April 11-24, 2017 Long Beach’s Newsmagazine www.lbbizjournal.com

Inside This Issue Development Projects, NFL Put A Developers Charge In City Of Carson’s Future Beware:

I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER According to Mayor Albert Robles, the city, Activists Assistant Editor which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, is “making tremendous progress” in achiev - he City of Carson is in the midst of a pe - ing its motto: Future Unlimited. Robles was May Sue T riod of growth, with developers continu - elected as mayor last June. He had been serving ing to invest in the city, major projects like the in the position after being appointed by the city Conservation Corps Marks council in 2015 when former Mayor Jim Dear Porsche Experience Center coming to fruition, I By BRANDON RICHARDSON 25th Year Of Dine On Pine Event a growing university and the potential for 157- stepped down to serve as city clerk. Senior Writer Page 2 acres of landfill to be transformed into a hub for “In the last couple of years, Carson has made commerce and tourism. (Please Continue To Page 22) ith more than 50 proj - W ects underway, approved or under review, the City of Long Beach is going gangbusters with regard to development. Housing, retail, restaurants, industrial – de - velopers are building it all. With so much activity, it is natural to see pushback from residents and local Rebranding Of Former City Place organizations. To Include 4th Street Parklet Long Beach resident Warren Blesofsky and his group – Long Page 6 Beach Citizens for Fair Develop - ment – have been exceedingly vocal about city practices when it comes to development. The group has vocalized its opposition for (Please Continue To Page 14)

Katie Pandolfo, general manager of the StubHub Center in Carson, welcomes Ken Derrett, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Chargers, to his team’s temporary new home. The NFL team is using StubHub until a new Long Beach Aim stadium is built in Inglewood to house the Chargers and the L.A. Rams. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) Small Business Showcase Is To Work With This Issue: Los Altos Adapting To Climate Change: Aquarium Report Pages 20-21 Businesses On Identifies Local Challenges And Strategies Styrofoam Ban

I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER worked with experts from regional report was too long and too I Assistant Editor universities and government agen - dense, and a lot of the people we By BRANDON RICHARDSON cies to create the City of Long would like to read it just don’t Senior Writer ising seas, hotter days, Beach Climate Resiliency Assess - have time to do it,” Jerry Schubel, R worsening air pollution ment Report, which was released president and CEO of the Aquar - ong Beach Environmental and frequent droughts are in at the end of 2015. ium, told the Business Journal. L Services Bureau Manager The Porsche Experience store for the future, according to To provide a more accessible, Hard copies were mailed to Diko Melkonian updated the a report by the Aquarium of the user-friendly document, the elected officials and city manage - Long Beach Sustainable City Center In Carson Pacific. The institution recently Aquarium brought on Tom Bow - ment, and a digital version is Commission on the proposed Pages 34-35 released a summary of this re - man, president-elect of Sustain - available for download at polystyrene ban at the group’s port that contains some advice able Business Long Beach and http://www.aquariumofpacific.or March 23 meeting. 2 Organization In The News for how the City of Long Beach owner of Bowman Change, Inc. A g/downloads/Climate_Re - The purpose of the update was 6 Real Estate, Realty Views can adapt. summary report detailing the siliency_0217.pdf. to put forth a framework to gain 9 Newswatch In 2015, Mayor Robert Garcia main impacts of climate change to “We think Long Beach has a insight on the extent of the ban be - 15 Going Green requested that the Aquarium take Long Beach, the city’s vulnerabil - great opportunity to really de - fore city staff begins drafting an the lead in creating a report ana - ities and potential means of adap - velop a model [for climate re - ordinance. The framework is 21 Small Business Dollars & Sense lyzing the resiliency of the city to tation was released in February. siliency] because we’re a small meant to inform stakeholders on 22 Focus On The City Of Carson climate change. The Aquarium “We decided that the original (Please Continue To Page 18) (Please Continue To Page 12)

Long Beach Business Journal PRSRT STD 2599 E. 28th Street, Suite 212 U.S. POSTAGE Signal Hill, CA 90755-2139 562/988-1222 • www.lbbizjournal.com PAID Los Angeles, CA PERMIT NO. 447 By Assistant Editor Samantha Mehlinger Will The Green Generation Step Up?

Many of us Millennials were born to Baby the Whales,” and many other phrases to preserve Boomers, the original flower children. Our parents the ecosystem and all manners of species, though popularized the phrase “tree huggers” both as a perhaps stopping short of opossums. proud epithet and a lighthearted derision. The hip - In the ’60s, Lady Bird Johnson got the country to pies among them coined “Save the Planet,” “Save stop throwing trash out (Please Continue To Page 5) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:29 PM Page 2

Page 2 • April 11-24 • Long Beach Business Journal Organization In The News Dine On Pine: Conservation Corps’ 25th Annual Event Supports The Futures Of At-Risk Youth

I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Assistant Editor

The Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) has been providing at-risk youth with the opportunity to fulfill their second- ary education while gaining valuable work and life skills for the past 30 years. The or- ganization is celebrating the 25th anniver- sary of its Dine on Pine event this year, which helps sustain its initiatives and pro- vides the means for Corpsmembers to con- tinue on with their education once they Pictured outside the Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) office at 340 Nieto Ave. are, from left: Executive Director and CEO Dan Knapp; have completed the program. founding boardmember Jane Netherton; Corpsmembers Errol Bennett-Valdez and Amanda West; and Tara Cannon, CCLB special projects coordinator. Former International City Bank President (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) Jane Netherton, who is one of the founding now a fundraiser for scholarships and the scholarships from the organization, accord- about their experiences and answer any boardmembers of the Conservation Corps organization’s educational programs, ing to Knapp. “They have to apply, and the questions,” Cannon said. of Long Beach, said the organization started originally started as an event to provide a scholarships vary from a few hundred dol- At the end of the evening, the groups re- out with 10 concerned community mem- public face to CCLB. lars to several thousand dollars, depending turn to The Federal Bar for coffee and bers who wrote personal checks to get the “When we first started doing it, we on where they are going to school,” he said. dessert, an opportunity drawing and the an- program started. “We had to really struggle wanted a way to let the community know “The average is about a thousand dollars nual presentation of the Founders Award, to get 14 people to be Corpsmembers,” she more about who we were and what we for a scholarship.” which is given to an individual who has recalled. “That’s not the case anymore.” did,” Netherton said. “We thought, well, Following their time in the Corps, about been heavily involved in the Corps and Today, the Corps has more than 90 mem- if we’re doing this, why don’t we have a 80% of members seeking further education community. “This year we are honoring bers whose ages range between 18 and 25. real purpose besides just letting people enroll at a community college. “About 15% Glenn Ray, who has been on the board for They primarily hail from North Long know who we are. And it kind of blos- are going to trade and technical schools, many years as a past chair,” Netherton said, Beach and Westside Long Beach, accord- somed into what we are today.” whether it’s the union schools or some referring to the owner of airport-based ing to Executive Director and CEO Dan Dine on Pine is a progressive dinner other. And then 5% go directly into a four- business Million Air North. Knapp. The remainder are residents of fundraiser that takes participants to three year university,” Knapp said. “What I want to emphasize is that this is Paramount, Compton, Lynwood and Watts. restaurants on Pine Avenue for appetizers, This year’s Dine on Pine takes place the mortar between the bricks that keeps this “As a certified Corps, our charge is we’re salad and a dinner, followed by coffee and Monday, June 26. “We start at 5:15 [p.m.] organization moving forward,” Knapp said of first and foremost a youth development or- dessert, according to Tara Cannon, special at The Federal Bar,” Cannon said. After a Dine On Pine. “Most of our young folks have ganization,” Knapp said. The Corps contracts project coordinator for CCLB. “Typically short presentation and mingling, attendees major barriers to success, whether it’s home- with public and private entities to provide lit- we get about 150 people, so it’s a really are split into groups of 50, and each group lessness, education, parents, all those kinds ter abatement and recycling services, ecol- great time to come together and network heads to a different restaurant. They then of things. This funding helps bridge that gap, ogy and wetlands restoration, parks and and mingle and see people you haven’t rotate to each location throughout the and it really helps them be successful while recreation facility improvements, and more. seen in a while,” she said. evening. In addition to The Federal Bar, they are with us and after they have left us.” Corpsmembers who have not finished Through the years, the event has raised this year’s participating restaurants include For more information about Dine On high school are required to attend the $460,000. “Of that $460,000, over L’Opera and George’s Greek Café. Pine or to purchase tickets, contact Tara CCLB Charter School to earn credits to- $250,000 has gone specifically to scholar- “There are a few Corpsmembers at Cannon at 562/208-5059 or tcannon@cclb- ward their diploma, in addition to their ships. $210,000 approximately has gone each of the restaurants so they can talk corps.org. I workforce duties. “We have an open-door back into the programming here at the policy. Our only prerequisite to join the Conservations Corps of Long Beach for Corps is a willingness to work and work education over those years,” Knapp said. hard,” Knapp said. The program runs about Tickets for the event cost $125. Event Vol. XXX No. 7 • April 11-24, 2017 one year to 18 months. sponsorships are also encouraged. EDITOR & PUBLISHER 1985. It is published every other Advertising/Editorial Deadlines CCLB’s annual Dine on Pine event, Corpsmembers must apply to receive George Economides Tuesday (except between Christ- Wednesday prior to publication SALES & MARKETING mas and mid-January) – 25 date. Note: Press releases copies annually. The Business should be faxed or mailed. No EXECUTIVE SYNTHETIC BLEND Journal premiered March 1987 follow up calls, please. For a Heather Dann as the Long Beach Airport Busi- copy of the 2017 advertising Oil Change PHOTOGRAPHER AND ness Journal. Reproduction in and editorial calendar, please .95 STAFF ASSISTANT whole or in part without written fax request to 562/988-1239. $29 +Tax, Haz. Fee, Up to 5qts. Most Cars. Larry Duncan permission is strictly prohibited Include your name, company unless otherwise stated. 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Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 5 Millennial Pulse

