes to a better future for people worldwide.”
A proclamation honoring Kyocera International, Inc.’s 50-year manufacturing anniversary was signed by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and all nine city council members.
