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Vol. 23 No. 7 July 2015
THE MAN WHO BROUGHT TARGET TO SOUTH PARK On local outcry, Saad Hirmez says, ‘The community needs to keep an open mind’
Appeal Filed in Jack in the Box Lawsuit Care About North Park is pressing forward with its legal battle against Jack in the Box and the city of San Diego over a controversial drivethrough lane. PAGE 2
Saints Scholars St. Augustine High graduating seniors Julio Serrano and Andres Bustos are both winners of the highly prized Gates Millennium Scholarship an award that will cover all their academic costs from college through graduate school. PAGE 6
South Park businessman Saad Hirmez created a vocal firestorm in the community last year when word got out that he had leased the building housing the now-shuttered Gala Foods market to Target for a TargetExpress store at the Fern and Grape street site. The news led to the creation of Care About South Park, a group of local residents, homeowners and business owners determined to keep Target out of the neighborhood. “By occupying the largest building in the heart of South Park, Target would define our neighborhood, permanently altering its unique and charming personality,” the organization declares on its website. A protest rally was held, and the organization urged a boycott of the store after it opened. Despite the opposition, Target representatives reported at a June 22 meeting of the Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee that the TargetExpress store would open on Oct. 7. In this Q&A with North Park News, Saad Hirmez gives an explanation of SEE TARGET, Page 12
Discovering the Maya “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed,” an original exhibition, has opened at the San Diego Natural History Museum and will be on view through Jan. 3, 2016. PAGE 10
Doctors With Big Hearts Lend Healing Hands Fresh Start Surgical Gifts transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens with physical deformities through free reconstructive surgery. PAGE 21
Businessman Saad Hirmez at the now closed Gala Foods market.
Rendering of the outside of the TargetExpress store. (Target photo)
Planners’ Density Dreams Are About to Come True on El Cajon Boulevard More than 800 new rental units are on the horizon B Z
Y OE SCHAVER
| VOICE OF SAN DIEGO
El Cajon Boulevard is about to become a test case for San Diego’s vision of a neighborhood packed with dense, affordable urban housing. The question is whether public funds and community plans will keep up with the boulevard’s development boom. Running from North Park out toward San Diego State University and La Mesa, El Cajon Boulevard passes through eight diverse communities, including Normal Heights, University Heights, City Heights and Kensington-Talmadge. More than 800 new rental units will start construction along the boulevard in the next two years. For comparison, about 500 new units went up in the entire decade from 2005 to 2015. The corridor also received heavy public investment recently, including the full restoration of the Lafayette Hotel, which planners call the “jewel” of El Cajon Boulevard, and the $44 million bus rapid transit project that debuted last year. That, plus a gradual increase in land values, peaked develSEE BLVD, Page 13
‘We’ve done 20 years of public improvements, but there’s more to do,’ says Beryl Forman, marketing director of the Boulevard Improvement Association.
NEWS
2 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
Appeal Filed in Jack in the Box Lawsuit Case Care About North Park steps up drive to raise funds for legal fees Undeterred by a judge’s ruling against them in January, members of Care About North Park are pressing forward with their legal battle against Jack in the Box and the city of San Diego over a controversial drivethrough lane at the fast food chain’s store at 30th and Upas streets. The residents’ group has also launched a fundraising drive to finance its campaign. Care About North Park sued Jack in the Box and the city, claiming the fast-food chain skirted the city zoning laws by including a drive-through lane and window as part of the renovation of the store building. The city, it said, should not have allowed that to happen. Zoning changes that were made after Jack in the Box opened in the 1960s prohibits new drive-through restaurants in that location. Superior Court Judge Robert Prager dismissed the lawsuit in January without ruling on any of the claims made by Care About North Park. He said the suit was filed too late. Rick Pyles, one of the leaders of Care About North Park, said the organization has formally filed an appeal with the court and is now trying to raise a total of $10,000 for legal fees which, if reached, would be matched by a $10,000 pledge from an anonymous donor. As of June 30,
the group had collected $2,400. “This generous matching pledge was made as an incentive for individual donors to support our cause and hopefully be an effective motivation for contributions,” said Pyles. “I suppose it is also a test of sorts to see how committed the community is.” Pyles said the purpose of the appeal is to have Care About North Park’s lawsuit heard at a full trial. “When our appeal is upheld, the case will be scheduled for trial. All of the court papers for the trial itself are
Rick Pyles
already filed, and the trial fees are already paid, other than incidentals which may arise when we actually reach the trial date,” he said. “We are confident we will prevail at trial on the merits of our case.”
Care About North Park’s ultimate goal is to get Jack in the Box to remove its drive-through lane. “It can’t be emphasized enough that we are not looking for any special consideration here,” said Pyles. “There are definitely many changes the community would like to see Jack in the Box make, but the drive through lane is specifically addressed in San Diego zoning and land development laws and regulations. Jack in the Box was fully aware of all of this from the very start. “Removing the drive through lane would also eliminate the need for the west entry access on Dale Street, a residential side street that now handles nearly all of the entering drive through traffic, which can often block the sidewalk and queue up into the street. I don’t know of another example in the city where a commercial entry is located on a strictly residential street.” According to Pyles, a key element of the North Park Community Plan update process is the creation of a more walkable, less auto-centric community as a whole. “Instead of enforcing any of those laws or goals, the city has enabled Jack in the Box to preserve and advance the auto intensive use at this confusing and dangerous intersection at 30th and Upas St. and continue endangering a residential neighborhood for what
could be decades to come,” said Pyles. When asked whether is organization had received any help in its campaign from Councilman Todd Gloria, Pyles responded with a simple “no.” “A lot of people in the community feel very let down by Mr. Gloria,” he said. “Back in 2013, the final act of (then) Mayor Bob Filner before he left office was to issue a Stop Use Order to Jack in the Box specifically and solely for the drive-through. Within hours, the very first act of Interim Mayor Gloria was to rescind that order, to the disappointment and anger of a large number residents who had been assured of his support.” Gloria has said that he took that action to avoid a lawsuit against the city by Jack in the Box.
BY MANNY CRUZ
Pyles said the only action taken by city officials was the update to the Land Development Code, which was supposed to clarify what constitutes a “teardown” of a building vs. a “remodel,” to prevent a similar violation from happening again. “The new language is different, but lacks real teeth, and leaves loopholes which will likely be exploited for the same purpose,” said Pyles. For a complete history and detailed information on the organization’s lawsuit, visit the website: CareAboutNorthPark.com. For updates on Facebook, visit: facebook.com/DoTheRightThingJack. Donate to the cause at: GoFundMe.com/supportourappeal .
HEALTH
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 3
Ask Dr. Z Why do I pass out when my blood is drawn? Most people have heard of the “fight or flight” reaction to a threat. Run away from the bear or hype up to fight it. Blood pressure and heart rate rise, adrenaline surges, and you are ready for anything. However, there is a little known alternative reaction to threats, common in children and young adults, which is to “fall or faint.” The little ones cannot fight or run to escape the wild animal, so their bodies force them to faint so they appear dead. The heart rate and blood pressure fall, and they are very pale and breathe very shallowly. The threat usually passes them by. Our bodies interpret a needle in the arm as an injury and a threat, so your body does what it can to protect you.
dries it out greatly. Finally, if we take medication at night, we need more fluids to process it through the kidneys and liver through the night. A nice tall glass of water in the morning usually helps. However, things to worry about would be excessive snoring or snorting at night, which could mean sleep apnea. Diabetes causes a dry mouth as well, usually with excessive urination. If these are happening, be sure to see your doctor to check for these.
Can you turn orange from eating too many carrots? Yes, indeed, your palms can turn a slight orange tinge if you are a carrot aficionado! Why? Because carrots have a lot of Carotene in them and it is naturally an orange color. It is stored in the fat cells, and so the color can show through the thinner skin of the palms Why do I have a dry mouth or face. It is not permanent, and is barely noticeable, so chomp away! every morning? There are many reasons we wake up with a dry mouth. We have not had a Dr. Tara Zandvliet welcomes your queslot to drink for the last (hopefully) tions. Send them to questions@ southeight hours, and so we are usually parkdoctor.com. She practices at 2991 slightly dehydrated. Also, we may Kalmia St. Phone: (619) 929-0032. breathe through our mouths, which
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HELLO
Holsem Coffee, 2911 University Ave., opened recently to solid reviews and a full house. Personable manager is always on site to greet regulars and newbies: nice touch. Crazee Burger, 3993 30th St. is now at its new location adding more mustard to 30th & Lincoln. Heaven Sent Desserts has moved to 3011 University, adding new meaning to cake walk. Grand Ole BBQ Y Asado, 3302 32nd St., is a caterer only spot seeking to open restaurant operations very soon. Breakfast Republic has opened at 2730 University Ave., former location of Western Steakburger. Johan Engma is the owner. Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Barn Brewery has opened at 2850 El Cajon Blvd., next door to San Diego Soup Shoppe.
Crazee Burger
Heaven Sent Desserts
GOOD-BYE
Wang’s restaurant closed its doors in May. According to North Park Scene, Und1sputed Gym was a victim of its closing, The gym had
sub-let the basement from Wang’s. Und1sputed has announced its scouting for a new location in North Park. Pawn shop at 30th & Lincoln gives way to new Crazee Burger. Mosaic Wine Bar, 3422 30th St. is adios and rumors of its replacement are many, including a takeover by owners of Smoking Goat restaurant. Western Steakburger, 2730, University Ave., the venerable Greek-style and burger restaurant closes after owner retires. Breakfast Republic takes its place.
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COMMUNITY
4 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
MOSAIC ART PIECING TOGETHER A NEW ART SCHOOL BY COLETTE MAUZERALLE
Normal Heights is now home to a creative new experience via the San Diego Mosaic School, where art enthusiasts can join nationally acclaimed mosaic artist and designer Kim Emerson for in-depth workshops intended to bring art enrichment to the community. The school is Emerson’s way of giving back through the art form she has grown to know and love — an art form that, prior to this spring, was not taught elsewhere in San Diego. With chisel in hand and 24 years of experience, Emerson is changing all that. With her Bachelor of Arts in Architectural History and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation of Architecture, Emerson has always been drawn to the world of art and structure. Her passion for mosaics began while working for an architect on historic preservation projects. During this time, she was given an opportunity to travel to Tijuana to build a school in a poor neighborhood. “On my first day of volunteering I was given a bucket of adhesives for tile and quickly began mosaicking the little girls’ restroom. Ever since then I have been hooked,” says Emerson. Following this experience she began piecing together mosaics in her home, starting small with teapots and flower pots before tackling larger
projects including public art installations. She began teaching mosaic after realizing that the general population did not consider it a serious art form, nor were there many educational opportunities to learn the techniques. Emerson believes this lack of understanding and resources leads to poorly executed public and private art installations. “If people are going to put that much money and time into a project, then it needs to be done correctly. You need to use the right adhesives and grouts and substrate,” says Emerson. “I opened the school to foster a better understanding of mosaics. I think a lot of people want to learn and I want to steer them in the right direction.” Classes at the school are geared toward all levels. Emerson offers fresh insight to those with some degree of experience while laying a strong foundation for students who are firsttimers, believing that “when there are different levels of learning going on, we all benefit.” Workshops delve not only into best practices, but current trends. Right now, Emerson has students working with hammers and chisels used in ancient Rome, asserting that there is a certain cut an artist can create using these traditional tools that cannot be reproduced with a tile saw or nippers. During each class, students create their own masterpiece using a wide selection of “tesserae,” a term mean-
ing pieces of broken ceramic, glass, dishes, stones and other items used in mosaic art. Thus far, participants have created everything from abstract to Roman-style images, with many opting for floral and garden scenes. One student recently created a Pompeii-inspired sign reading “Pave cana” which, in ancient Rome, translates to “beware of dog.” The school’s two day-long workshops take place each Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Beginning in June, shorter classes will be offered on Thursday evenings between 5 and 9 p.m. Class size is limited to six students to ensure an optimal learning experience, and participants are provided with all tools and adhesives as well as a woodframed surface on which they create their mosaic. A healthy lunch, tea, coffee and water are also included. Ultimately, Emerson considers mosaics a healing art and would like its effects to reach children, teens, seniors and those with different needs who may benefit from it. She hopes her school will nurture a community of mosaicists and elevate the awareness of mosaic as a serious art form, as well as bring beauty to the community. “I believe in the sense of beauty and that we in the art world need to bring that back in order to balance out daily life,” says Emerson. Contact the San Diego Mosaic School at www.kimemersonmosaics.com or call (619) 379-1123.