(Continued From Page 1) Consulting firm Maru/Matchbox’s recent of car windows. (Guess that guy who cut white paper on the how Millennials are in- me off and threw a burger at my wind- fluencing the future of food found a similar shield a few months ago didn’t get the pattern: most Millennials are willing to pay memo. Oh well, joke’s on him. He more for sustainably sourced foods. In fact, missed.) In the ’70s, Greenpeace was about 57% of Millennials actually expect formed. And to this day, they’re still heck- their food to be sustainably sourced. ling unsuspecting weekend shoppers. When it comes to the green-minded Thanks for that. Millennials, businesses might want to It has been a long and bumpy road for take notice. the tree huggers, but with a little help On April 5, findings were released from from a bunch of influential famous peo- a study commissioned by Rubbermaid ple and, you know, the majority of the sci- Commercial Products entitled “Recycling entific community in the Workplace: A that believes in cli- Millennial View.” mate change, it That study found that would appear they nine out of 10 Millen- have succeeded in a nials ages 18 to 34 raising a generation believe it is important whose collective to work for a sustain- conscience is a bright able company. shade of green. For those compa- It probably also nies who might be at didn’t hurt that you let a loss of where to

us watch a lot of chil- Nickelodeon image begin, don’t worry – dren’s programming we’ll help you out. with not-so-subtle pro-environmental mes- Eighty-two percent of Millennials seek saging, which likely seeped into our collec- opportunities to assist their companies in tive subconscious. I’ll never forget “Fern becoming more sustainable, with 67% be- Gully: The Last Rainforest,” (1992), in lieving they have enough influence to which Robin Williams voices a cartoon lab make an impact on workplace sustainabil- bat trying to help his fairy friends defeat ity, according to the study. maniacal tree-cutters who are being con- In a grandiose gesture of selflessness, trolled by an evil oil/pollution monster more than two-thirds of Millennials said voiced by none other than the heir-apparent they “are so committed to sustainability to Vincent Price’s creepy voice, Tim Curry. issues they would be willing to give up You would be hard pressed to find an social media for a week if everyone at older Millennial who has not seen that their company recycled,” according to movie. And most of us have seen it at least Rubbermaid. three times. If that’s not commitment to the environ- Then you had kids’ TV programs like ment, I don’t know what is. “Rocko’s Modern Life” (1993-96), which As Earth Day 2017 (April 22) ap- among its double-layer of kid and adult proaches, the majority of American Millen- themes also snuck in a pessimistic view of nials who believe in climate change and corporate responsibility for pollution. And who are pro-sustainability and pro-clean its musical episode on the environment can energy are faced with a quandary. still be quoted by many a Millennial who According to the Brookings Institute, was lucky to have Nickelodeon at the time: only 37% of the Millennial electorate voted “R-E-C-Y-C-L-E, recycle! C-O-N-S-E-R- for Donald Trump. Considering that we V-E, conserve! Don’t you P-O-L-L-U-T-E make up the largest living age cohort in pollute the river, sky or seas, or else you’re America, you would think the election going to get what you deserve!” might have turned out differently – but only Cartoons were a little disturbing in the 50% of us voted. ’90s, now that I think about it. Now, a Millennial majority country that A 2015 report by Pew Research found believes in climate change is contending that 60% of people aged 18 to 29 years old with a presidential administration bent on attributed increasing temperatures to rolling back environmental policies of pre- human activities rather than natural pat- vious administrations. On March 28, Pres- terns or in lieu of holding the viewpoint ident Trump issued an executive order that there is no evidence of climate change. targeting about a dozen regulatory policies The report also found that 72% of Mil- aimed at reducing pollution and improving lennials supported curbing power plant the environment. emissions. Among this generation, 74% of His intention, it should be noted, is to re- those surveyed believed that alternative en- duce regulatory burdens on industries. ergy sources such as wind and solar should The reprise of that song from “Rocko’s be a more important priority for addressing Modern Life” went something like: “You America’s energy needs rather than oil, can’t fight city hall – they are big and we coal and natural gas. are small.” The 2015 Nielsen Global Survey of So what will the green-minded majority Corporate Social Responsibility and Sus- of Millennials who didn’t vote for Trump tainability, which involved polling more do? Will half of them sit on their hands as than 30,000 online consumers in 60 coun- they did this past election? Will they give tries, found that despite “coming of age up social media for a week and call it in one of the most difficult economic cli- progress? Will the words of Rocko, the mates in the past 100 years,” 75% of Mil- Hawaiian-shirt wearing wallaby, ring hol- lennial respondents would pay extra for low for eternity? sustainable offerings. I’ll be curious to see what happens on See, we’re great people. We’re broke and Earth Day. And the next four years. we’ll still shell out some extra change so (Note: If you would like to make sugges- our kids won’t have to find another planet tions for future Millennial Pulses, e-mail to live on. me at [email protected].) I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:29 PM Page 6

Page 6 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Real Estate & Development

Architecture firms Retail Design Collaborative (RDC) and Studio One Eleven celebrated the opening of their 34,300-square-foot creative office space (pictured below) with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 30. The building is located on 3rd Street adjacent to The Promenade, and features a hospitality kitchen, open work clusters, idea lounges, flex offices, a community room, a material library, an outdoor patio (pictured at right), and showers and lockers. The office is part of a redevelopment and rebranding effort of the former City Place shopping center. Pictured from left: Steve Ruth, RDC CEO; Alan Pullman, Studio One Eleven founding principal; 1st District Councilmember Lena Gonzalez; Tony Shooshani, managing member of Shooshani Developers, owner of the center; Mayor Robert Garcia; and Studio One Eleven Senior Principal Michael Bohn. (Photographs by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan)

