Daily Business Report — Sept. 13, 2010

Officials Fear Loss of More Than 10,000 Downtown Jobs

More than 10,000 jobs would be at risk if the San Diego City Council approves a Planned District Ordinance amendment for Downtown hotel projects, according to an economic impact report prepared by opponents of the measure. The report is to be released today at 12:30 p.m. at headquarters of the San Diego Downtown Partnership, 401 B St.

Appearing to announce the report results will be City Council President Pro Tem Kevin Faulconer; Scott Maloni, chair of the San Diego Downtown Partnership; Ruben Barrales, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Andrew Poat of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.

The City Council is to hear the issue on Tuesday.

Torrey Reserve West Purchased for $27.3 Million

KBS Real Estate Investment Trust II has purchased Torrey Reserve West, an 118,030-square-foot office park in Del Mar Heights, for $27.3 million, or $231.30 per  square foot. It was the second recent acquisition by the trust following is purchase of the Horizon Tech Center in Scripps Ranch. The latest acquisition increases KBS-affiliated companies’ holdings in California to 15 properties totaling more than 2 million square feet. Torrey Reserve West consists of three, two-story buildings arranged on a 7.1-acre site. The property is 91 percent leased to six tenants, including Via Telecom, Xifin, Solekai Systems and Mir3 Corp. Of these tenants, three have recently expanded their offices and five call Torrey Reserve West their corporate headquarters. The acquisition closed on Sept. 9.  The seller was represented by Adam Edwards and Dan Broderick of Eastdil Secured.

Horizon Tech Center was purchased last June. It contains 157,884 square feet in three two-story office buildings. Lockheed Martin Corp. is the only property tenant and occupies all three buildings.

South County Economic Summit Scheduled for Sept. 17

South County Economic Development Council will host its 20th annual Economic Summit Sept. 17 at the San Diego Convention Center, a luncheon and program featuring panels of elected officials and local business leaders speaking on economic issues affecting regional development in the South County and border regions. The event lasts from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The summit will begin with a morning elected official panel followed by the luncheon, which will feature keynote speakers Ralph Rubio, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill; Charles Wax, Waxie Sanitary Supply; Scott McMillin, The Corky McMillin Cos.; Jose Galicot, entrepreneur in public and private industry; Joel A. Ayala, director of GoED; and Carlos Bustamonte Anchondo, mayor-elect of Tijuana.

The elected official panel will include speakers Congressman Bob Filner; Sen. Denise M. Ducheny; Assemblywoman Mary Salas; Assemblyman Marty Block; county Supervisor Greg Cox; San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders; Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos Hernandez; Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox; National City Mayor Ron Morrison; Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney; Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres Chabert; San Diego City Council President Ben Hueso; Coronado City Councilwoman Barbara Denny; and Port Commissioner Robert “Dukie” Valderrama.

County Agriculture Industry Stable

San Diego County’s agriculture industry remained steady in 2009 despite the ongoing recession, continued water-supply concerns and a record number of pest-related quarantines, according to a report by the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures. Overall, the industry’s value topped $1.548 billion in 2009, a decrease of roughly ¼ of 1 percent, .26 percent, from 2008. By contrast, California’s agriculture industry suffered a 9 percent decrease in value in 2009. “Growing in San Diego County has always been about adjusting to drought, freeze, fires, economy, pests and diseases,” said county Agriculture Commissioner Bob Atkins. “It’s good to see that growing in San Diego is still economically viable.”

San Diego County has 6,687 farms, more than any other county in the United States. Sixty eight percent of those are one to nine acres in size. Statewide, San Diego County is in the top five counties for producing cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, boysenberries and strawberries, grapefruit, Valencia oranges, tangelos and tangerines, honey and eggs.

The Top 10 crops in the county and their value:

1. Ornamental Trees and Shrubs: $365,203,494

2. Indoor Flowering & Foliage Plants: $290,880,000

3. Bedding Plants, Color: $227,796,845

4. Avocados: $130, 478,067

5. Tomatoes: $91,303,425

6. Lemons: $32,419,800

7. Cactus and Succulents: $23,640,375

8. Herbaceous Perennials: $26,340,718

9. Herbs: $20,731,624

10. Poinsettia: $19,500,000

Walker Hired as Project Manager for Domusstudio

Ken Walker has been hired as a project manager for architecture firm domusstudio. He has nearly a decade of experience with residential, institutional and commercial/retail design. Previously, Walker was a project designer, project manager and office manager for MW Steele Group Inc.

Walker earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 2002.

Letter to the Editor:

The death toll continues to rise at SeaWorld after a 12-year-old orca named Sumar died at the theme park’s San Diego location. Sumar died far short of the expected 50- to 60-year lifespan of orcas who roam the vast oceans, their rightful homes.

Orcas are intelligent marine mammals who think and plan and work cooperatively. They share complex extended family relationships and swim for up to 100 miles every day. At SeaWorld, their worlds have been reduced to tiny, barren concrete tanks where they perform tricks for food and splash shrieking crowds.

These animals will continue to live and die in misery as long as the public buys a ticket. The next time your family is considering a trip to SeaWorld, please ask yourself if it’s right to expect the lifelong confinement of intelligent and aware animals for a few hours of diversion. Please say no. Visit PETA.org to learn more.

Jennifer O’Connor, Research Specialist, PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510. (757) 622-7382, Ext. 8003.

SCORE San DiegoSmall Business Workshops

• Sept. 14 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 15 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 16 – Good Governance for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 17 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha De Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by 9/14, $45 thereafter; exhibitor rate: $85 by 9/14, $95 thereafter)

• Sept. 20 – Managing Grants & Contracts (for Non-Profits) – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door)

• Sept. 21 – Internet Marketing 301: Pay-Per-Click – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 22 – Marketing & Contracting w/ State & Local Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 23 – Internet Marketing 201 (SEO) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

• Sept. 24 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 25 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door)

• Sept. 27 – Internet Marketing 304: Tools/LinkedIn – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 28 – Restaurant 201 – 9 a.m. to noon at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 29 – Restaurant 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door)

• Sept. 30 – Internet Marketing 101 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door)

To register, visit score-sandiego.org.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.