Tuesday, September 24, 2013

San Diego Facelift

We all feel the rising wave: overwhelming population. So many new construction projects all over the city, and I personally feel disconnected. Here is a list of some major projects in San Diego and some of their features.

Convention Center Downtown
BayFront Project Chula Vista
  • 556 Acres
  • H street Pier extension
  • Conference center 1,600 rooms, 415,000ft^2
  • 1,500 condos on 35 acres
  • 95 acres of permanent habitat restoration space
  • Will include several large buildings
SD Public Library Downtown (619)236-5800
  • $185Million ($80Million in Redevelopment money, $40 from local gov, $65 private)
  • September 30 opening day (start date: 8/2010)
  • 9 stories, 497,652 ft^2
  • Observation Deck on the 9th floor overlooking The Coronado Bridge
  • 250 parking spots in the garage
  • 2 story charter high school (first ever in a library)
  • 350 seat auditorium
  • 22 seminar rooms
  • Courtyard
  • Dome larger than the Capital dome in Washington D.C.
  • TV Media Center, Gaming room, juice bar
  • Amazingly unique Sony Wall
  • Hours
    • Monday: noon-8
    • Tuesday: 9:30-5:30
    • Wednesday: noon-8
    • Thursday -Saturday: 9:30-5:30
    • Sunday: 1-5
  • Prior library (built in 1950's) is still being decided on
North Embarcadero Visionary Plan
  • West Broadway construction complete
  • Construction of the 105 ft wide esplanade is taking place now, extending into the harbor
  • WiFi
  • Pedestrians only
  • Fountains, artwork, and unique lighting
Admin Center Waterfront Park
  • 8 acres between Grape and Ash on PCH
  • 254 car parking lot underground
  • $34Million
Horton Plaza
  • Full city block (60,000ft^2)
  • $14.2Million
  • Construction beginning late this year on the amphitheatre
Apartment Complexes/hotels downtown
  • Lane Field Hotel
    • Finish date: Year end
    • $115Million
    • 365 Parking spaces
    • 400 rooms with 25,000 ft^2 retail space
  • Celadon at Broadway and 9th
    • Low-income apartments
  • 13th and Market Luxury Apts
  • 9th and Market Luxury Apartments
  • Park and F St. Apartments
  • Broadstone Little Italy
  • Several Other Complexes
Sempra Headquarters Downtown
  • Changing from a different address downtown
  • Cisterra Partners are project managers
  • 16 story, 55,000ft^2
  • Between J/Island, 7th/8th (prime location)
  • Accommodate 1000 employees, 490 person Garage
  • 25 year lease
  • LEED Gold status, with revolutionary designs

Seaport Village Retail Center Downtown
  • Old Police Headquarters (abandoned 1987)
  • $40Million
  • Historic Building
  • Will be 30 storefronts
    • Cheesecake Factory
    • Eddie V's
    • Gelato Paradiso
    • Pizzeria Mozza
  • Leasing company has the 100,000ft^2 space for 40 years

Terminal 2 Point Loma
Health and Sciences Biomedical Research Facility (La Jolla)
  • 196,000 ft^2, 5 stories, 3.3 acres
  • UCSD funded
  • $120Million
Heart/Vascular Center La Mesa
  • 74,000ft^2 in Grossmont Hospital complex
Balboa Park Centennial Plans
  • 700 events throughout the year
  • Transformation of the entire park
  • Irwin Jacobs of Qualcomm is a huge benefactor ($45Million)
  • The Cabrillo Bridge will be restructured ($38Million)
  • Installation of Microgrid Technology ($30Million) to enable only renewable energy