I By BRANDON RICHARDSON Senior Writer Development News Former City Place Gets A Facelift, New Anchor Local architectural firms Retail Design Collaborative (RDC) and Studio One Eleven celebrated their new 34,300-square- foot creative office space on the northeast corner of East 3rd Street and North Waite Center, adjacent to Harvey Milk Park. “I think today marks a great turning of the page for the downtown and Long Beach in general,” Mayor Robert Garcia said dur- ing the ribbon-cutting event. “It was just a few years ago that if I was standing in this exact same place, this is not what you would see. It’s amazing to see so many dreams and hopes being realized with this incredible space.” The office’s programmed space includes a hospitality kitchen, open work clusters, idea lounges, flex offices, a community room, a material library, an outdoor patio,

for something that is as vital and compli- With Arrive’s business model, borrow- yourself scenarios, the loss of expert advice cated as financing for the biggest purchase ers use mobile apps and encrypted data and hands-on attention will ratchet up the Realty Views of their lives? And will the process with lit- and firewalls to do preliminary applica- stress level for all those involved in a trans- tle or no human involvement be efficient tions without divulging borrower infor- action and cause many deals to fail. Period. Will The Robots enough to meet consumer demands? mation, then they opt in and sign A good lesson in what this means can be Some lenders are already touting the disclosures if they want to proceed. taken from the travel industry. Websites and Take Over Lending? ability to glean just about all the financial Others in the industry are skeptical be- automated programs have pretty much information needed to underwrite a loan cause this approach is passive in acquir- taken over that industry and forced the tra- ot a day goes by with- from job information, bank balances and ing new customers and doesn’t really ditional travel agent out of the business, in Nout headlines about credit history found online without borrow- generate leads for the salespeople that it many cases. But as one travel agency owner technology taking over ers submitting reams of documents. has. Cutaia points out that his company recently said: “Try calling one of these on- some task that we have re- One startup mortgage lender – Arrive hasn’t eliminated loan officers entirely line travel sites when you are stranded be- lied on humans to do for Home Mortgage of Naperville, Illinois – is but keeps the headcount (and costs) down cause your flight was canceled in Paris and decades – or longer. Just in trying the automated approach in several with this approach. you need to get home.” the past few months, we states and is using technology to handle Then there are those that point out this There is no doubt that technology has re- have heard stories about borrower engagement before an application kind of technology can save time for mort- placed the way just about every business in- By Terry ross driverless Uber cars (and is submitted. gage loan officers and enable them to teracts with its customers – from-e-mail to all the red lights they ran) and robots that flip "What loan officers get paid to do is find spend more time advising clients rather apps and the latest programs on the web. hamburgers and do our shopping. customers, counsel and educate those con- than filling out paperwork and doing other But in the end, these are just tools to get Now there is a lot of chatter in the mort- sumers as to what their best choices or op- mundane tasks. The question is, will the more information and move it faster. In the gage industry about how technology and ro- portunities are, pre-qualify them, and then technology help the loan officer or broker world of real estate and finance – especially bots can eliminate loan officers – especially get them to commit to making a loan appli- originate more loans? And if so, at what when it comes to transactions that involve on the residential and consumer side of cation," said Dan Cutaia, president of Ar- cost? If borrowers need to go the do-it- hundreds of thousands or millions of dol- things – and bring substantial savings to rive. "That's why loan officers get paid so yourself route, they will want the loan lars – it is going to be very hard, if not im- both the lender and borrower by eliminating much – those three things – and we've au- product for less, which means that those possible, to replace human intelligence for the commissions and/or salaries of those tomated all three." that work in the lending industry will end many core activities. who have serviced borrowers for years. Of course, that is if the borrower is tech- up charging less and must make up what (Terry Ross, the broker-owner of TR What remains to be seen is how good the savvy and would rather invest their time they are losing with more volume to earn Properties, will answer any questions about technology will be in the near future to learning about something they may know the same money as before. today’s real estate market. E-mail questions make this happen. Will borrowers really little about and take a chance making In this scenario, the consumer is going to to Realty Views at [email protected] or want to endure a do-it-yourself experience choices in an unfamiliar field. be the loser in the end. Just like most do-it- call 949/457-4922.) I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 7

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 7 Real Estate & Development

and showers and lockers. The space was “And once we get our solar panels on the The 4th Street parklet will front Milana’s Real Estate News formerly a Nordstrom Rack as part of the roof, we will be net zero. Over the life of New York Pizzeria, Nataki Japanese restau- Behavioral Medical former City Place shopping center. the building for years, we will produce as rant and Fresh Kabobs, and pay homage to Facility Approved Prior to the move, the architecture much energy as we need,” Bohn said. Long Beach’s music legacy, while the Pine firms, which employ 165 people, occu- “We’re very dedicated to a new, cre- Avenue space will front Pie Bar and other At its March 30 meeting, the Long pied the 20th and 21st floors of Landmark ative and exciting future and to be a part retailers and feature connections to Long Beach Planning Commission approved a Square on the corner of Pine and Ocean of the City of Long Beach and this won- Beach’s sister cities. 14,409-square-foot outpatient behavioral avenues for 20 years. derful neighborhood,” RDC Chief Execu- “It’s one thing to create infrastructure health urgent care center. Located at 3200- “As our firm evolved, we knew that we tive Officer Steve Ruth said. “It’s a as a city; it’s another thing to partner with 3220 Long Beach Blvd., the center would had to evolve our workplace as well. We momentous occasion for us as a firm, and the investment that is coming here,” 1st include 24-hour psychiatric urgent care and wanted to create . . . something unique, it’s very special.” District Councilmember Lena Gonzalez a crisis walk-in center. The facility would something creative for our employees,” The creative office is the first phase in said. “I’ll tell you, Tony, Mike, Allen, have capacity for 12 adult patients and six Alan Pullman, Studio One Eleven found- the redevelopment and rebranding of Steve, you all have really created and adolescent patients, not including the walk- ing principal, said. We also wanted to be Shooshani Developers’ former City Place helped us create the vision that we can in clinic. Retail Plaza Sale in a place that we could catalyze neigh- shopping center. The project, between 3rd see now. Many years ago, I think it was borhood engagement and also create a and 6th streets and Pine Avenue and Long kind of blurry, but now it’s very crystal Lee & Associates Commercial Real Es- sense of regeneration.” Beach Boulevard, will not be named in the clear for many of us. I know that this is tates Services closed a $9 million sale of a Michael Bohn, senior principal for Stu- hope that the area will eventually self-iden- just the beginning.” I (Please Continue To Page 8) dio One Eleven, said he received many tify through word of mouth. calls questioning the relocation but that he “From today, we can start referring to replied by saying the firms would bring the ground level of the six-block area as new vision and life to the area. He said the ‘the streets.’ And [we hope] that each area has “great urban bones” and noted its street will develop as micro destinations 97, 87 and 81 out of 100 scores for walka- with a unique personality based on ten- bility, bikeability and transit, respectively. ant mix,” Tony Shooshani, managing The $2.5 million project has spurred member of Shooshani Developers and more than $15 million in additional public owner of the former City Place, said. and private investment, Bohn said. The fa- “We have envisioned something beyond cility has applied for Leadership in Energy a shopping center.” and Environmental Design (LEED) Plat- New tenant leases in the 350,000- inum, the highest certification for environ- square-foot mixed-use district include mentally friendly facilities, through the Bergeron, Creative Crepes, Party Monkey, United States Green Building Council. The Poke Cat, Romeo Chocolates, Table 301 firms have also applied for WELL Gold and Plant Junkie. through the International WELL Building In addition to retail and restaurants, a 20- Institute, which promotes healthy working unit mixed-use urban project will be con- environments. If certified as WELL Gold, structed across the street from the vacant the building would be the first in Long Wal-Mart building. Also, parklets will be Beach and one of 25 in the country. constructed on 4th street and Pine Avenue. 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 8

