Your Daily Business Report: Monday, Sept. 19, 2022
Navy begins effort to find a developer
for the massive NAVWAR project
A real estate competition, one that eclipses the size and scope of the city’s sports arena contest, is on the horizon. This fall, the U.S. Navy intends to issue what’s known as a request for qualifications to revitalize its sprawling NAVWAR campus in the Midway District, Greg Geisen, who is the project manager for the effort, told the Union-Tribune. The action, which will be quickly followed with a request for proposals, will kickstart a real estate competition where almost anything goes.
Thursday, the federal agency issued a press release announcing the pending solicitation and invited developers to preregister with its procurement system, SAM.gov.
The Navy will work with the potential master developer on multiple options for the private development of the site while continuing to evaluate the feasibility of a NAVWAR-only development funded by traditional military construction methods.
The Navy is considering plans to maximize the value of approximately 70.5 acres of Navy-owned underutilized property at the Old Town Campus to support NAVWAR’s needs. One possible outcome is a real-property exchange of a 99-year lease on 60+ acres of land, a half-mile from San Diego International Airport and 1 mile from Downtown San Diego in exchange for new NAVWAR facilities. NAVWAR annual federal budget was over $10 billion in FY22 and provides $3.2 billion annually and 40K jobs to the San Diego regional economy. The potential redevelopment would bring additional economic benefits to the region through the construction and operation of new commercial, residential, and transportation facilities, the Navy said.
The Union-Tribune contributed to this report.
Photo: The Naval Base Point Loma Old Town Complex. (Photo by Kara McDermott, NAVWAR)
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What’s inside the Old Town Complex
Owned by the Navy since the mid-1990s, the Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Complex is home to the military’s Naval Information Warfare Systems Command and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific divisions. The groups — a mix of 5,000 full-time and contract cybersecurity professionals — operate the world’s largest intranet with 700,000 network users in 2,500 locations, according to the federal agency. The defense personnel work in World War II-era hangars deemed obsolete, with sewage problems and leaky roofs, among other problems.
Former naval officer named the new
executive director of North Park Main Street
Former U.S. Navy officer and community volunteer Mark West has been named the new executive director of North Park Main Street, the nonprofit organization promoting business and arts and culture in the neighborhood. He succeeds Angela Landsberg, who retired from the post.
Originally from Denver, West completed a 24-year career in the Navy, serving in various successful sea and shore tours while enroute to being selected to be the First Operations Officer on the Navy’s newest combatant, the USS Freedom. West was early selected for command at sea, but ultimately decided to retire in 2011.
Following retirement, West worked on coastal pollution issues in San Diego and in Mexico while serving as the program leader for the No Border Sewage Committee for Surfrider San Diego. In 2014, he was selected to be the chair of the San Diego chapter of Surfrider, leading the largest and most active chapter in the world. West remains committed to the environment and is a recognized leader in energy sustainability and conservation.
In 2016, West was elected to the City Council of Imperial Beach. In 2019, he was awarded the Legislative Lounge Award by the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.
JC Resorts loses Reidy Creek Golf Course
contract after 20 years of management
The Escondido City Council voted to award a five-year contract for the management and operation of the Reidy Creek Golf Course to Escondido Golf LLC, an affiliate of Petaluma-based CourseCo. Inc.
JC Resorts operated the course since its opening in 2002, but according to a City of Escondido staff report, the property failed to achieve levels of income that would have enabled it to pay back or subsidize tax-exempt lease revenue bonds issued by the city in April 2001 for the construction of the golf course, forcing the Escondido General Fund to make debt service payments that average about $361,000 per year.
In January, Sierra Club North County Group, Climate Action Campaign and the hotel workers’ called on the City Council to replace JC Resorts as golf course operator and to consider alternative uses for the site, such as housing and open space. The groups stated that “We do not understand the rationale behind a contract that increased JC Resorts’ management fees even as taxpayers had to kick in money to subsidize the operation.”
Theater Review
“Annabella in July”
By Martin Kruming
Brian is a tilesetter and amateur photographer; Vanessa a shy librarian. They’re hoping that an anniversary getaway will jump start their 20-year marriage in North Platte, Nebraska but they accidentally take a wrong turn and end up at a California ski resort in July.
“Annabella in July,” by Richard Strand (he wrote last season’s hit, “Ben Butler”), is a delightfully comedic fantasy that leaves audience members laughing, even though a bit perplexed at times, trying to determine if Vanessa is really Annabelle, the gorgeous and mysterious vacationer who shows up every January during the ski season.
