$28 million financing secured for newly completed apartment building in North Park

JLL Capital Markets announced that it has arranged the $28 million construction take-out financing for Casa Verde, a 94-unit, modern, urban infill apartment community located in North Park. JLL represented the borrower, Champion Real Estate Investments, to secure the non-recourse floating-rate bridge loan.

The new loan retired a high-leverage construction loan, covered transaction costs and carry reserves and provided significant cash out to the sponsor, while allowing sufficient time for stabilization in anticipation of permanent financing.

Casa Verde is located at 3066 North Park Way and sits at the center of San Diego’s highly desirable North Park neighborhood. The project consists of studio and one-bedroom units, along with 3,000 square feet of restaurant space on the ground floor. Community amenities include barbeque and fire pit areas, expansive rooftop deck and clubhouse, bike repair and storage, and gated parking garage and floors.

The JLL Capital Markets Debt Advisory team was led by Director Olga Walsh and Analyst Jack Wood.

Adams Avenue Street Fair grows again

The 2023 Adams Avenue Street Fair, presented by U.S. Bank, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, from 1- a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Adams Avenue Street Fair, now celebrating its 41st year, is Southern California’s largest free two-day music festival.

This year, the Adams Avenue Street Fair has expanded two additional blocks, making the venue 10 blocks-long for the event’s 75 musical acts set to perform on seven stages. The Street Fair also features carnival rides, beer gardens, beer tastings, festival food and 300 exhibitors with unique offerings. Adams Avenue businesses are packed with customers over the weekend and are proud sponsors of the event.

The 2023 headlining performers are; local alt-rockers Lucy’s Fur Coat, American rockabilly and western swing band Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Bay Area punk-rockers The Avengers, San Diego’s gospel – blues group Earl Thomas & The Gospel Ambassadors, surf-punkers The Creepy Creeps, binational Cumbia banda La Diabla, Oregon rockers Beyond the Lamplight, Arizona funk-punk band Shooda Shook It, and DJ Nu-Mark.

For further information, please call (619) 282-7329, or visit the website adamsavenuestreetfair.com.

Lazy Acres gives back when customers reuse bags

Lazy Acres Natural Market is ramping up their commitment to the Mission Hills community, introducing a new in-store community program which will benefit local Mission Hills non-profits.

“We love being tucked away in this wonderful little neighborhood of Mission Hills. Our customers are like family and it gives us a big sense of purpose — to provide a healthy, safe, engaging, and fun shopping experience for all,” said Store Director Robert Harper.

The new Envirotokens program rewards customers who make the sustainable choice to reuse and keep single-use bags out of local landfills. When customers shop with their own grocery bags, Lazy Acres will give them a 10¢ Envirotoken per bag. The customer then pays it forward to one of six local non-profits, hand-selected for doing important work in the area, with a focus in K-12 education efforts, hunger relief and environmental stewardship.

The featured Mission Hills store non-profits include Art Reach San Diego, Grant Education Foundation, Kitchens for Good, San Diego Humane Society, San Diego River Park Foundation and The Center. Every month, Lazy Acres will tally up the Envirotokens totals, convert them into dollar amounts and send a check to each organization.

RTFH begins publishing monthly veteran homelessness data

 To provide the San Diego region with a better understanding of veteran homelessness, as well as the progress towards the functional zero goal outlined in the Leave No Veteran Homeless Initiative, the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) began publishing a monthly data report now available on the organization’s website.

“As a region, we’ve come together to get to functional zero for our veterans experiencing homelessness,” RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler said. “This monthly report will provide a progress report on how we’re doing to reach that goal, ensuring that we’re staying focused on leaving no veteran behind.”

Functional Zero is defined as the point when a community’s homeless services system is able to prevent homelessness whenever possible and ensure that when homelessness does occur, it is rare, brief, and one-time. This means that the number of veterans experiencing homelessness monthly is consistently less than are routinely housed each month. It’s a monthly data-driven measure.

Wilshire Quinn Capital awards $10,000 musical arts scholarship

Wilshire Quinn Capital, which has a Downtown San Diego office, has awarded a $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship to Sanjana Dhanasekaran, a 20-year-old pianist. The funds will be applied to her enrollment as a sophomore at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Dhanasekaran will act as a member of the Missouri Music Teachers Association’s student chapter.

San Diego Watercolor Society opens international show

The San Diego Watercolor Society is proud to announce the opening of The 43rd Annual International Show and Exhibition. Established in 1965, the San Diego Watercolor Society has grown into one of the largest and most active in the United States with the International Exhibition serving as the annual highlight over four decades. The celebrated exhibition is globally recognized for the highest standard of excellence in water-based art. This year’s show was the most competitive in its storied history, with a record 803 entries from artists worldwide and cash awards totaling more than $20,000.