Page 8 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Real Estate & Development

(Continued From Page 7) Epson America Seeks To Build New Headquarters With ‘Modern, Creative Office Environment’ 29,908-square-foot retail plaza located at 10660-10708 Los Alamitos Blvd. in Los Alamitos. Shaun McCullough of Lee & As- I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER, Assistant Editor sociates in Long Beach represented the seller, Los Alamitos Center I & II LLC, Epson America, Inc. wants to build a new headquarters building adjacent to the Kilroy Airport Center where it is currently head- while John Scataloni of Encon Commercial quartered, according to an item slated for tonight’s (April 11) Long Beach City Council meeting. represented the buyer, Xian Tian LLC. The company recently released a request for proposals for “the construction of a new building with the goal of providing a modern and creative office environment to enable them to attract and retain the most competitive workforce,” the staff report states. “Epson Retail And Professional does not believe that these goals can be accomplished without a new building.” Epson currently employs approximately 450 people at its existing headquarters. Creating a new, larger facility would enable the Services News company to expand its workforce to 600 employees, according to the city document. Plans would include “creative office space, open Co-Working Space Opens floor plans, balcony decks, a showroom, restaurant(s) and coffee shop(s).” At World Trade Center Epson’s current lease at Kilroy expires in 2019. WorkSpaces, a provider of offices, The council is slated to vote on a request by Urbana Development LLC for exclusive negotiating rights for property owned by the shared working space, conference rooms city and its water department adjacent to the Kilroy Airport Center and the 405 freeway. The property was originally part of a planned and virtual offices, recently opened a development by Kilroy Realty, developer of the Kilroy Airport Center, which opened in the late 1980s and is one of the city’s premier Long Beach location on the 8th floor of business parks. The project never moved forward and a lease with Kilroy for the site was terminated in 2009. the One World Trade Center office com- Don Temple Storage is located on a parcel within the proposed Epson site. That lease may be terminated “under certain conditions plex in Downtown Long Beach. The com- provided by the agreement,” according to the city council item. I pany offers virtual offices, hot desks, dedicated desks and private offices rang- Medical Group Expands ing from $95 to $450 per month. Work- To Douglas Park Spaces boasts more than 30 years of Last month, MemorialCare Medical experience in the executive suite industry. Group, a member of MemorialCare For more information, call 562/269-4600 Health System, announced two new of- or visit wtcworkspaces.com. fices located in Fountain Valley and Dou- glas Park in Long Beach. Located at 3828 Schaufele Ave., Suite 200, the Long Beach facility features several health care providers, including board certified ob- stetrician/gynecologists and a primary care physician. For more information or to request an appointment, visit memori- alcare.org/obgyn. Inclusive Kids Gym Opens In Long Beach Raoul and Adriana Salas opened Long Beach’s first We Rock the Spectrum, a Raoul and Adriana Salas are pictured inside their new We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gym with their WorkSpaces at the gym dedicated to providing therapy and children Edith, Raoul Jr. and Edelyn. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) World Trade Center inclusion for children across the autism spectrum. Located at 2533 N. Lakewood office space in the WeWork creative offices Blvd., #200, the facility includes sus- in The Hubb at 100 W. Broadway, as well as pended equipment with swings, crash virtual offices provided by WeWork. Mem- mats and pillows, a zip line, a trampoline, bers of the Power Level team have worked climbing structures, sensory-based toys with brands such as Intel, Fullscreen Media, and a fine motor skills and arts and crafts Funimation, MakeStuff and Sony Music. area. The mission of the franchise is to Pediatric Provider provide a safe space for children of all To Open In Long Beach ability levels to improve sensory func- Pediatric Therapy Network (PTN), a Tor- tions while learning social skills. For rance-based, nonprofit early child develop- more information, visit werockthespec- ment and therapy center, opened a new trumlongbeach.com. location at 1406 Obispo Ave. in Long Pop Culture-Focused Firm Beach. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and Launches In WeWork Offices luncheon are scheduled for Tuesday, April Power Level Productions, a live event and 25, at 12:15 p.m. PTN provides physical, marketing strategy firm that specializes in speech and occupational therapy to 2,500 pop culture and cross culture events, children per year. WorkSpaces at the launched operations in Long Beach last (Note: E-mail real estate and development World Trade Center month. The firm is utilizing a four-person news to: [email protected]) I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 9

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 9 Newswatch

ing needs in the downtown area, and we are Parks facilities are receiving $6,098,000 in • $628,300 for the restoration of Fire Measure A Funds looking at our City Place garages as a way Measure A funds this year. Rancho Los Paramedic Rescue 12 to help address some of that need,” he said. Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos are re- • $821,802 for the restoration of police Paving The Way Elevators in the garages are going to be up- ceiving $1 million of this funding for seismic academy staffing dated, ADA improvements made, and secu- upgrades, irrigation and turf replacement, • $2,254,496 to maintain police services For Citywide rity cameras and LED lighting installed, he termite treatments and other needs. • $909,853 to maintain fire services said. “And we are looking at adding solar “There are a lot of playgrounds under- “While the State Board of Equalization Improvements to the roof of the garages to help make way. Pretty much all of the play equipment (BOE) has been collecting the Measure A them more sustainable,” he added. design has been completed, and right now sales tax since January 1, there is normal This Year Other infrastructure improvement proj- we’re working on kind of the surrounding processing delay in the receipt of the ac- ects planned this year include repairing elements,” Beck said. These efforts are ear- tual cash to the city,” Lea Eriksen, assis- the bridge connecting Naples Island and marked at $2,850,000. tant finance director for the City of Long I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Belmont Shore as well as damaged fire According to the city’s Measure A web- Beach, told the Business Journal via e- Assistant Editor station roofs. site, public safety service restoration and mail. “We won’t have an accurate report Public facility improvements slated for maintenance budgeted for this fiscal year of the first quarter revenue estimate (Jan- It won’t be long before Long Beach res- this year include roof repairs and minor in- include: uary to March) until June. This was idents start seeing more improvements to terior work for the Expo Building in Bixby • $2,296,881 for the restoration of Fire planned for in the estimated prorated streets, parks and other infrastructure Knolls, library branch improvements, a Engine 8 amount of Measure A sales tax for the first throughout the city, thanks to funds col- modern cat-housing system for Animal • $2,372,829 for the restoration of Police year of $35,640,000.” lected through the voter-sanctioned sales Care Services and more. South Division (Please Continue To Page 10) tax increase known as Measure A. The measure raises the city sales tax by 1 percentage point for six years, after which it is reduced by 0.5 percentage point for four years before it sunsets. Funds gen- erated by the tax increase are dedicated to restoring public safety services and im- proving public infrastructure. Originally, $19.5 million was budgeted for street improvements in fiscal year 2017, but the city council voted to reallocate $2 million of those monies to restore Paramedic Rescue 12 in North Long Beach and to re- instate the police academy earlier this year. “We’re supposed to get the $2 million back for streets in year four [of Measure A tax collection],” Craig Beck, director of public works, explained. “We think that public safety decision was good, and as long as we get the money in year four, we’ll be able to address all the streets that we had shared with the public in our presentation before it was all voted on.” Beck shared an update on Measure A projects slated for fiscal year 2017 with the Business Journal after giving a PowerPoint presentation on the topic to the city’s over- sight committee for Measure A funding and projects on April 5. Streets slated for improvements this year are those eligible for slurry sealing, a process in which streets are patched and then covered with a material that prevents them from cracking. This is a less inten- sive and less expensive process than repaving. “We’re doing that preventative maintenance on all streets eligible for that work,” Beck said. Currently, the city is finishing up con- crete work on these streets, such as adding curb cuts for ADA accessibility. Then the slurry sealing will begin, ac- cording to Beck. While previous esti- mates indicated this work would be done by September, Beck said it might be sooner. “I believe it’s going to be done sometime in July. All of it,” he said. Broadway west of Redondo Avenue is the main arterial street slated for improve- ments this year, according to Beck. This work should be completed by the end of the year, he said. The fiscal year 2017 Measure A work plan also includes $5 million to create an alley management plan, which will iden- tify alleys that are in most need of and are eligible for repairs. The city is investing $1.2 million of Measure A funds in improvements at City Place parking garages this year, according to Beck. “We’re experiencing a lot of park- 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 10