Owner Kim Emerson works on a giant mosaic at the San Diego Mosaic School.
Kim Emerson adds detail to a mosaic.
Mosaic at Rady Children’s Hospital
‘River of Life’ mosaic at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Kim Emerson leads a workshop at the school.
COMMUNITY
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 5
‘Think, Drink, Science’ Beer-ology To Raise Funds for STEM Initiative nology, engineering and math in adults and what better way to begin than through “beer-ology” at their inaugural “Think, Drink, Science” fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 15 at The Homebrewer in North Park, located at 2911 El Cajon Blvd. “Think, Drink, Science” welcomes educators, parents, fellow science enthusiasts, and beer lovers to come learn about “beer-ology" — the science behind the brewing process while enjoying delicious homebrewed beers and appetizers. All attendees will receive eight 4-oz. tastings, appetizers at each station, and a complimentary tasting glass to bring home. Tickets are just $27 per person and the event is open to guests age 21 and up. Proceeds support the festival’s We Love STEM initiative, which supports field trips and underwrites STEM focused classroom supplies for teachers throughout San Diego County. “’While our mission is to serve
future. If we can get parents hooked on STEM learning and education, it will pave the way for students to embrace STEM as well.” Event Details:
our primary audience of K-12 students, our new ‘Think, Drink, Science’ is the first event on our schedule specifically for adults,” says Sara Pagano, managing director, San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering. “When children come out to our events during festival week and our EXPO Day, their faces light up and the love of STEM is ignited,
so we thought, why not host an event for adults? Craft beer is a burgeoning industry in the San Diego region, and since our goal is to show how science and engineering is right in our ‘backyard,’ ‘Think, Drink, Science’ is a great way to expose the intricate science of something many enjoy everyday and see the career opportunities in this field for the
“Think, Drink, Science” Date: Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 Session 1: 12 noon – 2 p.m. Session 2: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Location: The Homebrewer, 2911 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego Tickets are $27 This is a 21 and up event. Website: lovestemsd.org/content/ think-drink-science About The Homebrewer
The Homebrewer: Resource Center was founded in 2012 by husband/wife duo George and Molly Brooks-Thornton. George, a longtime homebrewer, and Molly, a sommelier, felt the North Park community of San Diego needed its
homebrew store. The result is what is regarded as a shop with local neighborhood feel, but big city selection. The dedicated and well trained staff has earned The Homebrewer a reputation for being a onestop shop complete with knowledge and an above par customer experience. About Home Brewing Co.
Home Brewing Co. is the brewing arm of The Homebrewer, one of San Diego’s most reputable supply stores. HBC is a fully functioning brewery and tasting room with an emphasis on teaching the nuances of beer styles and how they are made. Batches are regularly split up at various points and put on tap side by side. The goal is to enrich the homebrewing hobby for current customers of The Homebrewer, as well as to educate casual beer drinkers about what it takes to go from grain to glass.
CONSUMER POLL Most San Diego consumers say local businesses beat national chains on being trustworthy and treating them fairly A large percentage of San Diegoarea consumers — 87 percent — think local businesses beat national chains on being trustworthy and treating them fairly, according to a survey on consumer behavior and preferences released by Yodle, a leader in local online marketing. And while many San Diego consumers (76 percent) say national chains offer more competitive prices, 68 percent are still willing to pay more to a local business for better quality work. The survey, “Yodle Insights: What Consumers Want from Local Businesses,” examines how consumers in San Diego and across the country find, choose, use and interact with local businesses, and what they would most like from them. The report polled 200 consumers in San Diego as part of the national survey of 6,058 people. Other key findings of the survey: • Consumers want more (communication, deals and rewards) from local/small businesses — 75.8 percent of San Diego consumers are open to receiving service/appointment reminders, but only 32 percent do today. • Local businesses don’t necessarily
have to compete on price if they provide superior service — in San Diego, consumers are willing to pay more to a local business for better quality work (68 percent) • Online reviews are a missed opportunity – only 7 percentof San Diego consumers report that they have been asked by a local business to write an online review, but 92 percent of consumers say that they would post a positive online review if they had a positive experience and were asked by a local business. This indicates a huge opportunity for San Diego businesses as three quarters of consumers say that having reviews either gives the business a competitive advantage (47 percent) or is expected (39 percent). Most consumers (82 percent) across the country are using local businesses. In San Diego, local busi-
nesses account for 52 percent of consumers’ total business use, and during the next year 50 percent report that they plan to increase their use. Less than 2 percent of San Diego respondents say they will decrease their use of local businesses over the next 12 months. According to the survey, consumers want more ways to connect online with local businesses. 62 percent of San Diego consumers would like to see local businesses improve their websites over the next year. Nationally, 67 percent of consumers would like to see website
improvements. When asked about a variety of different types of communication such as service/appointment reminders and advice/helpful tips, consumers in San Diego and across the country identified a significant gap between what they are currently getting from local businesses and what they are open to receiving. Local businesses need to have a comprehensive online presence, the survey found. The majority of San Diego consumers (88 percent) use the Internet to find or research a business compared to 75 percent of consumers nationwide. In addition to search engines and websites, survey respon-
dents are also using review sites and social media to identify the businesses they want to work with. Yodle’s survey, was conducted in April 2015 by Research Now, a third party research firm. The survey polled 6,058 consumers from across the country, including 200+ local respondents in 20 mid-market cities, for their perspective on service-oriented businesses such as healthcare providers, auto repair shops, contractors and professional services companies. The full report is available at http://yodleinsights.com/files/whatconsumers-want-from-local-businesses.pdf.
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RARE SCHOLARSHIP COUP St. Augustine High produces two Gates scholars from Class of 2015 St. Augustine, the small all-boys high school on Nutmeg Street in North Park, came up big this spring when two of its students earned the Nobel Prize of college scholarships. Graduating seniors Julio Serrano and Andres Bustos are both winners of the highly prized Gates Millennium Scholarship, an award that will cover all their academic costs from college through graduate school. Only 1,000 of these scholarships are awarded across the nation each year, and it is rare that two are given to students at the same school. Both boys obtained nominations and recommendations from teachers and counselors, and filled out lengthy applications. “The accomplishments of both Andres and Julio are evidence of their hard work and guidance from a superior faculty,” said school Principal James Horne, “We are so very proud of them and wish them the best in their continued studies.” This is not the first time Saints has
produced Gates Scholars. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program, established in 1999, was initially funded by a $1 billion grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. To date, a dozen St. Augustine High School scholars have earned Gates Scholarship in recent years. They were evaluated on the strength of their applications, transcripts, and activities/service records. The Gates Scholarship can be used at any college or university in the United States. Julio plans to use his at Harvard where he plans to study government and leadership. Andres is still deciding on a college but he plans to study engineering. Both students are active in IRC, World Link (part of USD’s Peace and Justice Center), and Saint’s math tutoring, among their many activities. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for outstanding
minority students with significant financial need to reach their highest potential by: • Reducing financial barriers for African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American and Hispanic American students with high academic and leadership promise who have significant financial need. • Increasing the representation of these target groups in the disciplines of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health and the sciences, where these groups are severely underrepresented. • Developing a diversified cadre of future leaders for America by facilitating successful completion of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. • Providing seamless support from undergraduate through doctoral programs, for students selected as Gates Millennium Scholars entering target disciplines. — By Thomas Shess
Graduating seniors Julio Serrano (left) and Andres Bustos were recently presented Gates Foundation Scholarships that fund their college studies through graduate studies. The top awards were presented by St. Augustine High School College Counselor Nancy Caine.
North Park LGBT Seniors Community Housing Works plans mixed-income housing project Community Housing Works is partnering with the San Diego LGBT Community Center to design senior apartments as an affirming and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors that includes universal design features to allow seniors to stay in their homes as they age. CHW’s newest development in North Park — LGBT Senior Housing — is its first mixed-income construction project — a 76-home senior apartment building on the northwest corner of Texas Street and Howard Avenue and a 118-home multifamily building on the northeast corner.
A major developer will build the market-rate apartments while Community Housing Works will build and own the senior apartment community. The LGBT Community Center will provide services to the development’s seniors. While the senior apartments will be open to all who meet the age and income requirements, the LGBT complex is specifically meant to address a 2011 community needs assessment led by The Center that found LGBT-seniors’ highest concerns included fears of increasing social isolation, lack of access to cul-
turally competent health and social services, financial concerns, and lack of access to safe, affordable, and affirming housing options. The proposed transit-oriented design provides a large open plaza at the northeast corner of Texas and Howard and significantly enhances the pedestrian experience along Texas Street. Building frontages on Howard Avenue and Arizona Street were designed to have a residential feel that complemented the existing residential uses on the opposite side of the street. The development has received an endorsement from the MOVE
Artist rendering of LGBT Senior Housing by Joe Cordelle. Architecture by Rodriguez + Associates Architects and Planners.
Alliance, which recognizes developments that provide “Mobility Options Viable for Everyone.” The location is only feet away from the new MTS Mid-City Rapid Bus, and with the North Park–Mid-City Regional Bike Corridor project underway, the development will have a regional bike corridor just out the front door on Howard Avenue, allowing residents to have increased access to the amenities North Park and the surrounding neighborhoods have to offer. Both buildings will feature bike parking and repair space and encourage an active lifestyle with multiple
options for getting around the neighborhood. The development uses an affordable housing density bonus, an ordinance requiring the provision of affordable housing in market-rate development, to help make the affordable development feasible. Under the density bonus program, 23 of the senior apartments will be restricted to very low income households earning 50 percent or less of the county’s median income. CHW’s intent is to find additional funding sources and to break ground in 2016 with all 76 of the apartments to be affordable.