The opening reception will be held on Friday, Oct. 6 from 5-8 p.m. in SDWS’s gallery in Liberty Station’s Arts and Culture District. The show will feature carefully curated works in a variety of water-based media including watercolor, gauche and acrylic from 105 internationally known and collected artists. Dean Mitchell from Tampa, Florida was chosen “Best in Show” and was awarded $5000 for his piece “Rowena and Her Little Friend.”

Proceeds from the show help SDWS to fund the gallery and aid with community outreach. Last year, the program provided art supplies and instruction to over 300 artistically underserved elementary school students and senior center residents in San Diego County. The callery show will be open daily from October 1 – 31, 2023, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Paintings will also be available for online viewing and purchase Oct. 1 en sdws.org.

SD Auto Museum’s bootleggers exhibit

The San Diego Automotive Museum opened its newest exhibit, Bootleggers: A Trip Down the Whiskey Road. Through this exhibit, visitors will explore the relationship between moonshine running and the origins of NASCAR. It will include vehicles that were most commonly modified for “whiskey running” that served as the inspiration for modern muscle cars, as well as authentic bootlegging equipment. Cars featured will illustrate the conversation between whiskey cars and the drag racers running the dry lakebeds and salt flats in California and the West, in legendary exchanges of technology that allowed racers to set records in their creatively performance-enhanced vehicles. 

The exhibit features a 1936 Ford Coupe, 1930 Ford Model A Pickup, 1966 Dodge Coronet, 1936 Ford Model 68 Pickup, 1947 Ford Police Cruiser, and authentic antique bootlegging equipment. 

Bootlegger’s: A Trip Down Whiskey Road will be on display until February 11, 2024. The San Diego Automotive Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit  www.sdautomuseum.org. 

Canyoneers launches season of free, guided hikes

The Canyoneers with the San Diego Natural History Museum announced their new—50th—season of free, guided hikes. Sixty hikes will be offered this season, beginning Sept. 10, 2023, and continuing through June 22, 2024. Nature enthusiasts can see the full schedule (and register) at sdnat.org/canyoneers.

One of the few trail guide groups nationwide that’s affiliated with a museum rather than a park or reserve, the Canyoneers are San Diego Natural History Museum volunteers with comprehensive training from museum scientists and other local experts on the natural history of our region.

The 2023-2024 season spans 10 months (they take a break in July and August to avoid the hottest times of the year). The Canyoneers cover diverse terrain, ranging from easy coastal or urban trails to tough treks across Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and our many mountain ranges.

The hikes are free, but in order to help create the best experience for hikers and the least impact on the environment, capacity is limited, and advanced online registration is required.

$3m Urban Greening grant awarded for City Heights’ Manzanita Canyon

San Diego Canyonlands and Ocean Discovery Institute announced a $3million, three-year initiative to complete the Manzanita Greening and Canyon Health Project, lessening wildfire and flood risks, helping wildlife thrive, and enhancing community access to nature-based learning and recreation. Funds were awarded by the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Program and build upon a history of support for Manzanita Canyon by City Heights community volunteers, who recognize that clean, safe, vibrant open spaces in urban canyons improves their quality of life.

SDG&E pioneers virtual power plant to ease strain on power grid

San Diego Gas & Electric is piloting a new cleantech innovation known as a virtual power plant (a VPP) to reduce energy demand and put electricity back on the grid during peak hours – all through leveraging the capabilities of customer-owned smart thermostats, rooftop solar, energy storage and other connected resources such as water pumps. A VPP network can comprise a wide range of devices and resources – everything from home appliances such as electric vehicles and chargers to HVAC equipment and solar plus battery energy storage systems.

State awards City of San Diego $45 million for new housing

The City of San Diego will receive $45 million in state funding to help spur the development of climate-friendly homes. “This funding will speed up and reduce the cost of constructing housing by paying for water and sewer hookups, sidewalk improvements, parks, green space, and other improvements that are the connective tissue for housing,” said Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez.

The state also awarded $45 million to the City and County of San Francisco, $45 million to the City of Fresno, $40 million to the City of Oakland, $35 million to the Housing Authority of Los Angeles, $20 million to the City of El Cerrito and $9 million to the City of Santa Rosa.

Navy evaluating Old Town Campus redevelopers

The Navy received proposals for the Old Town Campus (OTC) Revitalization project from shortlisted master developers by the August 9th deadline and has started the evaluation process.

The Step 2: Request for Proposals source selection evaluation process will identify the team whose proposal conforms to the solicitation, best meets Naval Information Warfare Systems Command’s (NAVWAR) mission requirements, and represents the best value to the government. The Navy plans to select one proposer by the end of calendar year 2023 to enter into a period of exclusive negotiations.

