Daily Business Report: January 8, 2024
Save Our Heritage Organisation receives
a 2023 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award
San Diego’s Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO), formed in 1969 to save a single home, the 1887 Sherman-Gilbert House, has received a prestigious 2023 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for outstanding achievements in preserving and celebrating California’s diverse heritage.
This small, nonprofit group of concerned citizens has since grown to become one of the larger organizations of its kind in the country.
The Governor’s award to SOHO honors its more than half a century of diverse, ground-breaking and successful advocacy since its founding in an artist’s living room on Jan. 1, 1969, to save one Victorian house. The countywide group is now nationally renowned for saving and ensuring the restoration or revitalization of dozens of prominent historic buildings and places, and the protection of hundreds of homes that embody San Diego’s authentic character and multicultural history.
In addition to SOHO, the 2023 honorees include the Ah-Ha Mut-ta-ti’ e Traditional Cultural Landscape Evaluation Report; California Garden and Landscape History Society; Historic Shipyard at Pier 70, San Francisco; Palm Springs Preservation Foundation; and Rooted in Richmond Tour App.
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Analysts say California’s proposed water
conservation rules are too stringent and costly
By Rachel Becker | CalMatters
California’s legislative advisors last week lambasted the state’s ambitious proposal to regulate urban water conservation, calling the measures costly and difficult to achieve, “in many cases without compelling justifications.” The proposed rules, unveiled in August, call for more than 400 cities and other water suppliers serving about 95 percent of Californians to meet conservation targets beginning in 2025.
The state Legislative Analyst’s Office suggested significant changes to the State Water Resources Control Board’s proposal, warning that the regulations would set “such stringent standards for outdoor use that suppliers will not have much ‘wiggle room’ in complying.” They also warn that the added costs will ultimately be borne by customers.
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$100 million impact seen for 2025 World Road Run Championships
San Diego will host the World Athletics Road Running Championships Sept. 26-28, 2025 — a foot race extravaganza patterned after the Carlsbad 5000 and Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon. And possibly a major windfall for the local economy — rivaling the $165 million brought in by Comic-Con. A mile race, 5K road race and half-marathon will be contested in and around Balboa Park, with “peoples” races for all age groups and abilities, say local organizers
Stefani Lenett joins Duckor Metzger & Wynne as senior counsel
Duckor Metzger & Wynne APLC, which represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of legal matters, welcomes Stefani B. Lenett to its Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Probate Law group as senior counsel. Lenett joins DMW with more than 28 years of experience. Lenett is an active member in San Diego’s legal community. She serves on the San Diego Superior Court’s Probate Bench/Bar Committee and as a court-appointed attorney.
A veteran estate and probate law attorney, Lenett was tapped to serve as the reviewing author of the Probate Attorneys of San Diego’s PASD Probate Handbook 2023. Lenett is the president elect of Temple Emanu-El, San Diego.
Karl Strauss releases first non-alcoholic beer
Karl Strauss, San Diego’s longest-operating post-Prohibition brewing company, released its first non-alcoholic beer on the brink of its 35th anniversary in February. Non-Alcoholic Red Trolley is available only in January in 12-ounce cans, exclusively at Karl Strauss’ five San Diego County locations, including the new San Marcos Outpost beer garden. The alcoholic Red Trolley Ale (5.8 percent ABV) is one of the brewery’s core beers, an Irish Style Red Ale that is an 11-time gold medal winner at various regional, national, and international brewing competitions. It was released during the holiday season of 1989. This new take on the beer is “non-alcoholic, still iconic.”
Hudson Freeze appointed to Distinguished Endowed Chair
Thanks to a gift from Dinah C. Ruch, Professor Hudson Freeze, director of the Sanford Children’s Health Research Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, has received the William W. Ruch Distinguished Endowed Chair. The newly created chair will support Freeze’s research on congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) and rare children’s diseases.
Freeze is a world-renowned expert on CDGs, a severe group of diseases that affect fewer than 2,000 children worldwide. He has been working on CDGs for more than 25 years and has worked with hundreds of patients from around the world.