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 7
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By Bart Mendoza Big Date Night with Big Time Operator One of San Diego’s best 1940s-styled big band’s, Big Time Operator, is ramping things up once more with a residency at Croce’s Park West, that will have them performing at the venue on July 25. Formed in the mid-1990s, the 10-piece band is still fronted by Warren Lovell, though their sound is now slightly more expansive, but still perfect for swing dancing. They also include Latin Rhythms and original tunes in classic styles. Lovell only works with the best. Indeed, at their peak, the band took home five San Diego Music Awards in a row (1997-2001), with an appearance in the Ben Affleck film, “Pearl Harbor,” to boot. With the mix of great Croce’s food and jazz-driven dance sounds from Big Time Operator, this could be the month’s best date night. www.crocesparkwest.com
Homecoming Concert with Sven Erik Seaholm On July 24 Java Joe’s hosts a combo homecoming concert and CD release show for producer and singer-songwriter Sven Erik Seaholm. He returns to San Diego after a stay in Utah, with a new album, “The Sexy,” to promote. The disc features a who’s who of local musicians, so expect a few surprise guests joining in. During his original time in San Diego, Seaholm was an integral part of the local music community, producing a wide range of artists from the Farmers to Via Satellite, as well as involving himself in everything from album graphics to concert production. Local music fans are lucky to have him back. www.javajoessd.com
Paying Tribute to Black Sabbath Normally held on a Monday evening, July’s edition of Under Cover at the Office has been moved to Wednesday, July 29. The premise remains the same: a dozen or so of San Diego’s top singers, across genre’s, backed by a top-flight band, paying tribute to musical heroes, in this case Black Sabbath. Though the list of singers was still being compiled at press time, the musicians will include local heavy hitters, guitarist Ben Zinn, drummer Jake Najor (Taurus Authority) and Pete Pisaturo (Lord Howler). Songs will be included from throughout Sabbath’s career, but expect the biggest cheers to be for the big two, “Iron Man” and “Paranoid.” There are other tribute shows around town occasionally, but few are as much fun as this Office party. www.theofficebarsd.com
Two-Night Stand with Lucy’s Fur Coat One of the area’s most popular bands, circa the 1990s, rock combo Lucy’s Fur Coat, clearly remains a major draw, with a two-night stand set for the Casbah July 31 and Aug. 1. Best known for their 1994 tune, “Treasured Hands,” the band hasn’t released an album since 1998’s, “How to Survive an Aircrash.” However, their fans won’t mind the absence of new tunes, likely this will be a crowd that’s looking forward to being able to sing along to every word. The historical aspect of the show is just a small part of it, though. Lucy’s Fur Coat’s adrenaline-charged rock is timeless, full of great riffs and energy. Long-time fans will love this show, but anyone wanting to check out one of the era’s best, still in top form, is advised to make these performances a priority. www.casbahmusic.com
Schizophonics Herald the Future
International Swingers’ Ultra-Hip Jukebox It almost sounds impossible, but on Aug. 4, members of punk legends The Sex Pistols, Blondie, Gen X will be at the Soda Bar. Performing under the name the International Swingers, the quartet features drummer Clem Burke (Blondie), bassist Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols), guitarist James Stevenson (Gen X) and frontman Gary Twinn, essentially performing their greatest hits, from “Dancing With Myself” to “Pretty Vacant.” It’s like an ultra-hip jukebox, with one classic track reeled off after another, and stellar playing from all involved. But keep an eye on Burke — one of the world’s greatest drummer’s is also a master showman. www.sodabarmusic.com
The future of rock ‘n’ roll? If it’s not Schizophonics, than it should be. Appearing at Bar Pink on July 30, this trio is incendiary. True, they have made several worthy recordings, including their ace new single, “Put Your Weight On It,” a terrific slab of Detroit-styled rock ‘n’ roll. But, if ever there was a group you need to see live, it’s this one. The band is rock solid, anchored by Lety Beers pounding drums, however it’s guitarist Pat Beers that will make you a believer. A manic player in constant motion, Beers doesn’t so much play the guitar as exorcise it. There is a touch of Jimi, the crossroads and more than hint of soul in his fretwork, but even with all that it’s his explosive performing style that will impress. Beers is easily one of the best frontmen to emerge from the area’s music community in decades. www.barpink.com
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 9
NEWS
10 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
ADAMS AVENUE NEWS
HIDDEN WORLDS REVEALED
northparknews.biz/digital MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Serving San Diego’s Premier Mid City Communities Chairman/CEO Bob Page BobPage@sandiegometro.com Publisher Rebeca Page RebecaPage@sandiegometro.com
Exhibit offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Maya people Doghead incense burner
The ruined cities of the ancient Maya have captured our imaginations since news of their discovery in the jungles of Central America was published in the 1840s. Extensive research has uncovered a culture with a sophisticated worldview that, during its Classic period (250-900 AD), rivaled any civilization in Europe. “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed,” an original exhibition, has opened at the San Diego Natural History Museum and will be on view through Jan. 3, 2016. At 10,000 square feet, it is the largest exhibition of its kind to be presented in the United State. Tickets are available at sdnat.org/maya or by calling (877) 946-7797. Advance purchase is recommended. Admission includes access to Maya, all other exhibitions within the museum, and unlimited 2D and 3D films in the giant screen theater. “We are committed to bringing new content-rich traveling exhibitions to San Diego for locals and visitors to enjoy,” said Michael Hager, president and CEO of the museum. “We are delighted to be able to offer this exhibition to our guests and hope they walk away feeling as if they’ve learned something new about this
Bloodletting bowl
important and multifaceted culture.” Visitors will experience jaw-dropping architecture and distinctive art through a series of exhibits and artifacts. The exhibition investigates questions surrounding the Maya and offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Maya people. Exhibition highlights include more than 200 authentic artifacts; bilingual text panels in English and Spanish; dozens of interactive components; immersive recreated environments; life-size replicas of awe-inspiring temples; the iconic sculpted monuments known as stelae that were erected in the great plazas of Maya cities; and spectacular examples of Maya artistry, such as a recreated portion of a famous frieze from the El Castillo pyramid in Xunantunich (a Maya civic ceremonial center). Throughout Maya, interactive elements offer visitors the opportunity to decipher ancient symbols, explore tombs, and investigate the Maya approach to math and astronomy. Tickets for Maya are now on sale to the public at sdnat.org/maya. Admission: $29 adults; $27 seniors (62+), students, and military (with ID); $19 youth (7-17); and $11 child (3-6). Children 2 and under are free.
Associate Publisher Brad Weber ReachLocals@ MidCityNewspaperGroup.com Editor Manny Cruz Manny@sandiegometro.com Art Director Chris Baker cbaker@sandiegometro.com Marketing/Advertising Kelly Pouliot kellysdnews@gmail.com ------------------------------
Visitors to the exhibit
Writers/Columnists Todd Gloria Bart Mendoza Delle Willett Anna Lee Fleming Sara Wacker Media Consultant Tom Shess Social Media Ali Hunt Photography Manny Cruz Sande Lollis Letters/Opinion Pieces North Park News encourage letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please address correspondence to Manny@sandiegometro.com or mail to Manny Cruz. Please include a phone number, address and name for verification purposes; no anonymous letters will be printed. We reserve the right to edit letters and editorials for brevity and accuracy. Story ideas/Press Releases Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see covered in this newspaper? We welcome your ideas, calendar item listings and press releases. For breaking news, please call us at (619) 287-1865. For all other news items, please email Manny@sandiegometro.com.
ADDRESS PO Box 3679, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 PHONE (858) 461-4484 North Park News distributes copies monthly to residents and businesses of North Park, South Park, Golden Hill and Normal Heights. The entire contents of North Park News is copyrighted, 2015, by REP Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
CRAFTSMAN
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 11
ARTFUL CUTS: Gable Trim
BY MARY ELLEN POLSON | ARTS & CRAFTS HOMES AND THE REVIVAL
roof. Most bargeboards on Arts & Crafts houses are plain, but ornamental, scroll-sawn variations are found on related styles like the Swiss Chalet. A bargeboard often ends with a fancy saw cut. Gable Ornament
Cross-braced trusses, sometimes held on brackets, fit into the peak of the gable. They may be decorated with curved, sawn, or vertical elements. Although they look structural, they are often purely decorative. In a porch gable, vertical slats do have a purpose, providing both shade and ventilation. Knee braces are doubled in the gable peak; note widely spaced dentil blocks. (Photo: Linda Svendsen)
If the front of your bungalow or chalet-like house seems to lack character, there’s a good chance it is missing wood trim that once ornamented the gable. Near the roof is where the action is when it comes to Arts & Crafts exterior style. Typically low and with a deep overhang, the gable is an ideal stage for all kinds of trim, from carved brackets to gable-peak trusses, decorative bargeboards, and rows of Arts & Crafts-specific pyramid-end blocks. Exposed roof-rafter tails, their ends
finished in cuts limited only by the imagination, lend rhythm in the eaves. Even a lowly ventilation cover on the gable face may be decorative as well as functional. Almost all of these elements are cut out of wood. The bad news is, wood rots and that’s why your trim may be missing. The good news is, replicating such trim is straightforward, provided you have at least one example of what’s missing, either from your house or a neighbor’s. If no models exist, a little research will turn up
Exposed rafter tails are crisply rendered on a new Craftsman-style house in Southern California. (Photo: William Wright)
trimwork typical of the era for you to copy. In this era, ornamentation looks structural. Adding a bit of trim adds period charm to a plain or stripped façade. Brackets & Corbels
These elements play a supporting role under the roof, cornice, balcony, or other overhang. A bracket is any projection that provides structural or visual support. It may be a solid console bracket, or an open, triangular knee brace. The word corbel originally referred to masonry built out from the vertical surface to support a cornice or oriel, but in this period a corbel is any large decorative bracket, even one made of wood. While a corbel may appear to be a solid block, it’s usually built up of several thicknesses of lumber glued together. Some feature hand carving. If the corbel is especially intricate or will be vulnerable to weather, it may be worth considering having replacements made from a composite material or moulded high-density thermoplastic. Whenever brackets and corbels are used, multiples are common. Brackets accenting the roof are usually installed in threes or fives, evenly spaced in the gable, with one at the peak. Brackets may also be doubled. Archaically called vergeboards, these are flat, carved, or ornamented boards attached along the edge of the
Tracing The Past
Missing trim elements that match originals can be re-created by a carpenter or local millworks, provided you have a model. • The woodworker can use an existing element to make a template, as long as it’s in fairly good condition. • If there is damage to the sample — a notch or rotted areas — ask your fabricator to interpret the profile based on historical examples.
Dentils or Blocks
Elements familiar from classical and medieval architecture get a “modern” look on the Arts & Crafts façade. Rather than a row of tightly spaced “teeth,” however, blocks are usually spaced farther apart. And the outward face is often cut into a pyramid shape, a familiar period motif. rafter tails Extending past the roofline, these decorative sawn boards may or may not be the actual ends of rafters that support the roof. Historical patterns range from straightedge cuts (that look like the end of an X-acto blade) to notched or rounded ends, including cuts that resemble a clothespin and a bottlecap opener. To add rafter tails to the roofline, choose a historical style from a millwork company, or design your own and have them sawn. Ventilation Scrims & Slats
Simple scrims resemble the stock latticework still sold at lumberyards. Period examples are usually installed so the slats cross at 90 degrees, rather than on the diagonal. Neatly framed with a wood border, the lattice is usually more delicate than modern examples. Fancier scrims might include a supporting element, like a tiny balustrade. Another form of ventilation involves rows of evenly spaced slats just under the edge of the roofline, common in California. Slats may be painted in alternating colors for a stripe effect.
Bargeboards On a ca. 1915 bungalow in Oregon, the ventilation opening is concealed by a framed latticework scrim; the ziggurat shape of the brackets suggests corbeling. (Photo: Blackstone Edge)
these in-stock cuts for exposed rafter tails are from ProWood Market (prowoodmarket.com).
Rafter Tails
Comparable to historic designs found in period builders’ catalogs,
Fancy ‘half timbering’ on the chalet–bungalow is accompanied by an elaborate use of knee A closeup of the roof edge shows the saw cuts, joinery, and gutter system. (Photo: William braces and a notched bargeboard. (Photo: Doug Keister) Wright)
• If an architectural element is missing altogether, look for evidence of “ghosting” on the house. The old pattern may show up as a patch of missing paint, a dirt pattern, or both. • Make a precise tracing of the model profile (or ghosted area) with a very sharp pencil, such as a drafting pencil. Depending on the shape or the element and how easily or awkward your access is, use tracing paper, heavy paper, or cardboard. • Measure the dimensions of all elements of the model to get accurate widths. Include cross-sectional dimensions like recesses and projections.
NEWS
12 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
TARGET CONTINUED FROM Page 1
his motives for granting the lease, his other plans for the site and his family’s other commercial operations: Q. Did Target offer the biggest rent?
A. CVS would have paid an equal amount, but we thought Target was a better fit because they offer more merchandise than CVS. Q. Were you surprised by the community opposition to Target?
A. Yes and no. You always get a little bit of opposition towards “corporate.” If we had done the deal with CVS, there would have been opposition . Q. What about traffic concerns? A. It’s a large piece of property, it’s zoned for retail, and it has ample parking. I think things will be fine. There’s a three-way stop sign. The city will have to decide this. Maybe they will need to put a speed bump where people are making a left. Q. We remember reading that you were leasing to Target because you wanted to retire.
A. That was said a year or so ago. I’m not retired —I wish! What it is, I didn’t say that we were retiring. I have two brothers who are in their mid’70s, and they’re slowing down. I’m the eighth of nine children, the second youngest. We bought this (Gala) property from Safeway in August 1988, and we revamped the whole store when we took it over. Everything was good until the last two to three years. Things needed to be remodeled. We had plans to turn it into a Whole Foods-type store, but we realized that it was going to be way, way too expensive, so we decided it was time to put it on the market. The community didn’t support the Gala store to the point where it needed to be, to the numbers it should have done. The community made it clear that they wanted a Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, or Whole Foods. So I hired an architect who had designed those kind of stores in Northern California, and we got sticker shock. The labor was going to be tremendous, with all those departments, a bakery, hot foods. We would have gone from 18 employees to 80 to 100 employees. That just wasn’t in the cards. Q. Now you’re opening an Apple Tree grocery store in Ocean Beach.