San Diego has the lowest rate of foreclosure in any major American city, and we are quickly running low on developable land, meaning that demand due to population growth is rising but supply is falling. Currently equity resales make up 84.7% of all resales, and San Diego Project managers experience an 8.2 month backlog. Additionally, SDSU is getting a new student union, Mitt Romney is building an 11,000ft^2 mansion, and The bay is getting a new Spanish Galleon (San Salvador). Will we have another Manhattan on our hands? I believe so, just with a different orientation. Forbes recently named San Diego as the second most inventive city in the WORLD. Indeed America's Finest City, but for how long?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hard Rock Pricing

A very difficult part of my job at Hard Rock is explaining cost breakdowns to clients. The environment at Hard Rock can induce anyone to drop some heavy bills, but I try my best to let my guests and friends know exactly what to expect for every occasion. That said, here are some prices you can refer to throughout the summer:
  • Open Thursday-Sunday, 9p - 2a
    • Beer (Guinness, Shock Top, Bud Light) is $7
    • Cocktails $12
    • Admission free if on the list and arrive before 10:30 (call me anytime to schedule)
    • Men after 10:30 $10, women {normally} free
    • Admission to 207 Thursday and Sunday
    • Admission to 207 and Float Friday and Saturday (guest list good for both)
  • Party buses rentable for large groups (25-50)
    • $200 if rented through me
  • Table Service: Thursday and Sunday (aka Industry night)
    • Premium Vodka: $250
    • Beer  is $5
  • Table Service: Friday and Saturday
    • Skyy Vodka: $350, Stoli: $375, Belvedere: $375 (gratuity additional charge)
    • 4-6 people is $350 min.
    • 6-10 people is $700 min.
    • 10-x people is $1000 min
    • Includes a waitress and table for your group all night
  • Intervention Tickets
    • Most shows will be $20 online and hard tickets
    • Door price $30 and up
    • Check with me and I can normally arrange discounts (bulk sales especially) 
    • Hotel rooms typically come with free passes if guests stay the day of
    • Admission 12p-6p Hard Rock Hotel pool
  • Social Saturdays
    • Free champagne ! (contact me to be on the list)
    • 12p to 6p at Hard Rock Hotel pool

Thursday, May 16, 2013

San Diego Organizations

Where do you start when it comes to meeting new people, gaining a network for business, or establishing more visibility? I have you covered with a quick outline of some of the more interesting organizations.

  • Sandag (really understand your community)
    • http://www.sandag.org/
  • Chamber of Commerce (40000 members)
    • http://www.sdchamber.org/
  • Rotary club (they control many aspects of san diego)
    •  http://www.sdrotary.org/
  • SD Museum of Art (great events)
    • http://www.sdmart.org/membership-levels-outlined
  • Cufflinks (mostly professionals)
    • http://cufflinksevents.com/
  • Six Degrees 
  • Del Mar Cigar Club
  • Black Tie Cigar Club
  • Couch surfing (never a dull moment, but this is only for friendship)
  • Create your own! Be outgoing and doors will open up to you everywhere!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Hard Rock Intervention Locked In!

After incredible success last summer seeing the likes of Tiesto, Steve Aoki, and Grammy (see below) winning Martin Solveig to name a few, Hard Rock San Diego (http://hardrockhotelsd.com/index.php) is back in full force this summer, opening with Swedish power house duo Cazzette for a sold out show. Prince headlined the indoor venue over the weekend, selling out Saturday night and delivering powerful performance throughout the evening.

Over the next few weeks, I am particularly excited about:
  • Scooter and Lavelle performing in collaboration with the energy junkie Donald Glaude (this weekend, Sunny 75 degrees)
  • Memorial Day weekend (AFROJACK Saturday, Gareth Emery Sunday) - May 25/26
  • Exclusive performance by Bow Wow on Friday night (May 12)
Contact me at 619-212-5214 for any details, discounted hard tickets, guest lists, or bottle services.


And for those of you who are like me and don't understand awards:
Oscars (academy awards) for Movies
Tonys for theatre
Emmys for TV
Grammy for music
Golden Globe given by members of (HFPA) for Film and Television (domestic and foreign)