In 2007, Ruch established “The Rocket Fund” to support the heroic battle against heartbreaking rare and neglected children’s diseases. Ruch’s interest in CDG research was a result of her own family’s experience.
Illumina expands collaboration with Janssen
Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced it has signed an agreement with Janssen Research & Development LLC . This collaboration will be the first relating to the development of Illumina’s novel molecular residual disease (MRD) assay, a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) multi-cancer research solution that detects circulating tumor DNA to better understand the persistence or recurrence of disease following clinical intervention.
Closing sale at Architectural Salvage
Architectural Salvage, a pioneer in San Diego’s vintage and reclaimed interior scene, announces its planned closure after 28 years with a Celebration Sale on Jan. 12-14 at its Little Italy storefront at 2401 Kettner Blvd. Founded by artist and historic preservationist Elizabeth Scalice, this beloved store has been a treasure trove for adventurous homeowners, restoration enthusiasts, and designers, offering an array of unique, reclaimed vintage pieces for homes, restaurants, and gardens.
Xcellerant Ventures invests in CRISPR QC
Xcellerant Ventures announced its investment in CRISPR QC, the San Diego-based biotechnology company that has developed the world’s first platform to precisely analyze the quality of the CRISPR/CAS9 gene editing system. By providing a way to standardize measurements for efficiency and accuracy, CRISPR QC enables pharmaceutical and agriculture companies to quickly screen for the best therapeutics to develop into next generation personalized medicines.
Upcoming launch of OpenAI’s ‘GPT’ store’
The advertising world is on the cusp of a major transformation with the upcoming launch of OpenAI’s “GPT store,” as revealed in a recent memo to developers reported by The Information. This next-week launch is poised to open a myriad of opportunities for businesses and marketing agencies, paving the way for a new era of AI-driven advertising.
Click here for more information.
BioMed Realty issues key officer promotions
BioMed Realty announced the promotions of Tracy Letchworth, Ed McDonald and Kevin Vu to the role of vice president. Tracy Letchworth becomes vice president, property management, after serving as regional director. Ed McDonald becomes vice resident, development, after serving as senior director, development. Kevin Vu becomes vice president, investments, after serving as senior director, Investments.
Wilshire Quinn Capital hits $500 million bridge loan volume
Wilshire Quinn Capital Inc. announced that its private lending fund, the Wilshire Quinn Income Fund, has financed over $500 million in bridge loans since its inception in 2011. The announcement comes just 16 months after Wilshire Quinn hit the $400 million milestone. Wilshire Quinn, a direct portfolio lender and debt fund manager, specializes in short-term bridge loans.
PasPort Technologies starts collaborative research with Arcturus
PassPort Technologies Inc., led by President and CEO Tomoyuki Fujisawa in California, is announced the initiation of a collaborative research endeavor with Arcturus Therapeutics. This research collaboration is focused on evaluating innovative mRNA formulations and transdermal delivery mechanisms for vaccines and therapeutics. Arcturus Therapeutics was founded in 2013 and is based in San Diego.
‘Junior Theatre presents ‘Tomás and the Library Lady’
Junior Theatre’s January production of “Tomás and the Library Lady” has been selected as a World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 Community Initiative, highlighting young acting talent. The play focuses on a Mexican-American boy, the son of migrant farm workers, and the bond he forms with a librarian who introduces him to a love of reading. The play will run Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays at 2 p.m. from Jan. 12 to 21 at Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park.
The Original 40 Brewing Company announces new releases
The Original 40 Brewing Company has released Big Tings West Coast Double IPA and Baja Negra Mexican Dark Lager at its North Park brew pub. Both beers will be available on draft and in four packs of 16-oz cans. Big Tings has a 9.0 percent ABV (alcohol-by-volume), and it was brewed with Mosaic, Citra, and Centennial hops. Baja Negra has a 5.2 percent ABV, and it was brewed with Mexican lager yeast and a touch of caramel malt.