A. Yes, on Newport Avenue. It will be a combination of a conventional grocery and a healthy concept store. But it will be a small store, 7,500 square feet, half the size of this store . Q. You’ve bought the Bottle Shop and the homes behind it. What are your plans? A. We’ll keep the homes as homes; we'll remodel them and rent them. Someone from the family will run the Bottle Shop, it will be family-owned and operated. Our first house in America was on B Street. The whole family came over from Baghdad in ’69-’70; I was 11 years old. My oldest brother came ahead of the rest of us in 1965. I
attended Brooklyn Elementary School. My family purchased our first store, Millers Market, in 1970, and we still own it. Hopefully, our future plans for Millers Market are either to remodel it as a store or to scrap it and put in a brand-new store along with apartments next to it. We own the land, the empty land and the old house. That’s been in the plans for 30 years. Q. Some local businesses think Target will bring them new customers, but that would mean allowing Target shoppers to leave their cars in the parking lot while they walk around the neighborhood. Will Target allow that?
A. I’m sure there will be some leniency, except if the parking lot is jam-packed, then customers who aren’t going to keep shopping should leave to make room for someone else. But we don’t anticipate that. Anybody can come and park as long as there’s plenty of parking. People won’t have to pay to park, not to my knowledge . Q. Some people think Target just isn’t a good fit for this neighborhood. A. The community needs to keep an open mind and give these people an opportunity to operate and see how it’s going to go. At the end of the day, you want a business to survive in your neighborhood. My wife shops at Target all the time, it’s her No.1 place, she calls it “Tar-jay.” Probably 99 percent of all mothers love Target. Ask a lot of people if they would rather have Target or some other “big box” store, and they’ll choose Target. Some people wanted a much more upscale operation because they don’t like corporate and they don’t like “big box.” But Target gives a lot to communities. From what I hear, Target supports communities and schools. We were in negotiations with Rite Aid and CVS. Baron’s at one time was in the picture. We were not able to come to terms for reasons I’m not able to discuss. We were in the midst of negotiating with Rite Aid and CVS simultaneously for months. Target came in on July 14 (2014), and we were able to consummate a deal within six weeks. Target showed more leniency and interest and care for us as the owner as far as negotiations went. Target had a tremendous amount of will to want to be here. They loved the area. They started TargetExpress in Dinkytown, Minn., and they recently opened one or two in Northern California. This is their next one. They’re trying to expand this type of format. For me, out of the three choices I had, Target, Rite Aid, or CVS, I felt that Target would bring a lot better product mix than the other two. Q. What would you say to the people who oppose a South Park Target?
A. Maybe just give them the opportunity to serve, and don’t be so fast to judge. I don’t hold it against them because they’re corporate. This area is no secret. Over the last 10 years, it’s been going through a major re-gentrification. A lot of people have raised the value of their homes. Now they want to keep it quaint and quiet. They SEE TARGET, Page 24
Citizens Talk about TargetExpress The Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee hosted a community meeting on June 22, inviting Target representatives and local residents to talk about the chain’s new TargetExpress store that will open on Oct. 7. Here are some of the local comments. John Krull: “I am in favor of Target coming into this place. Especially considering that the alternatives were CVS and Walgreens. We don’t need them. The point that I would like to address is the fact that Target is going to try and cater what it sells to the neighborhood and some people have said, “Oh, you can’t trust them to do that.” I think that you can because it is a new concept for them, and I think they are going to want to learn as they go along. As far as the alternatives, there was a Baron’s that was thinking of coming in, well they’re gone, and I really think that Target will be an asset. But I do have one comment for the Target people. I notice that you refer to the people who shop there as “guests.” In my experience, guests don’t have to pay anything. So I wish that you would be honest about it and call us customers. Either that, or let us have it for free. Kate Callen: When I heard that Target was going to take over the Gala building, I thought that would really be a bad thing for South Park. And I still believe that. But in the last eight months, something even worse has happened. The debate about this store has been incredibly divisive. There has been too much anger and vitriol on both sides; there has been way too much social media postings. South Park can’t afford to let this keep festering, because there are bigger fights ahead with higher stakes. Because South Park is such an attractive community, it’s going to be vulnerable to predatory, urban density development…Let’s start looking ahead, take the long view, set aside hurt feelings, let go of the anger, maybe get together with someone you met on social media, maybe have a cup of coffee and find out common ground because if we don’t get together and fight, South Park will not be the special place that we all love. Kiki: It’s just going to take away the essence of what South Park is —locally-owned, independent businesses. If you want something you can speak with the owner; if it’s a corporation, there is red-tape, there are steps you have to go through, all these managers and the managers have above managers to get anything done. So you’re not going to get things that you need, that you requested immediately from Target. And that’s what makes South Park special, is these businesses. And that’s why Walkabout is so special. And the increase in traffic is going to make me feel less safe while walking my child around the neighborhood. You know when there are more cars, it is not as safe. I feel that it is not the right fit. I don’t hate you Target, and you’re only 4 ½ to 5 miles max away from my home, in Mission Valley, but please don’t come. Don’t come to my neighborhood. Lisa Bella: First, I want to thank Target for meeting with the community, the business community, Burlingame. I have participated in several of the meetings and I really appreciate it. I can’t say that I’ve met with many businesses that come into South Park and meet with me before they come in. Because I’m not that important . . . My only concern is about the traffic and so I think you should think about that a little bit more . . . I shop at Target. I prefer the Sports Arena one. I shop at many of the businesses in my community but whether there is a Target there or not, I challenge everybody who is against it, to please shop at locally-owned businesses. I go to the 7Eleven in our neighborhood because it is local but it is a corporation. And I know that owner very well and he is a very lovely man. But I do take pride in locally owned and operated businesses, and you (Target) should take pride in what you’ve done in meeting with us. Ray Keese: As for Target, I’m actually in favor of TargetExpress. I like this concept. I would actually much rather have had a Trader Joe’s in our neighborhood but I know that’s not going to be the case because Trader Joe’s doesn’t want to be in our neighborhood. We don’t have a large grocery store. We have Food Bowl, we have the Farmer’s Market, so it’s nice to have produce. So I’m for that. The only thing I want to mention is someone said, “dog friendly” and we have lots of dog owners, I have two dogs and I walk around the neighborhood, and you mention you are putting in bike racks because of bike riders. I’d really like to see hooks or something I can hook my dog up to when I come to the store, so that I’m tying it to a bumper or something like that. Just something nice and secure where the dog can be tied up and it’s not going to interfere with traffic patterns or with people. So that’s all I have to say. SEE CITIZENS, Page 24
NEWS
BLVD
Construction to Begin on Region’s First-Ever Freeway-Level Transit Stations
CONTINUED FROM Page 1
opers’ interest, including major developer H.G. Fenton and a group of developers who’ve planned a multimillion-dollar project with workshop, restaurant and kitchen space meant to be a business incubator. About a dozen other projects are headed for construction and include mixed-use apartment buildings and affordable housing developments, one of which will cater to low-income LGBT seniors. Andrew Malick, a residential developer with two projects in the works in the area, said the fact that the boulevard is underdeveloped, combined with its high-density zoning, makes it an urban developer’s dream. He envisions the boulevard as a place with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants on the ground level and tall stacks of affordable apartments up top, along with townhouses and plenty of green space, like you might see in Seattle or Portland. “It has the ability to be one of those great civic spaces,” he said. “It’s in a walkable, bikeable neighborhood, it’s not far from the park, there’s a lot of underdeveloped land, there’s no height limit — the zoning laws allow for an urban street with taller buildings that create this enclosed space.” El Cajon Boulevard is one of the last large parcels of land in San Diego that meets these criteria. And since it’s a six-lane road that was once part of a transcontinental highway, planners say it can handle the traffic and space problems that come with dense urban development. Tootie Thomas, president of the Boulevard Improvement Association’s board of directors, has a simple message for neighboring communities. “Give us all of your density,” she said. “If there’s a corridor here that can handle it, it’s El Cajon Boulevard.” There are still some hurdles developers and planners have to clear. Chief among them is getting everyone on the same page. “We’re all moving in the same direction,” said Beryl Forman, marketing director of the BIA. “What has been the problem is there are these vying community plans. What’s happening out here on the boulevard might not be happening eight blocks down on the boulevard.” There are eight different community plans — long-term outlines for future development — along the boulevard, and they’re all more than a decade out of date. A few are in the process of being updated, and North Park’s is expected to be completed in 2016. Vicki Granowitz, head of the North Park Planning Group, sits on the BIA’s economic development committee. She said North Park residents have the typical concerns over dense development: parking, traffic and
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 13
Planners call the Lafayette Hotel the ‘jewel’ of El Cajon Boulevard.
gentrification. It’s a catch-22, she said. “People are afraid of gentrification and afraid of gridlock, but the only way you get people out of their cars is if you have density,” she said. At the same time, there’s no doubt about the housing shortage in San Diego, and redeveloping land with eight stories of apartments in place of a two-story house is one way to fix that problem. “People are beginning to understand that if you want to save the neighborhoods, the density needs to go somewhere,” Granowitz said. “And El Cajon Boulevard is where it needs to go.” But settling on one vision for a boulevard that runs through eight communities isn’t the only problem planners face. El Cajon Boulevard has a sticky reputation as the city’s prostitution hotspot. Boulevard planners and developers say it is a stigma that’s been hard to shake. That might be because some parts of El Cajon Boulevard still look like they did back when sex workers walked them in broad daylight. “What we see when we drive down the boulevard is different from what someone else sees driving down the boulevard,” said Dave Iwashita, one of the developers behind the renovation of the Lafayette Hotel and Swim Club on the boulevard’s west end. And it’s true — though several new, popular spots line the boulevard, including the Lafayette, there’s also plenty of cracked sidewalk and dilapidated buildings with peeling paint and signs missing a letter or two. Part of the reason for that is that El Cajon Boulevard has seen more commercial development on its west end, near the Lafayette and high-traffic businesses on the further-developed University Avenue. Iwashita said once the Lafayette rehab wrapped, property owners started hearing from developers. “Everyone’s bought everything up,” he said. But that’s not true on the eastern end of the boulevard, where planners say developers aren’t offering what
News Splash!
property owners are asking for their space. “You can get people with the right price — the hope is that either the land values will come up to meet that, or they’ll see the other development and say, ‘Why don’t I go along with that,’” said John O’Connor, secretary for the BIA’s Board of Directors. “With economic development, that’s what we’re hoping to see snowball.” That’s where the city’s investment comes in. BIA leaders say it’s hard to get businesses to invest in the boulevard — because, simply put, parts of it are ugly. And so far, the city has been stingy with its funding for fixing up sidewalks and adding crosswalks, streetlights and bike lanes. “Public improvements need to balance our efforts,” Forman said. “Yes, we’ve done 20 years of public improvements, but there’s more to do.” Right now, the BIA and its economic development committee are focusing on six concentrations of commerce and transit on the boulevard. The theory is if someone goes shopping in Kensington-Talmadge, for example, they might then wander down to eat Vietnamese in Little Saigon. As each area succeeds, the spaces between them will start to fill in. But in order for that to happen, Thomas said, people need to feel comfortable walking the length of the boulevard. “If you feel it’s safe, it’s clean, it’s well-lit, it’s green, you’re going to walk that area a little bit more,” she said. There’s no quick solution, but Forman said she has high hopes for an Urban Land Institute task force, where development experts would come together and devise a boulevard improvement plan that would hopefully bring together all the competing interests along El Cajon. But the vision for the boulevard won’t become a reality unless the city supports walkable spaces as much as it does drivable ones, she said. “Why is it so much more difficult to fix sidewalks than to fix a pothole where cars drive?” she said. “If we make those public improvements, private investment will follow.”
Todd Gloria's office reports that the Park and Recreation Department has notified their office that repairs at the Bud Kearns Pool are underway, and it is expected to be re-opened by July 27. Additional upgrades will be made to the pool in the off-season.
Construction has started on a $65 million project to improve public transit in the Mid-City area and along the State Route 15/I-15 corridor. The Mid-City Centerline Project will include San Diego’s first-ever freeway-level transit stations at University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard along SR 15. SANDAG, the Metropolitan Transit System and Caltrans officials presided at agroundbreaking earlier this month. Once the transit stations are complete, rapid transit services will run
in northbound and southbound transit-only lanes within the existing SR 15 median, providing fast and reliable travel through one of the region’s key transportation corridors, officials said. SANDAG and Caltrans will break ground later this year on a bikeway along the SR 15 corridor. Funding for the Centerline project came from the Federal Transit Administration and TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation administered by SANDAG.
