54.3 F
San Diego
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
-Advertisement-

Regional Roundup



SAN DIEGO: Kyriba Manages to Double its Client Roster Last Year

Kyriba Corp., a local company that provides cash management options online, said Feb. 28 that it signed 56 new clients in 2007.

The company, which opened in 2000 and employs a staff of 130, has offices in New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It now has 130 clients, mainly corporate treasuries, insurance agencies and financial institutions.

, Jaimy Lee


VISTA: Tax Revenue Shortfall May Lead to City Staffing Woes

Due to reduced property and sales taxes, the city projects a $750,000 shortfall in revenue for the fiscal year that ends in June.

Because of the reduction, vacant positions in a number of areas may not be filled, city officials say.

Twenty-six positions from the 340-member staff are vacant, city officials say.

, Mike Allen


CHULA VISTA: $17 Million School to Help Students Become Techies

High Tech High, a charter school founded in 2000 to churn out science and math graduates, broke ground Feb. 28 on a campus east of state Route 125.

The 50,000-square-foot project’s estimated cost is $17 million, including land and design, says Grace Lee, special projects coordinator for the school. Completion is expected by the end of this year. Once built, the school will hold 550 students.

Bycor General Contractors of San Diego is the project manager. The designer is Studio E Architects of San Diego.

, Mike Allen


POWAY: $7.3M Housing Project in Works for City, Nonprofit

The city and an Escondido-based nonprofit, Community HousingWorks, have purchased an apartment complex and plan to remodel the building. Community HousingWorks is the developer and the city redevelopment agency granted a loan for the $7.3 million purchase price, according to Ingrid Alverde, city housing manager.

Amid city efforts to increase housing for low-income residents, the state Department of Housing and Community Development agreed to count the soon-to-be remodeled complex as affordable housing.

The developer, which is in escrow to buy the property, will meet with existing tenants, who are paying $1,025 in rent per month, to assess their eligibility to stay, says Alverde. When the sale closes at the end of March, the city will help the agency remodel the 35-year-old complex, which has 52 units.

, Liz Wiedemann


ESCONDIDO: Low-Income Residents Get $30 Million, 80-Unit Home

Las Ventanas Village, a new low-income housing project, has been praised by city officials for bringing new energy to South Escondido Boulevard.

The 80-unit project opened in late February, and it is the first housing complex in city history to have underground parking. It is also the second affordable-housing complex with a retail element on the ground floor.

City Councilman Ed Gallo says that just because the $30 million project is for low-income residents, does not mean it has to look that way.

, Liz Wiedemann


ENCINITAS: Ex-Gas Station Site Might Pump Up Parking Supply

Local merchants and the Chamber of Commerce are lobbying for more parking spaces as the City Council decides the future use of a city-owned parcel that is home to an old, vacated gas station.

The council recently voted unanimously to demolish the former pumping station near City Hall on the corner of E Street and Vulcan Avenue, which is one block east of Highway 101. A city inspection report determined that the property was unusable.

“Parking is becoming a real issue in our downtown area,” said Gary Tucker, chief executive officer of the chamber. “We’re sort of a victim of our own success a little, and in the hunt for finding additional parking wherever we can.”

A report to the council estimated that the site could accommodate 21 vehicles.

“We’re continually struggling for parking opportunities,” said Doug Long, president of the Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association.

, Ned Randolph


CORONADO: Loews Surfing Competition Has Gone to the Dogs

The sight of dogs on surfboards is set to return to the Silver Strand this summer.

The third annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition is set for June 28. The event will feature solo dogs, as well as dogs and their owners riding in tandem. Dogs and owners can take advantage of surf lessons on the day of the event, before the judging starts.

Imperial Beach Mayor Jim Janney is expected to be one of the judges for the event.

Sponsors include the Coronado Surfing Academy, the Lucky Dog Pet Boutique and Paw Yard. Loews stages the event as a fund-raiser to benefit the Modest Needs Foundation and Paws of Coronado.

, Brad Graves


SAN DIEGO: Cricket Hopes to Get Wired in With Spanish Speakers

Cricket Communications Inc. has renewed a yearlong contract with La Caliente Radio, a 24-hour Spanish radio station based in Louisville, Ky., to advertise its wireless services.

Terms of the contract state that the locally based wireless provider will be billed $24,000 for the first quarter of 2008. Cricket is a division of Leap Wireless International Inc.

La Caliente Radio is a division of Image Worldwide Inc.

, Jaimy Lee


SAN MARCOS: Grand Festival to Spring Onto City Streets in April

Organizers of the second annual Grand Spring Festival are accepting applications from vendors who want to sell their wares to the estimated crowd of 50,000 that participates each year.

The street festival features 300 booths. The Grand Spring Festival, which has spun off from the eighth annual Grand Summer Festival, is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 6 along Via Vera Cruz and Linda Vista Drive.

It includes the American Muscle Classic Car and Show, three entertainment stages, and a beer garden of local microbreweries and food from restaurants of Old California Restaurant Row.

Businesses interested in participating should contact the Chamber of Commerce at (760) 842-8857. An application can be downloaded at: www.kennedyfaires.com/sanmarcos.htm.

, Ned Randolph


SAN DIEGO: Leighton Now Associated With Statewide Honor

Leighton and Associates, a local engineering and environmental consulting firm, has earned an award in an annual statewide competition for its work on the Whispering Hills project in San Juan Capistrano.

Leighton was the only Honors Award recipient in the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California 2008 Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

Before development, Whispering Hills was a 353-acre parcel bisected by two canyon areas with natural steep slopes, and lay fallow for years. Today, it is home to San Juan Hills High School, San Juan Capistrano’s first high school, and will eventually include 145 single-family luxury homes and a 200-unit apartment complex.

Leighton provided the geologic oversight, observation and testing.

, Heather Chambers


OCEANSIDE: Jewelers, Sewers Craft New Chapter of Mafia Group

The local chapter of the Craft Mafia, a group of jewelers, paper crafters and sewers, became official in February. It is patterned after the Austin Craft Mafia in Texas, which began the national crafters’ organization.

The local Craft Mafia works to market the individual companies and their products by pooling resources. Visit www.oceansidecraftmafia.com to learn more.

, Connie Lewis


DEL MAR: Pacifica Caf & #233; Still Breezing Along at Shopping Plaza

Pacifica Breeze Caf & #233; renewed its lease at Del Mar Plaza. The 19-month lease for 1,185 square feet of space, which is valued at $19,370, was signed last month.

The lessee represented itself and the lessor was represented by Rob Ippolito of Cushman & Wakefield Inc.’s retail advisory team.

, Michelle Mowad


CARLSBAD: GeoAnalytics to Make All City Computer Systems Go

GeoAnalytics Inc. said that it has been retained to assist the city with a development services information systems plan. Financial terms of the contract were not released.

GeoAnalytics is a Madison, Wis.-based consulting company that specializes in the planning, design and implementation of computer systems.

, Connie Lewis


IMPERIAL BEACH: Pond 20 Planning Might Create Salty Situation

What to do with Pond 20?

Some consider the salt pond at the south end of San Diego Bay a good spot for commercial development. However, the plan must pass environmental muster, and three government agencies must agree.

Last month, Mayor Jim Janney and San Diego City Councilman Ben Hueso penned a letter to San Diego Unified Port District board Chairman Mike Bixler, asking the port to consider commercial development on Pond 20.

“Pond 20 can be the catalyst for improvements along the Palm Avenue corridor and improved fiscal resources for both cities and the South County region,” said the letter.

Council members here were to consider ratifying the letter during their March 5 meeting.

, Brad Graves

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-