In the resort’s restaurant, chef Camelia immediately recognizes her as Annabella. So does waitress Piper who’s looking for a mentor, as well as neighbor Alexander with the fake French accent who fondly recalls his romantic moments with her.
Brian, infatuated with the stories, beauty and charm of Annabella, even comes around to believing he’s in love with her.
As the world-premiere play takes twists and turns, the characters recognize their illusions. Vanessa has never been to California, has never been romantically involved with Camelia or Alexander, or mentored Piper. She’s simply a librarian from Nebraska who loves Brian, and who himself realizes the same adoration and devotion for her.
As Annabella (or at least a perception of her) leaves this summer fantasy, a butterfly flutters across the mountains. Perhaps it’s nothing more than a plain caterpillar transformed by perceptions of love and romance into a breath-taking creature. Or is that just a fantasy?
Annabella in July is playing through Oct. 2 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. What a marvelous way to start the 41st season.
Martin Kruming is a former journalist who chairs the Global Neighborhood Project.
Cal State San Marcos receives $3 million
grant for COMPASS training program
Cal State San Marcos has been awarded a nearly $3 million, five-year grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to invest in its newest education pillar, the COMPASS training program.
COMPASS, which stands for Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem Cell Science, works to prepare a diverse group of undergraduate students for careers in regenerative medicine by combining hands-on research opportunities with strategic and structured mentorship experiences.
The $2,877,200 grant will fund stem cell awareness at three North County high schools; support 30 students for two years of training; and provide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training for research mentors. The program will recruit first-year CSUSM biotechnology undergraduate students as well as students from High Tech High North County, Mission Hills High School and San Marcos High School.
Victor Nava selected as a director for Gafcon Inc.
San Diego-based Gafcon Inc. has appointed Victor Nava as director of strategy, development and partnerships. Nava has been serving the Imperial Valley region for over 24 years as a community leader, seasoned development officer, and volunteer. He will be based out of Gafcon’s recently opened City of Imperial office and will also play a strategic role in the company’s projects in San Diego County.
Otay Mesa East Port of Entry awarded $150 million
The new Otay Mesa Port of Entry has been awarded a $150 million federal grant to support efforts to upgrad transportation infrastructure around the U.S.-Mexico border. Expected to open in 2024, the project aims to bolster trade between the two countries and decrease motorist wait times at the border.
Autobahn Therapeutics raises
$32.7 million to treat depression
San Diego’s Autobahn Therapeutics has raised $32.7 million to continue work on its therapy for treatment-resistant depression, the third most common disability in the world. The startup’s drug candidate focuses on the role of thyroid hormones in central nervous system disorders, and will also be evaluated against conditions including multiple sclerosis.
Encinitas startup raises $30 million
After a relocation from San Francisco to Encinitas, Hone has raised $30 million for its remote worker training platform, bringing its total amount raised to $52.4 million. The 70-person startup offers an employee learning and development platform with 60 live online classes for businesses, including sessions on diversity, equity, inclusions, mental health and wellness, management, and individual performance.
San Diego Workforce Partnership gets $10 million
Assemblymemeber Brian Maienschein has secured $10 million in state funding to help the San Diego Workforce Partnership provide training for jobs in emergency services, public administration and health care. The grant will be used to recruit, train and place San Diegans in jobs as EMTs, paramedics and firefighters, as well as positions in public administration and variety of healthcare sectors.
The nonprofit Workforce Partnership provides job hunters with essential skills and tools to help them gain employment and enrich the local economy. Services include career fairs, training, internships and layoff transition.
Mission Driven Finance to invest
in Council for Supplier Diversity
Mission Driven Finance and the Council for Supplier Diversity have partnered to provide local diverse-owned small businesses access to flexible funding to help them grow and compete for municipal and corporate contracts.
Mission Driven Finance intends to disperse up to $10 million to minority-owned and other diverse-owned small businesses in San Diego County and Imperial County as part of its Advance Strategy, a fund formed to create economic opportunities in underrepresented communities. There is a high-impact market opportunity as government agencies and corporations award procurement contracts to diverse small businesses. Through the partnership with the Council for Supplier Diversity, the Subcontractor Financing Program
will provide the capital these companies need for expansion and delivery on such contracts. The check size for each qualified diverse-owned small business ranges from $100K to $500K.