Proposed station at University Avenue, looking north. Platform to be connected with street-level plaza and bus stops using stairs, elevator and pedestrian bridge.
Freeway level platform view.
Open House Scheduled for Business of Wine Program at SDSU College of Extended Studies San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies will host an open house for its Professional Certificate in the Business of Wine program from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 30 at Splash Wine Bar, 3043 University Ave. Attendees will meet instructors and fellow students, as well as learn more about the SDSU wine program. “Taking The Business of Wine classes did give me a lot of muchneeded wine knowledge that was a must in opening and running my wine bar and restaurant,” said program graduate Traci Smith, owner of Splash Wine Bar. “I wouldn’t have felt at all comfortable taking on such a business without the education.” The comprehensive Business of Wine courses are geared for professionals and entrepreneurs in the wine, food, and hospitality fields who want to quickly expand their knowledge of industry topics. The certificate is directed to restaurant owners and staff, winery employees, event planners, distribution and retail sales employees, wine bar owners and staff; plus anyone interested in moving into wine or hospitality careers, and wine enthusiasts who desire a professional-level education. For more information, call (619) 594-1138 or visit
14 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
PRESERVATION
2015 People in Preservation Awards SOHO honors protectors of historic resources PHOTOS BY SANDÉ LOLLIS
The 33rd annual People in Preservation Awards presented by Save Our Heritage Organisation this year recognize the efforts that property owners and community members have accomplished in preserving the historic resources of the region. “People In Preservation encourages historic preservation and acknowledges that good preservation can come in many forms, from the restoration of the most modest residence to the grandest mansion, from our earliest structures to mid-century contributions, and includes both the private and the public sector,” the organization said in announcing the recipients. The award winners (and comments from the jury): Anne and Richard Kruse
creations of Edward F. Bryans, William Sterling Hebbard, Alexander Schreiber, and others, working in a variety of styles. Our winner, Debbie Quillin, focused on expanding the size of the Mission Hills Historic District, which has 75 homes and the Fort Stockton Line with its 107 homes. Her efforts led to the historic designation of 68 more residences by the city’s Historical Resources Board last June, increasing the district to 143 historic homes. Districts are a major economic driver for a community and once established they make for far less work for city staff, which in turn saves even more resources. Grassroots efforts, determination, and attention to detail make district designations possible and they are by far one of the best ways we can save our heritage. SOHO applauds Debbie Quillin with the District Delivered Award. Ann Keyser
accomplished over two years. They renovated a distinguished looking 1924 storefront and added a mezzanine. SOHO’s jury was excited about the owners’ attention to detail, such as restoring the entrance and massive structural wood columns; and about their faithful recreation of exterior trim based on historic photographs. No element was too small to scrutinize, so each brick was hand-cleaned, sealed and secured in walls that date to 1905. Now the historic Sterling Hardware Building is home to the airy, barrierfree Sparks Art Gallery, named for owner Sonya Sparks, who represents one of the collaborating families. Being honored for this fine example of adaptive reuse is two-time PIP winner Benetta Buell-Wilson. Marty McDaniel
This recipe for success calls for the following ingredients: A serious cook, a small kitchen in a 1946 home, architect William Kesling and a preservation architect who understands the Modernist adage “less is more.” The jury expressed its great pleasure, saying: “This residential addition in Bird Rock seamlessly blends the old with the new, and is exactly what preservationists like to see. The kitchen and laundry area were modernized with this modest addition. Using an existing exterior wall, the architect was able to conceal the addition from the street view and meet all the owners’ needs, while adding only 85 square feet to the house. Furthermore, William Kesling is often underappreciated, so we are excited to be able to showcase one of his residential designs.” Debbie Quillin
Thanks to its handsome historic homes, gardens and footpaths, a drive or walk through Mission Hills is always charming and refreshing. Highly valued as one of San Diego’s best-preserved early neighborhoods, the rich heritage of Mission Hills is better protected after a dedicated preservationist spent seven arduous years surveying, researching, and writing about historic homes built between 1908 and 1942. They are the
In 1927, a young architec t— who would later become famous for designing glittering hotels on the Las Vegas strip — completed an elegant, small, three-story inn on Coronado in the Spanish Eclectic style. That San Diego architect, Wayne McAllister, enriched the Blue Lantern Inn’s façade with a grand arched entry and tall arched windows at street level; wrought-iron balconies; and faux architectural features, such as belts marking the upper two floors and quoins (coins) around the entry arch and first-floor corners. In 2013, a new owner, Ann Keyser, successfully applied for historic designation of this much altered property. Then she reversed decades of so-called improvements. Gone are the trio of striped awnings that hid the lovely glazed arches; the careless coats of heavy stucco, and the obliteration of the original twotone color scheme. Now the arched openings add stately beauty and admit natural light. The smothering stucco has fallen away, and the original façade colors have returned to highlight surface decoration. In addition, the hotel gracefully accommodates disabled guests with an entry ramp protected by a new, and harmonious wrought-iron railing; and the rear garden, also historic, is an inviting outdoor room. This year’s Commercial Rehabilitation Award goes to Ann Keyser for the thoughtfully transformed and renamed Hotel Marisol Coronado. Benetta Buell-Wilson
Behind those droves of Gaslamp Quarter diners and revelers, resources are still being lost in this National Historic District. One happy exception is the product of a two-family project
Family ties also play an important role in the success of PIP winner Marty McDaniel. This two-story, horizontally emphatic home — designed by the notable architect William Wheeler — reflects the influence of the Prairie School, which is an architectural style rarely seen in San Diego. It was built in 1912 for Harry and Verna Benbough, the owners of the Benbough Furniture store in Mission Hills. Fast forward to 1963. That’s when the parents of McDaniel bought the house and moved in with him — when he was 9 — and his five siblings. No inkling of the home’s pedigree was known, and extensive remuddling inflicted on the home during the 1950s had pretty much erased any clues. That all changed in 1991, when the late Donald Covington — and former PIP winner — led a tour of several historic homes for the Burlingame Club and published an illustrated book on its architectural standouts. Our winner’s mother and older sister enjoyed Covington’s tour, which concluded with a display of historic photographs, and there — to their surprise — was an old photo of their home and details about its origin. Fast forward again. The devoted son, now retired, worked very hard to rehabilitate the home’s exterior in honor of his parents. After carefully rebuilding the exterior columns and otherwise restoring the façade’s strong geometry, the jury praised him for reclaiming the identity
PRESERVATION of this seemingly lost architectural treasure. It is now designated as part of the Burlingame Historic District. Marty McDaniel deserves nothing less than the Return to the Prairie Award. Ione Stiegler
More than a decade ago, the William Black Residence, a Pueblo Revival home that UC San Diego used as its chancellor’s home and events space, was threatened with demolition. The condemnation carried a double threat. Built on a failing coastal bluff, the 12,000-square-foot, unreinforced adobe residence was designed by Santa Fe architect William Lumpkins in meticulous detail. Secondly, sacred Native American burial grounds amid an ancient archeological site overlooking the ocean would be desecrated, if not destroyed. The site has been occupied for at least 10,000 years and is closely monitored by the Kumeyaay Nation and the California Native American Heritage Commission. Preservation of the site’s human, spiritual and cultural value was paramount as the architect, university officials, tribal representatives, archeologists, preservationists, and other specialists evaluated each possible course of action to preserve both the site and the house. “Nearly 10 years of planning, collaboration, and careful rehabilitation paid off,” the jury said. The team, led by Stiegler, devised construction techniques that stabilized the bluff and installed new utilities with the least amount of soil disturbance possible, all under tribal monitoring. SOHO recognizes Ione Stiegler of IS Architecture with the Culturally Sensitive Rehabilitation Award. Maria Garcia
Soliciting and piecing together oral histories is truly an art as well as a science. Gifted interviewer and writer Maria Garcia is chronicling the social, economic, and political history of Latinos in Logan Heights, known today as Barrio Logan, through the lens of Neighborhood House, a school and community center founded in the early 20th century. Using her subject’s personal stories, vintage photographs, letters, she weaves individual portraits that also reflect decades of change in the local Latino community. By reading this educator’s series in the San Diego Free Press, we learn how during the Great Depression, Barrio Logan’s American citizens were expelled to Mexico as perceived “job stealers.”
Albert Flores taught dance lessons at Neighborhood House until 1942, when he was drafted into the Army. He subsequently became a prisoner of war. The Marston family’s role to the organization, and to activist Laura Rodriguez, who was raised in the Marston’s home, chained herself to the Neighborhood House doors in 1970 to protest plans to convert the community center into offices. On the other hand, school girls found a bit of freedom by joining the Lucky 13 Club and neighbors up and down the block were like family. It is a fascinating and important documentary. SOHO is proud to present the Cultural Heritage Award to Maria Garcia.
16,000 people “like” this page. No one pays this fellow to be a sharp-eyed guardian or courageous advocate for preservation. Publically, he’s an unsung hero, until now. This year’s In the Trenches Award goes to our “forever hero,” Gregory May.
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 15
was removed from its window frame, washed and carefully reset with new leading. The effect is inspirational, whether the windows are seen from the inside by daylight, or from outside at night. Truly, this is A Divine Restoration. SOHO is presenting this award to church member John Norris.
John Norris Bernard and Jill Esrock
Gregory May
Some people are born preservationists. They live and breathe preservation. Some of these sterling individuals evolve into preservation watchdogs — on guard 24/7 — detecting threats to our precious historic resources. There is such a vigilant steward among us — Gregory May — who regularly alerts SOHO and the City of San Diego whenever he sees suspicious activity or notices damage or neglect at venerable sites and buildings. In addition, this civic-minded advocate has built an important collection of old San Diego photographs, ephemera and films. Five years ago this month, he launched the Facebook page “Vintage San Diego” to share his collected treasures. Nearly
Few San Diego houses of worship are as gracefully sited as St. James Bythe-Sea Episcopal Church in La Jolla, with its sweeping lawn and bell tower that’s both seen and heard. Architect Louis Gill designed this church in two stages. The bell tower and chapel were completed in 1930, followed by the sanctuary 12 years later. Exterior restoration began with the bell tower, which was stabilized and reinforced for earthquake safety. The church’s poured-in-place concrete walls needed extensive repairs. Wet sandblasting revealed the exterior’s original color and, accordingly, the fresh coat of paint matches it. When the roof proved to be unsound, replica tiles were custom made and installed, and blended with a smattering of salvaged original tiles. Inside, new handmade floor tiles follow Gill’s design specifications and layout in the sanctuary and chapel. None of these jobs could be considered simple, but restoration of the stained-glass windows was perhaps the most demanding. Each pane of colored glass
When a two-story house designed by William Sterling Hebbard was just 3 years old, the so-called “storm of the century” hit Coronado in 1905 and nearly wiped out the property’s Ocean Boulevard address. Fearing future calamities, Army Surgeon William Kneedler moved his wood-shingled
house a short distance inland. That was the first, but not the last time the Kneedler-Morton home would be lifted off its foundation and into the air. Fortunately, the current owners saw through the indignities the house had suffered over a century, the worst being entombment of the lovely wood shakes under stucco. The couple became smitten with the house and its history, but needed more living space. Their inventive construction team fulfilled that need by digging a basement. Once again, the house was hoisted off its foundation while supported on a temporary steel framework during excavation and construction of a new foundation. In addition to replacing the wood shingles, the exterior restoration was all about details, craftsmanship, and energy conservation. Using reclaimed redwood salvaged from the attic, salvaged or custom milled moulding, and replacement windows to match lost originals, the house again looks like its charming 1902 self. And it’s ready for its second century. For exceeding expectations and bringing the home back to the community, SOHO congratulates the winners of A Sterling Restoration, Bernard and Jill Esrock.
