530 B Street to be converted to residential

Encinitas-based Ambient Communities purchased the 24-story office tower in Downtown for $27,500,000 at the end of October.

The 250,181-square-foot skyscraper has been a prominent part of San Diego’s skyline since its construction in 1966. At the time of the sale, it was 76.8% occupied, with US Bank as a major tenant occupying 77,414 square feet. Ambient Communities plans to eventually convert the office building to primarily residential units as part of its broader investment strategy. In the interim, Kidder Mathews will manage the building.

Lawsuit over Padres control

Sheel Seidler, the widow of beloved Padres owner Peter Seidler, sued two of his brothers, Matthew and Robert Seidler, in order to prevent another brother, John Seidler, from becoming the control person of the Padres. One of her main pieces of evidences that her late husband wanted her as the control person rather than his siblings is a hand-written note listing who he wanted as a control person with her at the top then their three children before any of his brothers were listed. Matthew, who is currently the executor of Peter’s trust, and Robert, a former executor of the trust, have denied allegations that they engaged in self-dealing in order to prevent Sheel from being involved in the management of the Padres. In a statement, the Pete Seidler Trust said the lawsuit is without merit and Peter had a clear estate plan. Since Peter’s death in November 2023, the Padres have cut salaries for the team from a record $257 million in 2023 to $166 million in 2024.

New opening: City’s first guest-only hotel

Newly opened in San Diego, the Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter honors the history of the city and its building while offering an exclusive contemporary oasis—one that is open to only its guests and their friends. The city’s first hotel of its kind and first Design Hotels member, the Granger Hotel combines original architectural details dating back to 1904 with custom contemporary artworks and a curated selection of vintage and bespoke furniture. Here, guests are joined only by fellow travelers in a playful, private urban retreat.

The sultry design, which references eras from the 1920s to the 70s, extends throughout the 96 guestrooms, including suites and lofts. Wide and dimly lit corridors, lined with the building’s original 120-year-old doors (retrofitted for sound and safety), give way to studio loft-style rooms with handcrafted built-ins and custom rattan armoires, vintage books, and unique artworks juxtaposed by original tin ceilings and windows.

Nonstop flight between DC, SD

Alaska Airlines won approval from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin nonstop service between  Aeropuerto Internacional de San Diego (SAN) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Alaska Airlines applied to provide the SAN-DCA nonstop flight when the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed and allocated additional flights to and from heavily regulated DCA. Nonstop flights from cities farther than 1,250 miles from DCA are limited by a perimeter rule that requires special approval from the DOT.

San Diego, with its large military presence, is one of the largest government-related travel markets in the country, driven by demand for key institutions closest to DCA, including the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security. The next closest airport, Dulles International, is nearly an hour’s drive from the Pentagon.

Porter Airlines celebrates inaugural flight between Toronto, SD

Porter Airlines celebrated the departure of its first nonstop flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Toronto-Pearson International Airport (YYZ) during an inaugural celebration on Dec. 10. Porter Airlines is the 18th airline to offer service from San Diego. This inaugural flight marks the beginning of four-weekly nonstop flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and further expands service from San Diego to Toronto and other Canadian destinations. Passengers can also enjoy seamless connections to Europe with Porter’s airline partner, Air Transat through connections at Toronto-Pearson Airport.

All nonstop SAN-YYZ flights are operated with the new Embraer E195-E2 which features 132 seats in a two-by-two seating configuration per row –which means no middle seat– and is equipped with free Wi-Fi for all passengers.

Events.com acquires Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival

Events.com, an industry-leading event management platform, announced the acquisition of the renowned Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival, a marquee cultural event in the heart of San Diego. This acquisition underscores Events.com’s commitment to enhancing the live event experience and expanding its influence within Southern California’s vibrant festival landscape. Launched in 2019, the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival has quickly become a must-attend event for music lovers and art enthusiasts. Held annually along San Diego’s downtown waterfront, the festival combines a diverse lineup of more than 80 musical acts alongside art, food, and cultural experiences to create a one-of-a-kind three-day experience.

Quick Bites to open in Little Italy

A new café concept, Quick Bites, is set to open its doors in Little Italy, offering an accessible alternative for those seeking fresh, high-quality meals without the typical costs of dining in the area. The café will have a soft opening on Jan. 8, 2025, followed by their grand opening on Jan. 15, 2025.

Founded by Gloire Bora, Quick Bites addresses a gap in the neighborhood’s dining landscape by offering premium grab-and-go options in an area dominated by upscale, sit-down restaurants. The café’s menu will focus on handcrafted sandwiches and salads, prepared with freshly baked focaccia bread made onsite. Guests will also find regular coffee, fresh juices, and cold brew from local partner DropKick Cold Brew.

Bora, who moved to San Diego from Uganda nine years ago, brings a unique perspective to the project. After working in the food industry at Pappalecco for five years and later transitioning to entrepreneurship with Go Postal, he decided to return to his passion for food. Recognizing how difficult it has become to find a decent, affordable meal in today’s dining landscape, Bora envisioned Quick Bites as a solution for the community. The café is a family-run endeavor, with Bora’s wife, mother, and sister-in-law playing integral roles in its operations.

Civico 1845 named best vegan-friendly restaurant

la pequeña italia Cívico 1845, a cornerstone in San Diego’s Italian and plant-based cuisine, earned America’s “Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant” in the 2024 VegNews Restaurant Awards. The annual awards honor standout vegan spots in the country, including fine-dining restaurants, bakeries, doughnut shops and other eateries.