On April 10, 2023, the Navy shortlisted four potential master developers that advanced to Step 2. The four shortlisted potential master developers had approximately four months to prepare their proposals to include technical and financial information to specify how they would achieve the Navy’s project requirements. Proposals include details such as site and design drawings for the new government facilities; demonstration of the concept for private development; specifics on how they would finance the project; and a proposed schedule for achieving key milestones of the government facilities.

The Navy will work with the selected master developer on multiple options for the private development of OTC, while continuing to evaluate the feasibility of a NAVWAR-only development funded by traditional military construction methods. 

Take a daycation at local hotels with ResortPass

ResortPass has created a way for San Diego locals to play tourists in their own city through their daycation booking platform.

Founded five years ago, ResortPass has partnered up with more than 1,000 hotels to offer day passes to luxury amenities – including pool, spa, gym, and private beach access – at a discounted rate.

Locals – or ambitious tourists – can pop in to enjoy the benefits of a hotel guest without actually booking an overnight stay.

“ResortPass is a way for locals and travelers alike to experience the amenities at a range of hotels – many four and five-stars – and really have a luxurious daycation, regardless if they live in that city or are traveling and staying at an Airbnb or another property,” said Nicole Maddern, ResortPass’ vice president of marketing. “We see a lot of locals enjoy ResortPass as a way to get away and take their family to the pool or have a romantic day with their partner, or a fun time out with friends.”

With over 250 participating cities worldwide, San Diego is among one of the more frequented partnering destinations. Whether looking to snag a $10 day-pass to InterContinental’s four-star rooftop pool downtown or access to Hotel del Coronado’s cabanas and beach lawn chairs, locals can choose from more than 40 hotels located across San Diego.

13k tourism job openings in SD

According to Tourism Economics, San Diego County has nearly 13,000 Leisure and Hospitality job openings today. The San Diego Tourism Authority and the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center sponsored the study in the hopes of highlighting the many opportunities for well-paid full-time and part-time work in the region. Many of these jobs have low barriers to entry, no degree required and pay an average of $28 an hour. A career in tourism can be a launchpad for diverse, successful, and unexpected professional trajectories.

Airport Authority hosts ‘Meet the Primes’

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority will host a “Meet the Primes” event on Sept. 7, a free annual networking program designed to connect the business community with San Diego International Airport prime contractors and concessionaires, public agencies, banks, businesses and financial support services, and regional partners.

Attendees will learn about construction, concession, and professional service opportunities and regional teaming, partnership, contracting opportunities, and valuable resources through networking at exhibitor booths with prime contractors and Airport Authority departments.

The event is from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom, 2150 Pan American West Road, San Diego.

Registration is now open at SANPrimes23.eventbrite.com; here you can view more details about exhibitors in attendance. For more information on the Airport Authority’s Small Business Development Program, visit san.org/smallbusiness.

Study: half of San Diegans learn finances in adulthood

Nearly half (46%) of San Diego residents report learning about how to manage their finances after they’ve started their adult lives (ages 25+), according to a new study by financial services firm Edward Jones conducted by Morning Consult. Almost half (40%) of people’s financial advice comes from friends, family or themselves – and nearly one in five (16%) San Diego adults use online resources for their financial education.

San Diego residents have a moderate level of confidence in their personal financial futures compared to other U.S cities. However, almost one in three (32%) are not confident in their own financial wellness, and 33% of San Diego adults are concerned about their current financial standing.

Despite the lack of earlier education, San Diego residents are eager to learn more about a number of financial topics. Respondents from the survey indicated an interest in improving their acumen in investing in the markets (40%), preparing for financial fitness in retirement (36%), debt management (30%) and managing their taxes (28%). They also noted having minimal knowledge of important financial topics including financial caregiving (89%), managing student debt (82%) and investing in the markets (81%).

Student crime and safety webinar

RoomChazer.com, San Diego’s leading off-campus housing platform, will host “San Diego Safety: What Students and Our Community Need To Know,” a community safety webinar featuring speakers from the San Diego Police Department, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and SAY San Diego presenting valuable information on safety and crime trends, tips and topics at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at roomchazer.com.

The webinar will provide valuable personal, online, and community safety information and resources to students, school housing administrators, property management professionals, and community members, highlighted by three outstanding expert speakers focusing on issues affecting the San Diego community.

Officer Jessica Thrift from the San Diego Police Department will overview “Keeping Yourself Safe/Neighborhood Crime”, Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero will discuss “Protecting Yourself from Online Internet Crime and Scams” and Will Perno of leading community organization SAY San Diego will review “The Fentanyl Crisis in San Diego.”