16 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
BUSINESS
ATTENTION SAVERS! Office Living Space The North Park/South Park Community Savings Card is now on Facebook (facebook.com/NPSPCommunityCard) where you can follow us to discover new businesses in your area and to participate in contests. Currently we have 19 local merchants offering terrific discounts. The discount card is only $10 and can be used every day through December 31st. And, 50% of every sale goes to a neighborhood school! Buy them while they are still available at: “North Park Main Street” 3076 University Ave, The Digital Gym at 2921 El Cajon Blvd, or the Box Stop Etc. at 3401-A Adams Ave. Now you can also get our new Hillcrest/Mission Hills Community Card with more fantastic discounts, good everyday until Aug 31, 2016, at the Pride Parade in front Fiji Yogurt at 1010 University Ave.
How to make a workspace feel like home BY STAR HUGHES
For those of us who spend more time in our offices than we do in our houses, it’s important that our workspaces provide some of the comforts of home. After all, if you’re going to be spending upwards of 60 hours per week at work, you might as well make it your home away from home in the truest sense! Here are a few tips to make your office feel a bit more comfortable – and more like your happy place – for you and your employees to be spending those long hours. Get Comfortable with Couches
Plush couches in common areas are much more than just places to decompress for a few minutes. Team members may find themselves brainstorming with colleagues over an impromptu coffee break, or you might even find yourself using it as a unique setting for a business meeting, rather than relying solely on the availability of a conference room. A Living Wall in an Office Interior
More and more companies are creating living walls within their office spaces. These walls composed of a variety of plants bring in soothing greenery and can completely transform an ordinary common area into a lush, rejuvenating space, drawing the outside indoors. Keep Snacks Stocked
Offer healthy snacks to keep employees energized. Having healthy snacks on hand will help you feel more at home, as well as keep your energy levels high for late nights. Fresh fruit or granola bars on the countertop will give your space a much homier feeling than a vending machine. Add Coffee Table Books
The Hughes Marino coffee table is always stocked with reading material.
Comfy couches anchor the living room in Hughes Marino’s San Diego office.
BUSINESS From a design standpoint, coffee table books can bring color and fun to even the most basic common areas. But they also provide entertainment for waiting guests, or a nice way for you to take a quick breather and decompress for a few minutes during your day. Buy Fresh Flowers
Flowers achieve the same objective as a living wall, but within your own space. They bring a bit of the outdoors inside your office – and bring a pop of color to the space! And if you don’t The Hughes Marino coffee table is always stocked with reading material. have the budget for fresh cut flowers each week, consider a potted plant or orchid instead. Plants in the workplace have been shown to boost productivity, and also help clean the air. Bring in a Scent Diffuser
A luxurious scent can transform a dreary space. Image via Seek the Uniq. Aromatherapy can be extremely helpful when you’re stressed at work. Find soothing scents and bring them into your office for those times when you’re overwhelmed. Or pick a bold citrusy scent to reenergize you throughout the day.
A lush, green wall brings a seating area to life. Image via Virtuhouse.
Decorate Your Bulletin Boards
Add personal elements – favorite quotes, special mementos, and inspirational images – to a tack board next to your desk. It’s amazing how quickly a few words or images can turn your day from blah to blazing, so look for words and images that really strike you. Display Personal Photos Photos of your spouse, children, parents, friends, and pets help keep them close to you throughout the day, and remind you that you’re working hard to provide for those you love! Experiment with different frames, and update photos over time to keep your space feeling like your home. So many of us spend so much time at work that it only makes sense to bring a bit of home into the office. By adding flowers, photos, comfortable couches, candles and personal items to your office space and common areas, going into “work” can be as comfortable and welcoming as returning home after a long day.
A tack board in the Hughes Marino marketing office.
(Star Hughes is a director at Hughes Marino, an award-winning California commercial real estate firm with offices in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Silicon Valley.) A luxurious scent can transform a dreary space. Image via Seek the Uniq.
The Choose Local First "Amigas" were able to present another check to Birney Elementary's 'Passport to Adventure' from their sales of the North Park/South Park Community Card. Look for their sombreros at the Pride Parade on July 18th in front of the Fiji Store at 1010 University. They will be selling both the NP/SP Community Card, as well the new Card for Hillcrest/Mission Hills that day. Photo by Erin Brant theleoloves.com
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 17
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ARTS
San Diego Creative Arts Project The little company that could At San Diego Creative Arts Project creativity that engage both youngsters (SDCAP), some come for the fun, some and adults, beginner through profesfor the exercise, some for the future. sional. Annual productions include classic Nathalie Simon, 15, a student from favorites, modern scripts, and an origSerra High School, has been dancing inal, or updated version of a wellsince she was 5 years old. She wants to known tale with new script and music, be a singer/songwriter with a back-up giving young performers the opportuplan of owning a dance studio. nity to be part of the creative process “We strive to inspire creativity and Julia Lovio, 11, from Roosevelt Mid- create a positive impact bringing arts dle School, comes on the recommen- to the community. And as a 501(c) (3) dation of her friends for fun. She was nonprofit, we are able to offer scholarin theater camp when she was younger ship programs as well,” said Laura and wanted to gain more experience. Hodge, executive artistic and education director. Adelina Rocha, 12, from Lakeside SDCAP is founded by Hodge, a Middle School, wants to be on Broad- dance and theater master educator, way. choreographer, director, and performing artist whose work is respected from SDCAP was formed about two years coast to coast. ago as a nonprofit performing arts Prior to SDCAP Hodge was the organization, invested in engaging, owner and artistic director of several training, and inspiring students of all award-winning companies in Pittsages and backgrounds who desire to burgh, Pa., where she was awarded a grow artistically and confidently in the “Day in Her Honor” by the City Counperforming arts. It currently has 70- cil for bringing the arts, music and culsome students. ture communities together. SDCAP offers group and private Growing up in Pittsburgh, she classes to students of all ages, including trained with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theperformance opportunities in ater, Point Park University, Pittsburgh dance, theater, voice, and fitness, and Playhouse Conservatory, Carnegie Melensuring high standards of training and lon University, and later with Bill T.
Jones, and schools and workshops throughout New York City and Los Angeles. As a performer, Hodge has performed in numerous musical theater productions, dance-theater companies, theatrical-touring companies, film, and television, both in Pittsburgh and San Diego. She has choreographed over 15 fulllength dance concerts, directed and created original choreography for over 40 musicals and ballets, written plays for children's theater, and worked on every artistic aspect of performance production. Hodges’ teaching credits include: Point Park University, University of Pittsburgh, Irene Kaufmann JCC, Millenium (L.A.), Malashock Dance, San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Mary Murphy’s (“So You Think You Can Dance”) Champion Ballroom, and private coaching. Her former students have gone on to perform for Disneyland, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Cirque Du Soleil, Pitts- SDCAP singers. burgh Civic Light Opera, and films and television. that collectively have been around for over 100 years. We aren’t willing to be “We are the ‘little company that the ‘good enough’ company; we want could’ when you compare us with the to be the best we can be in every aspect,” bigger and more established companies said Hodge.
BY DELLE WILLETT
SDCAP makes its own sets and costumes, often with the help of family, friends and parents. The entire family of student Adelina Rocha is currently working on a new set. SDCAP finds
ARTS creative ways to repurpose the costumes and sets, and even rents them out to other theaters. Hodge works with professional voice, dance, set design, acting teachers and yoga instructors. One of her students is training in technical theater and backstage work, learning how to do lighting and production management. She believes that to be a good teacher you have to have performance experience. “If you are going to teach children how to perform, you should actually have been on stage yourself. “I want all of my teachers to have professional experience, not only experience teaching, but real experience in the field. It’s very important,” said Hodge. SDCAP teachers include Barbara Toombs, voice coach and instructor; Julie Greathouse, group voice and voice coach; Marisa Sambista, Samba; Kyoko Jennings and Danitza Partida, hip-hop; and Jackie Gadd, Yoga instructor. Hodge has developed outreach programs to schools, modifying performances with artistic flair to complement curriculum that schools are working on. Most recently they did three performances at Roosevelt Middle School and, in a partnership with OLP, they performed “The Wizard of Oz,” Through the OLP partnership, the school’s long-time drama teacher Kathleen Herb Baker provided assistance from their stage manager, Vanessa Rebeill, parents helped with costumes, and they even got “Toto” from an OLP family. SDCAP also partnered with the San Diego Rep with three productions: “Steal Heaven,” “Uncanny Valley,” and “Everybody’s Talking,” which included both singing and dancing performances by SDCAP students of all ages. In partnership with the San Diego Symphony, SDCAP recently performed “Thriller” at the San Diego Symphony, performing the iconic choreography to a “Thriller” mix, edited by Hodge’s husband, Charles T. Mattick, who does all of the edits, added effects, and more. “We will be holding our ‘Thriller’ workshops again in September, where students will learn the choreography, have several make-up tutorials and sessions, and have the opportunity to perform,” said Hodge. David Kamatoy, a long-time friend of Hodge, is SDCAP’s music director.
He was most recently with the KROC Center production of “CATS” (with Hodge as director of choreography), and Fern Street Circus. He is currently the producer of the “Big Biz Show,” a nationally syndicated Business Talk Radio/TV show at Jump TV Studios, where he also produces several other media properties. Kamatoy owns Kamatoy Media Group, a business and media development company which provides video production, PR, writing, print, and other services to clients. Hodge’s husband, Christopher, is also her partner, financial manager and sounding board, along with their daughter, Isabel, 12, a student at Preuss UCSD. Hodge says, a good way to see if you like the performing arts is to sign up for a summer camp. SDCAP offers mini-, one- and two-week camps during which time campers will perform
in shows like “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,”“Alice in Wonderland,” and “Dance All Day.” Triple-threat camp includes audition prep (choosing and getting direction for an audition monologue and song) and also includes a professional headshot. Dance lessons include ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and modern choreography. These classes increase strength, flexibility, artistry, and technique. And at the end of the program students will learn do a final- Dancers in ‘Thriller.’ day performance. lessons on being audition-ready. Other campers will study classical Camps are available for pre-school drama by examining the nature of his- through age 18. Prices range from $100 tory and theater, from Greek chorus to $300. to Shakespeare, and the relevance hisThe tuition for SDCAP classes tory has in today's theater, also with a ranges from $10 to $15 for drop-ins. final-day performance. However, Hodge encourages serious Another camp offers students tech- students to commit to a month or nique in voice, dance, and acting, and semester. These classes are discounted
6 to 8 pm Friday Evenings
Help the UHCDC to fund this annual summer event – Become a Sponsor!
Trolley Barn Park
by number of classes taken—the more you take the more you save. Private lessons, auditions prep, and coaching fees vary per instructor. SDCAP holds open auditions throughout the year that draw people from all over the county. It does not require previous stage experience to audition. During the audition he or she will be required to read from the provided script, expected to sing a Broadway-style song that should be already prepared to perform at the audition, and learn a simple dance routine from the choreographer. SDCAP’s next audition for its fall musical will be announced in late August. The studios are located at 4715 30th St., Suite 4, San Diego. sdcreativearts@gmail.com, (619) 501-4821
Adams Avenue & Florida Street
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A SPONSOR FOR ‘SUMMER IN THE PARK’
In The Park
I have enclosed (check one)
Friends Level
$ 25
– 49
Buster Level
$ 50
– 99
(support-a-potty)
July-August
per event – $ 500
Band Sponsor per event – $ 750
July 10
Caliber
San Diego Park & Rec Department and the UH Recreation Council
per event – $ 950
Stage Level
70s, 80s, Old School Funk
All Events Co-Sponsor $ 1,500 – $ 2,500
www.wearecaliber.com
CO-SPONSORS Park & Rec Evelyn Ascough, DDS Ross Lopez & Mark Ballam Roxanne Govari & Her Pemberley Realty Team Mary Anne Stevens Queen Bee’s Art & Cultural Center
– 499
Sound Crew Level
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San Diego County Enhancement Program in partnership with
$ 100
Patron Level
2015
and
Summer
PRIMARY SPONSOR University Heights Community Development Corp. [a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit]
MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP | JULY 2015 | 19
July 17
The Jazz Pigs
Name
________________________________________________________
Multicultural Jazz/Rock Fusion
Address
www.thejazzpigs.com
July 24
City
Liz Grace & The Swing Thing Big Band, Swing, Jazz
State
www.facebook.com/lizgraceswingthing
July 31
BAND SPONSOR Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air
www.theswampcritters.com
Zip
__________________________
________________________________________________________
UHCDC P.O. Box 3115 San Diego, CA 92163 (619) 297-3166
August 7
Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
All sponsorship levels are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. All donations go to support ‘Summer in the Park.’