Page 10 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Newswatch Measure A Funds closed in 2013. What has been informal op- On August 16, 2016, Christensen posted City Auditor To position during public comment at planning an op-ed titled “#Swimmingsowhite: Long (Continued From Page 9) commission meetings or op-eds posted on- Beach Pool Project a Racial Justice Issue,” Audit Business Eriksen continued, “The FY17 adjusted line have been formalized with the submit- in which she voiced the same concern and budget for Measure A infrastructure proj- tal of four separate appeals to the project. noted statistics about the disparity between Improvement ects is $25,739,000. The department of pub- At its March 2 meeting, the planning African-American and Hispanic children’s lic works is reporting that they are projected commission approved the environmental swimming ability compared to white chil- Districts to be on track to spend all of those funds by impact report (EIR) and other permits for dren, saying it comes down to access to the end of the year. However, it is still early the project, which spurred the appeals filed pool facilities. in the year, and so things could change.” by Joe Weinstein and Ann Cantrell as the Her appeal claims the EIR was too quick I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER The remainder of Measure A revenue is group Citizens About Responsible Plan- to disregard alternative locations for the Assistant Editor budgeted for public safety enhancements ning (CARP), Belmont Shore residents Jeff pool downtown near the convention center and for the city’s rainy day fund, she noted. Miller and Melinda Cotton, Belmont or the Queen Mary. Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud According to Beck, the city recently hired Heights resident Gordana Kajer, and Anna “A public hearing on the appeals is has announced that she is pursuing an audit a communications representative to assist Christensen representing the Long Beach scheduled for the May 16 city council of all 10 business improvement districts. with community engagement related to Area Peace Network. meeting,” Amy Bodek, director of devel- Doud notified the heads of each BID as Measure A. Public works staff members are This is not the first appeal Miller has filed opment services, said. “The EIR, as pre- well as the mayor, city council and city in the process of uploading all Measure A against the pool project, having contested pared by a team of CEQA [California management in a letter dated April 4. project templates to the city’s Measure A the lack of story poles on the site to demon- Environmental Quality Act] profession- The announcement comes after a recom- web page at http://www.longbeach.gov/city- strate building heights for surrounding resi- als, is a valid disclosure document of all mendation by Councilmembers Al Austin, manager/measure-a/, he noted. “Additional dents. His and Cotton’s most recent appeal the environmental effects potentially as- Suzie Price and Daryl Supernaw that information will be added in coming weeks. also claims the story pole was inadequate. sociated with the project; otherwise, sought such an audit failed by a split vote Also, the webpage will be moved to the Both the CARP and Kajer appeals cite staff would not have recommended for during a council meeting on December 20. city’s homepage.” I the proposed 78-foot building height as too the planning commission to consider Councilmember Stacy Mungo joined her tall, which creates a hindrance to ocean certifying it.” colleagues in support of the motion, but Four Appeals Made views and migrating birds. Additionally, If the council turns down the appeals, op- Councilmembers Lena Gonzalez, Jeannine the appeals claim a traffic study should be ponents could file a lawsuit to combat the Pearce, Roberto Uranga and Vice Mayor Against Belmont conducted in the area, which would call for approved EIR. The California Coastal Rex Richardson voted against it. Sixth Dis- the EIR to be recirculated and opened for Commission also must approve the project trict Councilmember Dee Andrews was not Pool Proposal further discussion and public comment. if it moves forward. present for the vote, resulting in the tie. Christensen’s appeal focuses on the loca- The proposal consists of two 50-meter A representative from the city auditor’s tion of the pool being discriminatory by pools, a separate diving well, a recre- office later told the Business Journal that I By BRANDON RICHARDSON limiting access to low-income residents and ational pool, a therapy teaching pool, a staff was researching the matter further and Senior Writer residents of color. The appeal contends that small spa near the diving well and a larger would then determine whether to move for- the heavily white, heavily wealthy area of spa for the general public. However, the ward in some way. The revitalization of the former Belmont Belmont Shore does not need such a project city only has $60 million set aside and is “After the conclusion of our preliminary Plaza Olympic Pool through a $103 million and is too far for some residents to travel. currently evaluating various means of rais- research, we decided to initiate this audit due development project has encountered sev- This is not the first time Christensen has ing the remaining $43 million minimum to the importance of BIDs to the economic eral hurdles in the years since the pool made this claim regarding the pool project. needed for the project. I vitality of the city and the benefit that BIDs 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 11

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 11 Newswatch

provide to the citizens and visitors of Long The city’s various BIDs assess fees on Beach,” Doud’s April 4 letter stated. business and/or property owners, which are The audit is to involve a series of inter- in turn used to provide services such as views and requires information from city staff marketing, clean teams, special events and as well as the BID associations, according to more. They are each run by nonprofit asso- the letter. Doud indicated that all involved ciations, including the Belmont Shore parties would be contacted about the audit’s Business Association, the Bixby Knolls objectives, scope and associated timetables. Business Improvement Association, the When Doud spoke at the December 20 Downtown Long Beach Alliance, the East meeting, she reminded the council that she Anaheim Street Business Alliance, the does not work for them but operates inde- Fourth Street Improvement Association, the pendently. “There is approximately $11 Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors million annually coming in from [BID] as- Bureau, the Magnolia Industrial Group sessments,” she told them at the time. Inc., the Midtown Property and Business About $440,000 of that comes from fees Owners Association, and the Uptown Prop- assessed on city properties. erty and Community Association. I “In the ten-and-a-half years that I have been a city auditor, there never has been Southwest Announces an internal control on the PBIDs or to look at whether or not the businesses and the Sacramento Flights property owners are receiving the in- tended benefit, whether or not the city is I By BRANDON RICHARDSON providing adequate oversight, whether or Senior Writer not . . . they are in compliance with the contract,” Doud had said. On March 30, Southwest Airlines’ Chief At the time, Doud said if her office were Executive Officer Gary Kelly announced to pursue an audit of the BIDs that “we plans to begin regular flights from Long would ensure that business owners and Beach to Sacramento beginning August 1. property owners are receiving the intended The announcement comes just over a benefits that their assessments are sup- month after American Airlines Inc. notified posed to give them.” Long Beach Airport (LGB) officials that it The original motion by Austin, Price and would be reducing its presence by dropping Supernaw asked for a “review of internal two of its five allocated flight slots. The air- controls over how funds are handled and line did not provide a reason for its decision. spent by the PBID/PBIA; compliance with Southwest’s new flights mark its first ex- the City agreement; and possible bench- pansion at LGB since beginning operations marking as to how other cities oversee early last year, but Kelly doesn’t believe it PBID/PBIA's, and report back to the City will be the last. “I’ve committed to the mayor Council with the findings.” (Please Continue To Page 12) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 12