Readers and expert judges of VegNews crowned Civico 1845 and its sister restaurant, Civico 2064 in Los Angeles, as first place. Owned and operated by native Italian brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo for nearly 10 years, Civico 1845 became a hot spot by offering a full plant-based menu alongside traditional dishes. Signature vegan offerings include fried zucchini blossoms, eggplant parmigiana and baked almond ricotta.

Civico 1845 is one of only four restaurants in San Diego to be ranked by Gambero Rosso International – the definitive resource on the most authentic Italian restaurants around the world. Attesting to its roots, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Italian Trade Agency selected Civico 1845 as an ambassador of Italian cuisine at the start of the year.

Mr. Moto Pizza announces discounted pizzas on Mondays

Every Monday this month, guests are invited to receive one free order of chicken wings (6 piece) when purchasing any large pizza. Limit 1 per order. Mondays only. Not valid on Gluten free or through 3rd party order platforms. Simply use code “motowings” at checkout! Flavors available include buffalo and BBQ.

This announcement follows a similar initiative in November where pizzas were free on Mondays, with customers urged to donate instead. After their Moto Gone Crazy campaign, they donated $3,000 to the YMCA.

“Found Adrift” unveiled at artist collaborative in Barrio Logan

On December 6, San Diego Artist and Designer Ron Miriello unveiled an extensive new series of art pieces and installations called “Found Adrift | Timeless new works inspired by an 1876 seaweed scrapbook.” The exhibition opened to the public for one night only in San Diego’s dynamic Barrio Logan Arts District in the former Woodbury School of Architecture building, which is now being transformed into a creative collaborative called Studio Culture. It will be available for viewing by appointment only through January before moving onto showings in Rome and Paris later in 2025.

1500 downloads of local indie film streamer

The San Diego Indie Film Network (SDIFN)  is thrilled to announce that it has reached a milestone of 1,500 installs, marking a significant step forward in its mission to revolutionize television distribution. This innovative platform allows local filmmakers to self-distribute their work on large streaming networks, providing a unique opportunity for independent creators to reach a broader audience, even while they pursue agreements with more traditional distributors.

The SDIFN Roku channel, launched earlier this year, has quickly become a hub for San Diego’s vibrant indie film community. By offering a space for filmmakers to showcase their content, SDIFN is breaking down traditional barriers to entry in the entertainment industry. The channel features a diverse range of films, from thought-provoking dramas to thrilling shorts, all created by talented local artists.

Father Joe’s celebrates 75 years

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of Pueblos del Padre Joe, San Diego’s largest organization fighting to end homelessness throughout the region.

Once known as the St. Vincent de Paul Center, Father Joe’s Villages has led the region in providing innovative, holistic solutions that have helped tens of thousands of individuals and families transition away from life on the streets and into permanent homes.

City seeks volunteers for boards, commissions

As the season of fresh starts and New Year’s resolutions gets underway, the City of San Diego is inviting residents to kick off 2025 by making a difference in their community. Volunteering for one of the City’s boards and commissions offers San Diegans a chance to get involved and help shape the future of their city.

City boards and commissions play an important role in guiding San Diego’s policies, regulations and community priorities. With nearly 50 boards and commissions, there are numerous opportunities for residents to contribute their skills and perspectives to a range of areas.

To be considered for a board or commission, applicants must complete an online application, which asks for information such as employment history, references and specific interests related to the board or commission. Some board seats have specific requirements as to an applicant’s skills, political affiliation or demographics.

MTS hires research firm to advance equity in policy

he San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) hired Keen Independent Research to help the agency develop an Equity Statement and Equity Policy that reflects the agency’s commitment to equitably serving the public.

To complete this work, Keen Independent Research will assess MTS’ current service delivery and collect input from riders, other local residents and employees. In 2022, MTS conducted a Social Equity Listening Tour to identify the needs and priorities of hard-to-reach community members. The agency used the information to fund improvements such as new shelters and lighting, better trash cans to help address cleanliness, beautification and more.

Keen Independent Research will build on these efforts to help the agency craft the Equity Statement and Policy. The research firm is joined by local firms SVPR Communications and Yen Tu Consulting. Together, the study team will collect input from the community and MTS staff through interviews, listening sessions and virtual workshops where respondents can anonymously provide their impressions of MTS and how it serves the public.

Library’s Winter Reading Challenge

Pick up a new book in the new year and join the City of San Diego Public Library’s (SDPL) Winter Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is Be a Reading Machine and focuses on the world of engineering, invention and high-tech skills.

The Winter Reading Challenge runs from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 2025, and is open to readers of all ages. Participants can earn prizes by completing a combination of five books, five hours of reading or literacy-based activities like attending a library STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) program, creating a simple do-it-yourself machine or using a free tool to learn more about coding. Upon completion, readers will be eligible for prizes, including museum passes, a bendable robot and a special edition robot pin featuring Odi, SDPL’s mascot.

Participants can register online and view a list of recommended books and activities by visiting sandiego.gov/WinterReading. Registration is also available in person at any SDPL location and participants can visit the SDPL calendar online to find storytimes and book discussions near them.

Handyperson Exemption increases to $1k

A new law raised the threshold for work requiring a contractor’s license from $500 to $1,000.

Assembly Bill 2622 (Carrillo, Chapter 240, Statutes of 2024), effective January 1, 2025, will allow an unlicensed person to complete small projects up to $1,000 without obtaining a contractor’s license if they do not hire workers and no building permits are needed. If a consumer’s project under $1,000 requires workers or permits, a contractor’s license in the appropriate license classification is required.

The new law states that a person who is not licensed may advertise for construction work if the total contract price for labor, materials, and all other items on a project is less than $1,000. The $1,000 includes all costs associated with the project. The advertisement must state the person is not licensed.