Boogie Woogie & Swing
Please, no alcoholic beverages, no glass containers and no unleashed dogs!
__________________
Clip & return and make payable to:
Zydeco, Cajun, Texas Swing
‘Summer in the Park’ is yet another example of the Development Corp. (UHCDC) and its affiliates working for the benefit of our community.
______________________________________________________________
Phone
Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters
___________________________________________________
www.suepalmer.com
Come out this summer for fun & free entertainment right in your own neighborhood! Bring a picnic dinner or try our mobile vendor Mrs. Frostie for ice cream treats, or visit any of our University Heights restaurants for a bite before or after the concerts! Visit our website at www.uhcdc.org for links to bands appearing at ‘Summer in the Park’ 2015! Special thanks to UHCA and its blockwalkers who distribute 4,000 concert flyers through its UHCA News. Laura Hodge, Laura Hodge, executive artistic and education director of San Diego Creative Arts Project.
COMMUNITY
20 | JULY 2015 | MID CITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
RECYCLED WASTEWATER COMING SOONER THAN YOU THINK Drought pushes regional action BY RY RIVARD | VOICE OF SAN DIEGO
The drought and growing public acceptance have turned a process once derided as “toilet to tap” into something politically palatable, and water officials across San Diego County are planning to make reused wastewater drinkable and widespread within a matter of years. In the city, a $2.85 billion multi-part project, branded Pure Water, is hoping to use wastewater to start producing 30 million gallons a day of drinkable water within the next six years. That’s two years sooner and twice as much water as envisioned just months ago. “The drought has definitely pushed this project,” said John Helminski, the assistant director of the city of San Diego’s water department. “The fact that we don’t know how long the drought will last. We’re already in the fourth year of drought — if we continue, it could get a lot worse than it is today.” The city is not alone. The Padre Dam Municipal Water District in East County and a separate group of North County water agencies are each pursuing
major projects to recycle wastewater. Some water utilities already operate separate “purple pipe” recycled water programs that recycle some wastewater — but only well enough to use for irrigation and certain industrial uses. The purple pipe water flows through separate pipes from our drinkable water. The treated wastewater-turned-drinking water is heavily treated and would flow through the same pipes to homes and offices as regular drinking water. While the city is still looking to expand its purple pipe system, the Pure Water program has in some ways put that on a back burner. While purple pipe water is cheaper for customers, it can only be used for certain things, like
irrigation. It also requires a separate pipeline running next to existing pipes for drinking water, which is expensive. But out in North County, a group of water agencies is working to expand their purple pipe system while simultaneously beginning to explore efforts to make wastewater drinkable. “Everybody in the county is looking at this now,” said Kimberly Thorner, general manager of Olivenhain Municipal Water District in Encinitas, a member of the North County group. “You kind of have to because what is going on with the drought.” Each of the projects aimed at making wastewater drinkable will treat wastewater, send the treated water to a reservoir
or underground, treat the water again and then send it to homes and businesses. The obvious benefit of drinkable recycled water is that thinning water supplies are stretched further. Right now, much of the water officials want to reuse is imported from hundreds of miles away, used once and then dumped into the Pacific Ocean after being lightly treated. “We recognize that wastewater — as it travels all the way down and is treated partially and put into the Pacific Ocean – is wasted water,” said Padre Dam general manager Alan Carlisle. “And we should be capturing every drop and repurposing it.” Environmental groups agree, and several of them have endorsed the city’s Pure Water program for this very reason: to curb dumping. The Padre Dam agency supplies water to about 100,000 people over 72 square miles from Santee to Alpine. If all goes according to plan, within five years, a fifth of the district’s water will come from treated wastewater. In the city of San Diego, the reusable wastewater program has a long history and was once widely panned. Former Mayor Jerry Sanders once said, “Nooooo” and laughed nervously when asked to drink some of the highly treated water in 2011.
The drought is helping to force everyone’s hand. Fewer and fewer people react with “yuk” to the thought of purified sewer water. A recent poll by Probe Research for the San Diego County Water Authority found support for reusing wastewater is now at 73 percent. Perhaps that’s because of the drought. Perhaps that’s because of stories noting that everyone already drinks “pee water.” Much of the region’s water comes from the Colorado River, which is used over and over and over again before it arrives in San Diego. City officials say their treated wastewater is purified water “of exceptional quality” and meets all federal and state drinking water standards. The first part of the city’s Pure Water project will cost about $1 billion. That money will go to upgrade the North City water treatment plant, which is along the 805 near the University of California, San Diego. Helminski, the water department’s assistant director, said the city is still working on putting together a financing plan for the project, which the City Council would have to approve. The water department hopes to start construction at North City in mid-2019. (For more on this story, visit www.voiceofsandiego.org)
Community and Board Meetings
Safe Summer, Safe City
Greater Golden Hill Community Development Corp. The CDC normally meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive. Email: info@goldenhillcdc.org.
Summer vacation is here. The ring of the bell on the last day of school means kids will have more time to play. Parents will have more decisions to make about where their children spend time. Most likely, kids will be over at friends’ houses doing whatever they do with their free time. Sounds carefree and fun, but what about the dangers of children being possibly unsupervised in a house down the street or around the corner? A very real risk is that kids will be their curious selves and possibly come across an unlocked gun and ammunition in that friend’s home. It’s not hard to imagine the potential for serious and even fatal consequences, injury or death. National statistics show that in the United State, one out of three homes with kids have guns and nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with an unlocked, loaded gun. 80 percent of unintentional firearm deaths of kids under 15 occur in the home. Many of these tragedies occur in homes where parents thought their guns were well hidden or safely stored.
Greater Golden Hill Planning Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the Balboa Golf Course clubhouse, 2600 Golf Course Drive. For information, call (619) 533-5284. The North Park Redevelopment Project Area Committee meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. Meetings focus on redevelopment projects in construction or planning. For information, visit sandiego.gov/redevelopment-agency. The North Park Main Street board meets at 7 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at its storefront office, 3076 University Ave. North Park Main Street has more than 250 members, primarily businesses paying annual assessments in the city-authorized North Park BID. For information, call 294-2501. The North Park Maintenance Assessment District Committee normally meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every other month at North Park Community Adult Center, 2719 Howard Ave. The North Park Planning Committee meets meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at North Park Christian Fellowship, 2901 North Park Way. The committee is an advisory group to the city on North Park land use, including the general plan, infrastructure and density. For information, visit northparkplanning.org. The North Park Community Association meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd. The Community Association provides a forum for issues and concerns about public safety, education, land use, public facilities and services, commercial revitalization, community image and cultural activities. For more information, visit northparksd.org. The North Park Historical Society meets from 6:30 to 8
p.m. the third Thursday of each month. The Historical Society conducts research and educational outreach in order to facilitate preservation of North Park's cultural and architectural history. For more information, visit www.northparkhistory.org. The South Park Business Group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. at Alchemy Restaurant, 30th & Beech. The SPBG is comprised of business owners with storefronts and service businesses located in South Park. The organization produces the quarterly South Park Walkabouts and the annual Old House Fair. For more information, call (619) 233-6679 or email PBG@lucyslist.net. The University Heights Community Association meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month in the auditorium of Birney Elementary School, 4345 Campus Ave. For information, call 297-3166. The Adams Avenue Business Association board of directors normally meets at 7:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Normal Heights Community Center, 4649 Hawley Blvd. For time, place and more information, call (619) 282-7329 or visit adamsaveonline.com. The Kensington/Talmadge Planning Group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Kensington Community Church, 4773 Marlborough Drive. For information, call 287-3157. The Lions Club of North Park meets for lunch every Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the club, 3927 Utah St. Prospective members are welcome to enjoy their first lunch on the club. For information, call (619) 692-0540. Uptown Rotary welcomes prospective members at its 7 a.m. Thursday breakfasts at Jimmy Carter’s Mexican Café, 3172 Fifth Ave. For more, call (619) 500-3229 or visit sdurotary.org. The North Park Recreation Council meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of every other month at North Park Recreation Center, 4044 Idaho St. For information, call 235-1152.
What’s a parent to do? The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is promoting ASK Month, a simple and sensible concept that encourages parents and caretakers to ask the adults in the house where their children will be playing if there are any firearms. Are the guns and ammunition locked securely and away from curious juvenile eyes and hands? Much like asking if adults will be home when a teenage party is going on, the question sends the message that we are concerned about the safety of our children. School districts can support parents by including information about ASK in the packets of materials sent home every school year. Support for ASK comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and over 400 grassroots organizations. All children deserve a safe summer. Will parents be at the party, will the swimming pool be supervised, is there an unlocked gun in the house? Just ask.
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Fresh Start Surgical Gifts
Doctors with big hearts lend healing hands BY DELLE WILLETT
From Ethiopia, Adele had a retinoblastoma — a tumor of the eye — which was removed when she was about 3. Using an antiquated method, the doctors didn’t leave enough socket to hold an artificial eye. So she wore an eye patch for the next 10 years until she connected with San Diego’s Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. In two to three operations, doctors took skin and tissue from her abdomen and the roof of her mouth to slowly rebuild an area in the socket to hold a prosthetic eye that will look normal. The results were amazing, and today Adele is now a beautiful young woman who is very appreciative of the care she received. From Vietnam, Fluerange was mutilated by her father and left outside to die. After being taken in by an orphanage where she had no stimulation, she was adopted by a loving Canadian family who subsequently reached out to Fresh Start for help for their much disfigured adopted daughter. “Fluerange needed a new eye and multiple facial operations. Now, only 12, she is the most delightful, full-oflife child, with the strongest character of anyone I have ever met,” said Doctor of Ophthalmology Asa Morton. “These are the kind of people that
make me proud to be around. In many ways they give me more strength and power than I give them.” Fresh Start Surgical Gifts transforms the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens with physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse, trauma or disease through the gift of free reconstructive surgery and related health care services. Fresh Start’s founder, the late Dr. Dennis Nigro, a renowned San Diego plastic surgeon, began transforming the lives of youth with deformities in his own office on a pro bono basis in the late ’80s. Through his travels and experiences as a new surgeon, Nigro developed a passion for treating craniofacial deformities and performing plastic surgery for kids who had no means to pay for the surgery themselves. He recognized that there was a whole population of people, especially children, who suffered from a correctable condition but could not afford the medical attention they needed. By 1991, Nigro’s personal philanthropic efforts and vision had caught on, resulting in the birth of Fresh Start Surgical Gifts. Fresh Start brings patients to San Diego to be treated by the best doctors in San Diego to deal with very complicated situations. The doctors, who
are all volunteers, specialize in treating conditions related to ears, eyes, noses, jaws, lips and palates, tongues, scar revisions, burn scars, hands and feet, breasts, vascular lesions, dental issues resulting from facial deformities and more. Morton, an ophthalmologist and facial plastic surgeon trained at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, has been on Fresh Start’s team since 2000. Through volunteering in Pakistan and Guatemala, he saw people with true surgical needs that he couldn’t help on his own. While in Guatemala he found a young boy with a very large tumor wrapped around one of his eyes — a surgery too complicated to do in the area. Ultimately, Morton brought the boy to San Diego to Fresh A young patient can’t be without her teddy bear. Start. After two operations, the boy got a fresh start on life. Returning to Guatemala, where he also volunteers at Help International, Morton has followed this boy into near adulthood, operating on him several more times at Fresh Start. “Magic, it was magic, all of these people working together. I couldn’t have done it by myself. There is no way that little boy would have gotten what he needed anywhere else,” said Morton. Fresh Start holds Surgery Weekends six times per year at Rady Children’s SEE FRESH, Page 22
Dr. Jon Bennett takes the heart rate of a young patient in San Diego’s Fresh Start Surgical Gifts program.