Page 12 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Newswatch

LGB in the future could be beneficial to the Sacramento flights, and any further expan- gether, and we’ll continue to work together Southwest Airlines city’s ever-growing tourism industry. When sion, would only add meaningful competi- to see what we can do to provide more (Continued From Page 11) asked why the company did not opt for a tion to the market and give Long Beach and service to Long Beach,” Kelly said. “We that if more slots become available, we will market without current service from Long surrounding area residents more options don’t take these types of relationships for fly them,” Kelly said during a press confer- Beach, Kelly said Sacramento compliments for arrivals and departures throughout granted. We are very pleased to be wanted, ence with Mayor Robert Garcia. “We’re just Southwest’s other markets. Southern California. and I think we have been welcomed with here to do as much as we can within the con- “It was very high on our list, and I think “We’re just getting started working to- open arms here.” I straints that we have at the airport.” it will prove to be a very popular route,” The two daily flights to Sacramento Kelly said. “We generate a lot of flights, a Styrofoam Ban Update (particularly those with a focus on takeout), bring Southwest’s permanent flight slot lot of seats, a lot of customers. And this will compostable containers or those that are count to six, with the other four dedicated be a wonderful way to serve our current (Continued From Page 1) easily recyclable. to daily flights to Oakland. The airline also customers and also win some new ones.” the possible wording of the ordinance in Robb Korinke, principal at Grassroots currently flies to Denver and Las Vegas on Kelly noted that, in addition to its six order for them to be able to make more spe- Lab, cited a polystyrene ban in Pasadena a temporary basis. daily flights at LGB, Southwest has 120 cific comments. that saw drastic price increases for local Garcia said the city is thankful and grate- daily flights from Los Angeles Interna- “We felt that it was important to at least businesses. Restaurants that focused on ful for the investment and interest in growth tional Airport, 60 from John Wayne Airport provide a framework so they have some- takeout saw the most drastic increase – that Southwest has dedicated to Long and around 100 from Ontario and Burbank thing to comment on, as opposed to some- jumping from anywhere between $7,000 Beach. He said the city is encouraging the airports combined, making it the largest thing too nebulous,” Melkonian said. and $17,000 per year for containers. company to actively grow its footprint at airline serving Southern California. “[We’ll] get some of that input before we “We definitely oppose this ban,” Becky LGB because it understands the community. JetBlue Airways, the airport’s largest car- actually draft an ordinance so everyone gets Warren of the California Restaurant Asso- “They get what the restraints are. They rier, and Delta Air Lines Inc. also expressed a chance to make some comments on it.” ciation said. “Bans harm the smallest understand that we are very respectful of the interest in obtaining the newly available Melkonian noted that more than 100 restaurants in your city. So we would really community and what the noise bucket slots. However, Southwest was allowed first cities have varying degrees of polystyrene hope that you consider working with the in- means,” Garcia said. “So everything that we pick as the newest carrier at the airport. bans. The least extensive programs ban only dustry, the grocers, restaurants, to figure are talking about is all within the constraints After the Long Beach City Council’s deci- expanded polystyrene products (Styro- out a solution that’s win-win so that we can of the noise ordinance that we have.” sion in January to not move forward with Jet- foam), while stricter bans include poly- actually reduce waste, reduce litter and also The noise ordinance at LGB is one of the Blue’s request for a customs facility, which styrene products such as non-recyclable and allow for the restaurants to continue to not strictest in the country and only allows for would have allowed international flights at non-compostable plastic containers, includ- have another mandated cost put on them.” 50 commercial flights per day. Allowable LGB, there has been speculation that the ing the common red Solo cups. Besides the standard questions of cost flight slots were set at 41 but increased at company would lessen its presence at the air- “The intent is for the city to work with and economic impacts to the city and busi- the beginning of 2016 following an an- port. Garcia said there has been no commu- businesses, not at businesses,” Melkonian nesses, multiple commissioners said they nouncement from former Airport Director nication between JetBlue and the city to said. “Use the carrot, not the stick, as they think the issue cannot be completely re- Bryan Francis that modern jets were quiet indicate any change to the carrier’s presence. say. If the council should pass this ordi- solved at the city level. enough to add flights while maintaining the JetBlue did not respond to a request for nance, we want to help businesses be suc- “It should be, in my opinion, a county- ordinance. It was this flight slot expansion comment on how the Southwest announce- cessful because it’s in the interest of wide issue, so we are dealing with it once that gained Southwest its initial four slots. ment would impact its business or its future everybody for that to happen.” and for all if we are going to deal with it,” Garcia noted that Sacramento is an im- plans at LGB. JetBlue currently offers two Alternative products include reusable Commissioner Frank Colonna said. “I portant business connector for Long Beach daily flights to Sacramento. containers, which Melkonian said would be think, if we’re going to take an approach to and said further Southwest expansion at Kelly explained that his company’s ideal but impractical for many restaurants (Please Continue To Top Of Next Page) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 13

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 13 Newswatch

it . . . it would be good to take a look at the fact that polystyrene does not begin to de- feasibility of a broad approach so that we compose for 500 years and that the price really take care of the problem and not just difference for environmentally friendly make Long Beach look like we’re doing products is only one or two cents more. one more piece of legislation that’s going The original request for city staff to draft to burn business and create hardship.” the ban, taking public comment into con- Commissioners said there are two rea- sideration, came from the city council at its sons for looking at this as a statewide issue. December 20 meeting. The motion in- The Styrofoam that litters Long Beach cluded a request for city staff to develop a beaches does not all come from the city but timeline for implementation, a list of ven- is carried here from other cities via the Los dors who utilize polystyrene, a website Angeles River. And there is a fear that busi- containing information about the ban and nesses will opt to open in other cities to a hotline to answer questions and concerns. avoid complying with the ban. The Long Beach Economic Development Commission Chairman Randal Hernan- Commission is also creating incentives for dez noted that he does not expect litter to businesses that adhere to the ban prior to be reduced by the ban, rather the makeup the implementation date. of trash would change from Styrofoam to The commission voted unanimously to other items. lay over the discussion until its April 28 During public comment, Cory Allen, meeting. chief of staff for 1st District Councilmem- Melkonian said he expects a drafted or- ber Lena Gonzalez, said the councilmem- dinance to be presented to the city council ber’s staff respectfully disagrees with the sometime in June, at which point a public economic issues brought up by commis- education campaign will be introduced to sioners and business owners. He noted the help businesses adhere to the ban. I Long Beach City Council Approves Draft Economic Development Blueprint

I By BRANDON RICHARDSON Fifth District Councilmember Stacy Senior Writer Mungo recommended the formation of an implementation committee – consisting of At its April 4 meeting, the Long Beach members from both the city council’s eco- City Council voted unanimously to approve nomic development and finance committee the draft Economic Development Blueprint. and its economic development commis- “The Blueprint defines priorities for the sion, the chair of the Workforce Investment city and outlines specific strategies to ad- Board and city staff – to prioritize the initial vance the vision of Long Beach as a hub for measures. innovation, jobs and development,” Mayor Seventh District Councilmember Robert Garcia said in a statement following Roberto Uranga said the document needs a the vote. “It recommends a focus on areas stronger focus on air quality, transportation that will drive economic growth over the next and mobility, as well as workforce training, 10 years, including key industry clusters and jobs and living wages. emerging sectors, economic inclusion, work- Eighth District Councilmember Al force development, business assistance, the Austin said he would like a greater empha- development environment, quality of life, sis on creating and maintaining quality and economic leadership and cooperation.” jobs, as well as tying economic develop- According to John Keisler, director of the ment to “employment development.” Long Beach Economic and Property De- Ninth District Councilmember Rex velopment Department, comments, clarifi- Richardson discussed a platform for track- cations and additions asked for by ing entrepreneurs through the startup councilmembers during the meeting will be process. incorporated into the document before re- These comments and recommendations turning to the economic development com- will be added to the document and consid- mission for review and finalization. ered by the economic development com- Keisler said several councilmember rec- mission at its April 25 meeting, according ommendations mainly focused on strength- to Keisler. ening items or the implementation process. “At this point, the council did not include Some of the recommendations and com- a motion to bring it back to council,” ments are as follows: Keisler said. “We know we will be going First District Councilmember Lena Gon- back with regular updates . . . [but] there’s zalez wants an emphasis on tracking key no date set for when we will come back to performance measures, incentivizing inno- council with an update.” vation, addressing unemployment dispari- In an e-mail following the meeting, ties and how to better leverage music and Pearce noted the months of hard work ded- entertainment events for economic growth. icated to creating the blueprint. She said the Second District Councilmember Jean- process included 26 public meetings, 25 in- nine Pearce suggested recommendations by dividual listening sessions and discussions the Downtown Long Beach Alliance be with 20 expert panelists. Garcia said the considered, including the White House document is only the beginning of an on- Housing Development Toolkit and housing going discussion to improve the commu- affordability. Pearce also recommended on- nity and the economy. line accessibility and predictability for con- “Our Long Beach economy is booming, ditional use permits and licensing, and also and this Blueprint will advance our city’s ef- would like a bigger focus on live entertain- forts to grow a 21st century city,” Garcia ment downtown. said. “This is just the start of an ongoing dis- Third District Councilmember Suzie cussion to find ways our city can help build Price stated the importance of establishing a vibrant community, while supporting en- realistic performance measures, identified trepreneurship, workforce development and by implementation phases. a thriving, diverse economy.” I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 14

Page 14 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Newswatch Developers Beware “I want to make sure that people under- said. “Those are all uses that are allowed Blesofsky and Hall admitted that under stand that when people bring these law- under the current zoning, and that’s why I California Environmental Quality Act (Continued From Page 1) suits, it’s not because they just want to be object to the zoning change for high-den- (CEQA) guidelines, the best they can hope about 40 development proposals, accord- gadflies and they hate developers and sity, single-family, million-dollar houses.” to achieve is mitigation beyond the pro- ing to Blesofsky, and has taken legal ac- they want no buildings,” Hall said. Blesofsky said the proposed zoning posed photographs of the church. tion on three. “They’re not absolute NIMBYs. It’s about change to residential is another case of spot “One thing that we are trying to work “We’re pursuing a strategy of appeals the details. It’s about whether or not there zoning by city staff to appease developers, on with developers, rather than just hav- and litigation citywide to change the way is adequate mitigation.” despite the site being surrounded by resi- ing some video taken with no context, is the city does business with regards to de- The TAPS lawsuits were against down- dential neighborhoods. He said the zoning to actually do a documentary about the velopment. We really feel that the city gov- town proposals by Ensemble Investment change is meant to allow developers to history of this church,” Hall said. “The ernment in Long Beach is by and for LLC, Raintree-Evergreen LLC and minimize lot sizes to maximize the number best way to preserve it is to do something developers,” Blesofsky said. “The loss of Broadway Block LLC. These lawsuits of homes on the land, which doesn’t pro- like that and have it available for public the environmental, cultural, historic and were settled together in November of last vide the best quality of life for residents. view in perpetuity.” fiscal resources in Long Beach is generally year and resulted in parking studies to be Project data, however, tells a different Bari Harris, an El Dorado Park Estates for the benefit of a few people and not for conducted in the Alamitos Beach and story. Current zoning allows for up to 42 resident and local realtor, said she thinks the many residents of Long Beach.” downtown areas. homes with 7.2 units per acre and 6,000 the church is an eyesore and hopes the The first formal appeal and lawsuit made Blesofsky said his appeal at 100 E. square feet of gross land per home. The project moves forward quickly, despite by Blesofsky was against the second phase Ocean Blvd., the former site of the historic Preface project only consists of 40 homes Blesofsky’s appeals. of the Shoreline Gateway project at 777 E. Jergins Trust Building, focuses on taxpayer with 6.9 units per acre and 6,316 square “I think it’s a shame that they are chal- Ocean Blvd., adjacent to phase one, now abuse issues. He claims the site was sold feet of gross land area per home – less lenging the project and are holding it up,” called The Current. According to Ryan Al- under value, while other offers were mil- units per acre and more square footage Harris said. “With the housing shortage toon, executive vice president of Anderson lions of dollars higher. Blesofsky also per lot, including an average of 7% more that we have, I just think it’s such a shame Pacific LLC, the developer of the project, claims the current zoning is for high-den- open space per lot. that they are holding up 40 more homes the suit was settled out of court. The settle- sity housing but that, in a case of spot zon- Additionally, Blesofsky claimed the that we could have for people.” ment included a confidentiality agreement, ing, the city approved the land sale to a zoning change would allow for smaller The city was presented with a petition so neither Anderson Pacific nor Blesofsky developer proposing a luxury hotel. setbacks on the properties, including rear, signed by between 40 and 50 residents in can disclose the terms of the settlement. Blesofsky and Hall said negotiations side yard and garage. However, the only support of the development project, ac- Currently, Blesofsky and his legal rep- are proceeding with developer American change to setbacks according to the site cording to Harris. Additionally, residents resentation, Jamie Hall of Beverly Hills- Life Inc., but that they could not share plan is a two-foot increase to the rear set- and even congregation members of the based Channel Law Group LLP, are any details. backs from the property lines. church that recently vacated the premises negotiating settlement terms for appeals The Norwalk Boulevard property has Blesofsky’s appeal to the housing de- submitted numerous letters of support at 100 E. Ocean Blvd. and 3655 N. Nor- been home to the El Dorado Park Commu- velopment also claims inadequacies in the into public record. walk Blvd. nity Church for the last 55 years. Developer environmental impact report, most no- Despite community support, Blesofsky Hall has been involved in several other Preface has proposed a 40-home gated tably the section in which alternative proj- maintains that the process and proceedings development lawsuits in Long Beach, in- community to complement the adjacent El ects are identified. He contends the report are not acceptable and said more mitigation cluding one against The Current and three Dorado Park Estates neighborhood. is lacking an alternative that includes a is needed on the Norwalk project and re- on behalf of Debora Dobias and the group “I look at that building as a beautiful, housing element. form needs to be made to the development Long Beach Transportation and Parking historic building. I see a town hall. I see a Alternatives listed in the document in- process at the city council level. Solutions (TAPS). community meeting space,” Blesofsky clude abandoning the project and allow- Hall said that each project he has worked ing the current structures to remain and on has resulted in better projects. He ex- function as a church, daycare and associ- plained that these lawsuits are a direct re- ated parking lots or converting existing sult of elected officials’ tendency to violate facilities to a private elementary school or CEQA guidelines by approving inadequate special event venue. environmental reviews or bypassing them Alternatives that were rejected for var- altogether, their poor treatment of develop- ious reasons of feasibility and scope in- ers and not listening to residents. cluded moving the chapel structure to “I don’t earn my living doing this. I have preserve it and converting the chapel it- my own business. In fact, I’ve lost money self into housing. doing these appeals. It’s more just a matter “We are extremely disappointed litiga- of conscience to me,” Blesofsky explained. tion related to the City’s Environmental Im- “I’m not anti-development, I’m pro-devel- pact Report has been filed by Warren opment. I think Long Beach does need Blesofsky,” a Preface spokesperson said in more housing, and I believe in private prop- an e-mail to the Business Journal. “Despite erty. I also believe in playing by the rules.” the obvious and overwhelming community Blesofsky said he is the owner of Lin- support for this project, as well as the thou- den River Capital LLC, in Long Beach. sands of hours of collaborative efforts be- His company’s website states: “We are a tween the development team and city staff, real estate investment firm that special- one individual – who chose not to partici- izes in the acquisition, management and pate in the planning process and does not sale of distressed properties and mortgage live anywhere near the property – is at- loans.” tempting to undermine the project. With Long Beach Citizens for Fair Develop- apologies to our friends in the El Dorado ment is in its infancy, with few core neighborhood, we will continue to work members, according to Blesofsky. He with all stakeholders in the city and com- said he wished he did not have to resort munity to move the project forward while to litigation, but claimed that the city we try to reach a resolution with Warren does not take public comment to heart Blesofsky." and instead focuses solely on staff re- Current negotiations between Blesofsky ports. Because of this, he said the group and Preface are focusing on the historical has plans to continue taking action importance of the church and ways to mit- against development projects until igate the impact of losing the structure. changes are made to city procedures with Aside from the architectural importance, regard to development approval. Blesofsky said the church’s past as a drive- “We want development weighted to- in church, where residents could listen to a ward local developers and community de- sermon in their cars while parked on the velopment projects. I’d like to use the property, marks a time in American history fiscal resources of the city for the highest that should not be destroyed without con- good,” Blesofsky said. “If the city wants sideration. He explained that this is to give the citizens a real voice when it uniquely American and part of the coun- comes to development, then we won’t try’s cultural landscape. need to litigate anymore.” I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 15