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Hospital’s state-of-the-art surgical suites which opened in 2010. This 7,809-square-foot has 22 pre-and postoperative patient rooms and some of the top medical professionals in pediatric care on staff. Celene Nigro (not related to Dennis Nigro) has been director of the medical program for 10 years. A registered nurse for over 35 years, she oversees the Surgery Weekends, which accomplish 10 to 15 free-of-cost reconstructive surgeries on Saturdays with follow-up clinics, evaluations and consultations on Sundays at the Fresh Start Clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital. About 60 patients on average are treated on each Surgery Weekend by about 100 volunteers. The Fresh Start Clinic is the brainchild and passion of the late Denis Nigro and Dr. Steven R. Cohen. A part of Celene Nigro’s job is coordinating the specialists available for the needs of each patient on the same
Surgery Weekends, and to have the correct number of staff available. Following surgeries, staff and volunteers facilitate a two-stage recovery: one for about an hour in a recovery room and the other to a discharge area where patients get ready to go home or to a hotel. Prior to the Saturdays of Surgery Weekends, they hold a pre-op clinic to see all patients, give them their information, meds, and antibiotics with the
help of a nurse-practitioner. Everyone has a favorite story. Nigro’s is about Lucia Santos, who has been with Fresh Start for 20 some years. He’s gone from being a little-kid patient from Tijuana to a big-adult medical student who wants to be a plastic surgeon, and to have lots of kids who all become doctors, as his way of giving back. Lupita Morales, patient services manager, has been with Fresh Start for
‘I love helping the kids and their families,’ said Lupita Morales, patient services manager with Fresh Start.
over seven years, overseeing incoming patient applications which come from individuals and doctors from all over the world. Once Morales has vetted the applicants and attained all of their necessary medical records, their cases are presented to the volunteer surgeon committee that determines whether the cases are within their scope of expertise. To qualify for medical services, typically patients are from financially disadvantaged families, are uninsured, under-insured or would face significant financial hardship if they had to pay for their medical treatments, and who don’t have medical insurance or qualify for state-funded programs. They also treat patients who are denied insurance coverage for their condition, or who cannot afford to pay for the many follow-up surgeries and treatments that their condition may require. “I love helping the kids and their families. When a child has a deformity, the whole family suffers,” said Morales. “Fresh Start means giving a child or adolescent a new life. If we weren’t here and didn’t have the resources to help the kids, I don’t know where they would get the help.” Patients are accepted from infants to 17 years of age; patients up to the age of 25 must go through a separate Medical Program Committee process. Morales arranges all patient logistics, including lodging, transportation and food prior to and after the children’s procedures. When the patients are from abroad, she assists in acquiring passports and visas, and all travel needs. Morales’ favorite story is about 15year-old Zulema, from Hemet, who had a congenital deformity that affected her ear, jaw and teeth. She was having a tough time as a high school student, being bullied and unwelcome by the other kids. Since being accepted at Fresh Start, she now has braces and will soon have surgery to correct her jaw and to reconstruct her outer ear. It will take between six and 10 surgeries to correct the deformity. “Her story really touched me. I saw all that pain and hurt they’ve been through turned into happiness and hope. Now she’s the happiest little girl you will ever meet. I get hugs from her ... it’s everything to me,” said Morales. Fresh Start patients often require extensive follow-up and years of surgeries and medical services until the best medical outcome has been reached. For example, their average cleft-lip and palate patient requires seven years of dental and approximately 49 treatments. As part of the follow-up recovery and restorative process, free clinics are held on the Sunday of Surgery Weekends as well as during the interim between Surgery Weekends. Doctors
‘These are the kind of people that make me proud to be around. In many ways they give me more strength and power than I give them,’ said Doctor of Ophthalmology Asa Morton of the Fresh Start patients. (Photo by Delle Willett)
also open up their offices to see Fresh Start patients in with their regular private patients. Clinics include dental, orthodontic, laser and speech therapy and range from basic dental hygiene to complex orthodontic work and speech therapy for children with craniofacial disorders. Approximately 25-30 children are treated at each clinic. For those who live far away, the doctors keep in touch through doctors in the U.S. and abroad through Skype and email. The majority of volunteers at Surgery Weekends and Dental Clinics are medical professionals ranging from anesthesiologists and surgeons to dental hygienists and RNs. The Fresh Sharp Foundation, launched in 2005, allows 100 percent of contributions to go directly to Fresh Start’s medical programs. Since its inception, over 6,700 children have received their transformations valued at over $28 million. In 2001, Fresh Start began a collaboration with the Place Surgery Foundation to expand Fresh Start nationally through the creation of Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation, with the initial site expansion taking place at the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Comer Children’s Hospital. With this new location it is able to expand its patient base and outreach, and are closer to accomplishing its goal of ensuring that every child born with a deformity receive quality health care. “Medicine is an evolving field that is becoming more and more challenging. Staying involved with people who have this great need refreshes our memories and recharges the spirit that got us into medicine in the first place,” said Morton. Delle Willett has 30 years’ experience in freelance writing, marketing and public relation. She was director of marketing and public relations for theDirector of Marketing and Public Relations for the San Diego Natural History Museum,
Celene Nigro has been director of the medical program for 10 years. She oversees the Surgery Weekends. (Photo by Delle Willett)
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have to understand, with all due respect, that this location is a commercial piece of property. You never know what the cards hold for the future. People retire and move on. Things change from a business perspective or any perspective. If this were all homes, and we tore down all the homes to put in a commercial property, I would agree with them 100 percent. But it’s been a commercial property since the early ’60s. Everything else was built around it. Folks invested in homes knowing there was a big piece of commercial property, the biggest in South Park. Target has been in all these community meetings to show the community they want to be players. Kimley-Horn has been overseeing this. Q. What about the Apple Tree Market?
A. I operated the Apple Tree supermarket in Ocean Beach on Santa Monica Avenue for 28 years. The lease expired, and the landlord kicked out the only independent store in all of Ocean Beach to put a CVS there. Nobody could afford his prices except corporate. Is Sprouts or Trader Joe's corporate? They’re huge. They have hundreds of locations. And both of them rejected this location. It was offered to both of them before it was offered to Target, and both of them showed no interest. Where do you draw the line? We didn’t offer it to Target, they came to us, they contacted the broker and asked, “Is it still available?” The broker told Target that we were in negotiation with two stores. Target showed a lot of interest, and we made the deal happen. Q. Why do you think Gala didn’t do as well?
A. We added all kinds of glutenfree and healthy items. But it was a minor change, and people were looking for a major change. I respect that. I don’t hold any animosity. We just have to do what we feel is right. We have families to support. Somebody needs to step up to the plate and rent it. If there were people in the community who were financially qualified to come in and lease this, why didn’t they? Should I leave the property empty until a local person comes in? There are
lots and lots of successful independents who could compete. I frequent a place in Del Mar called Urban Plates which has fresh fish and organic foods. The place is an independent. You just have to have the right products. Q. What are your plans to build a 5,000-square-foot building on a portion of the parking lot at Fern and Grape Streets?
A. Plans for the 5,000-square-foot building are in their infancy. I haven’t even hired an architect to start drawing plans. It will be on the north side of the property where the recycling center was — the recycling center has gone out of business — and it will run north to south. It will be a rectangle, and it could house two, three, or four businesses. Or there could be one tenant, like maybe a financial institution. So far, no one has shown interest. Maybe there will be interest after Target opens up. Our broker is Flocke and Avoyer. We'll hire an architect any day now and start the planning process in the next month or so. I remember mentioning it to Todd Gloria and Molly Chase. I won’t work with them unless I need to. I don’t think the city has an issue with it. They do like to see local businesses lease space, but I can’t control that. If local businesses are interested in paying fair market value, that’s fine. Our interest is to renovate the property. We will consider all offers (on the building). It will be made available to everybody: dentists, restaurants. We’ll negotiate with tenants. Rents will depend on what the market will bear at the time. We’ll rent it as soon as it can get built. It could take two years and happen in 2017 if it all goes accordingly. I’ll be working with (the City of San Diego) Development Services, and I’m not sure what obstacles we'll encounter. I’ve never put a building through the city yet. At the last South Park Business Group meeting, people were very, very excited about this project. Now they have to step up to the plate. Banks are corporate — wouldn’t they serve our needs? The community is allowed input through the permitting process; that’s when we get opinions, that’s when it’s time to talk. We’re in the infancy stage now. We’re just interviewing.
Meet TargetExpress’ Manager Robert Farrington, a 14-year employee of Target and a native San Diegan, has been named the manager of the TargetExpress store in South Park. Farrington has been working as the assistant store manager of the Target store in the Eastlake neighborhood of Chula Vista. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in political science from UC San Diego.
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Donna Walker: Hello everybody, I’m Donna Walker, co-owner of the South Bark Dog Wash. It’s really, really good to see all the familiar faces in the audience and it’s good to see everybody involved in the community so much. One thing that I want to say is to those of you who don’t know me, I am an optimist. And I have to look at reality here and look at what we have in front of us. We have a big, giant building in the middle of our neighborhood. And no matter what you think, somebody’s got to go in there. Well, unfortunately, not a lot of people can afford it. But our friends at Target can. And they are listening to us and trying to be good neighbors. They are being very, very good about it…Target is a good thing. They’re trying; they’re helping us. Let’s be friendly. I’ve been in the neighborhood for over 25 years; my business has been there for 15. Kim Grant: So my suggestion is: don’t try and duplicate or water down what we already have. Just be Target. Do the Target stuff that we don’t have like the pharmacy of course, and all the other things. But let the other businesses flourish and not have competition because they are small businesses and they’re not buying things by the truckload or the cargo-ship load, they’re buying small portions; they can’t do quite as good on the pricing. But the fabric of our neighborhood is the architecture, the people and the small businesses. So please aid that and don’t take away from that. Bray: Hello, my name is Bray. I don’t have a business that I can promote. I haven’t built a hundred playgrounds for needy children. I’m just a homeowner and I see a train wreck coming. And that train wreck is going to be at the intersection where the Target is going to be located. It’s a bad intersection and anyone who drives around there knows it now and it’s going to get worse when the traffic increases, as it will. I cannot believe the city did not require Target to do a traffic study, it’s just blows my mind…We keep saying it again and again and again, speaker after speaker, traffic, traffic, traffic.
TargetExpress Set to Open on Oct. 7 Store will evolve to fit the needs of the neighborhood’
Target representatives announced that the new TargetExpress store will open on Oct. 7 at the former site of the Gala Foods market. “Target Express is a small-format concept, designed and developed to give exceptional Target experience to our on-the-go guests in a miniature format,” said Lorie Jones, senior development manager with Real Estate Partners in Minneapolis, Minn. “So what that really means is that we are going to focus on our guest’s immediate needs versus stocking up. At roughly 10,000-20,000 square feet, this concept is the smallest Target store to date and the TargetExpress store here in South Park will utilize the Gala Foods existing building which is about 18,500 square feet. For context, our general merchandise store in Mission Valley is 199,000 square feet. So it is quite a bit smaller than our original draw store.” Jones said the store will give customers who now travel outside the neighborhood for their immediate needs the opportunity to fill those
needs closer to home. “For example, you could pick up your pharmacy or prescriptions while you are out walking your dog, or taking your kids for a bike ride. Or if you have a sick toddler at home, you could run over to TargetExpress and grab a bottle of Pedialyte or Tylenol and be home in just a few minutes,” said Jones. “So each store is designed and merchandised and operated with the local community in mind.” The store will have a convenience grocery, with fresh meat and fresh produce, health and beauty products, a full-service pharmacy, curated home goods, hardware products, electronic devices, among other products. “What we have heard from the neighborhood so far has influenced our plans for this store,” said Jones. “And here are some examples: we’ll have a wide assortment of basic hardware in the store because we heard that the local residents are tired of waiting in their neighborhood to get those basic needs. To fit in better with
the aesthetics of the neighborhood, we are commissioning a local artist to do a very large piece of custom artwork in our store. There won’t be a Starbucks in this store. It became very clear to us that the local coffee shops — Rebecca’s Coffee, Café Madeline and Captain Kirk’s coffee — are all very permanent fixtures here in the neighborhood that are enjoyed by all the residents, so no need to have a Starbucks at this location. “We also heard a lot of requests for bank-owned ATMs so we’ll have one of those in this store and we’ll offer fresh, organic produce from California whenever we can. So one attribute about this TargetExpress is that the store will evolve to fit the needs of the neighborhood. When we open the store, it’ll be our best guess that within a few weeks, it will evolve and reflect what you are asking for in this store.” The store will hold a hiring fair before the opening, and expects to employ 50 to 60 persons at the South Park store.