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 15 Going Green

but they can also be exported to other tive funding to institute the most advanced environmentally friendly ride for cus- An Opportunity states and countries. This means incentive environmental controls at local businesses, tomers,” LBT CEO Kenneth McDonald funds stay in California and there is an especially local small businesses. stated. “When more of the buses are re- To Clean The Air economic return to California greater This would foster a greater sense of com- leased into service, the Passport will be- than the original investment. munity and provide economic assistance to come 100% battery electric, and LBT will And Stimulate 3. Offer subsidies, both cash and non- businesses whose bottom line is more sensi- deploy some of the buses on other routes tangible (such as streamlined or fee-free tive to the costs of environmental compliance. throughout our service area.” I Economic Growth permitting) for the installation of air pol- 6. Incentives for use of renewable energy Port Dedicates $46 Million lution control equipment, especially to sources at manufacturing facilities. For Community Grants small businesses. In a carbon-constrained world and a very The irony is industries operating in Cali- competitive energy market, renewable en- On March 27, the Long Beach Board of fornia are required to install pollution con- ergy technologies, which tend to be less Harbor Commissioners committed $46 trol equipment. However, they are hit with mature, will be more likely to succeed if in- million for grants to fund health programs a triple economic whammy: first they are centives are provided. in communities directly impacted by pollu- required to invest in pollution-reducing con- These are just a few ideas, but perhaps tion from the San Pedro Bay ports. The trols; second, they pay a consultant to write these will stimulate others to join the dia- Community Grants Program will distribute a permit application, a highly technical doc- logue as SCAQMD develops their incen- the funding over the next 12 to 15 years, ac- ument; third, they pay a fee to SCAQMD tive funding plan. cording to the Port of Long Beach. Applications for grants will open to local I By KIMBA ANDERSON for the review and issuance of the permit. (Kimba Anderson is senior associate organizations later this year, according to And DAVID PARK Lowering these costs will reduce the cost of consultant and David Park is director of doing business and improve price competi- air policy for Long Beach-based Alta the port. The funding adds to the $18.2 mil- As environmental policy consultants, we tiveness in the larger global marketplace. Environmental.) I lion awarded by the port through a previous develop advanced technology demonstration 4. Should SCAQMD sunset RE- Long Beach Transit Puts grant program, bringing its commitment to projects that inform policymakers on indus- CLAIM, the region’s cap and trade pro- community programs to nearly $65 million. try trends in emerging, low-environmental- gram, SCAQMD could provide a financial Electric Buses Into Service “We believe in environmental sustain- impact technologies. One of our areas of subsidy to facilities which voluntarily On March 31, Long Beach Transit put ability and social responsibility, and this expertise is the development of demonstra- choose to adopt Best Available Retrofit three of its new zero-emission, battery- program loudly and clearly demonstrates tion projects for the manufacture of renew- Control Technology (BARCT) level con- powered electric buses into service on the the Port of Long Beach’s pledge to the able fuels. Within this niche, we have trols earlier than will be required. free downtown Passport route. By releasing community to be a responsible neighbor,” experienced great resistance in bringing The program is not expected to end for no emissions, the buses are set to reduce Lori Ann Guzman, president of the board these projects to California. At the surface, another 8 to 12 years, so this would provide the transit agency’s carbon footprint. Seven of harbor commissioners, stated. it appears to be a no-brainer given the abun- the region with greatly-needed air pollution more of the electric buses are to be intro- The port is hosting workshops on grant dance of renewable resources and a political reductions earlier than required and there- duced to LBT routes in the future. applications on April 19 at its offices at culture of environmental stewardship. How- fore provide a greater overall air pollution The long-awaited buses, manufactured by 4801 Airport Plaza Dr. A workshop on ever, the reality is that renewable energy in- benefit. This could be offered in conjunc- BYD Motors, are able to travel 150 miles applying for air filter funding takes place frastructure companies are either hesitant or tion with other economic stimulus incen- on a full charge. They are charged overnight from 2-3 p.m., followed by a workshop on resistant to entering the California market – tives such as tax breaks to these businesses. at LBT’s headquarters on Anaheim Street. health program grant applications from even with the carrot of a $5 million Califor- 5. Partner with citizen activists to identify “Our new battery electric buses will help re- 3:30-4:30 p.m. For more information, nia Energy Commission (CEC) grant. What and encourage businesses to invest incen- duce noise and air pollution and provide an visit www.polb.com/grants. I is the reason for hesitation? Environmental permitting, specifically air pollution permit- ting, which drives up costs and therefore makes the end product less competitive. Historically, environmental policy has been at odds with economic policy, driving industry out of California to more favorable economic climates, resulting in the removal of a rung in the economic ladder. This creates an even greater barrier for individuals to climb out of poverty. We perceive that a sea change in public policy is necessary to keep these two disciplines from working in silos, but instead, work together, synergistically. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Governing Board re- cently provided an on-ramp to this sea change in the adoption of the agency’s 2016 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), a historic document that, for the first time, em- phasizes incentives for cleaning the air above command and control regulation. The incen- tives proposed are significant with $1 billion a year over the next seven to 10 years. As SCAQMD develops that incentive program, we suggest the agency consider an invest- ment strategy to both improve the air and stimulate regional economic growth. Here are some ideas: 1. Streamline permitting for manufactur- ers of air pollution control technologies. Permitting fees for manufacturing facili- ties in the South Coast Air Basin are signif- icant, therefore a majority of control technologies are manufactured elsewhere and imported to the state, meaning dollars invested on local controls immediately leave the state, which leads to the next point. 2. Stimulate growth in entrepreneurship in clean technologies for testing and use in California. These technologies are needed here, 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 16

Page 16 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Going Green

vironmental Services Bureau (ESB) Clean City Asks Team, as part of the Department of Public Works, and the City of Long Beach to be- Smokers To come the first participant of the pilot pro- gram. The campaign, which was developed by the Clean Team over the last six months, Can Their Butts will provide eligible businesses with free cigarette butt receptacles. “We are proud to be part of this wonder- I By BRANDON RICHARDSON ful community. We’re excited to be the first Senior Writer business to join the new Can Your Butts campaign,” Gallagher said. “Working to- The Broadway corridor is the new testing gether with the city through this initiative ground for Long Beach’s latest step down helps businesses like mine promote a clean, its environmentally conscious path – the safe and litter-free Long Beach.” Can Your Butts campaign. The program According to Leigh Behrens, a recycling aims to stamp out cigarette butt litter along specialist with the ESB, 33 businesses city streets, and on March 31, city officials along the Broadway corridor – between unveiled its first cigarette waste receptacle Alamitos and Redondo avenues – are eligi- at Gallagher’s Pub & Grill. ble for the free, voluntary pilot program. “We know that people are still smoking. She explained that initial outreach indicates As much as we would like to encourage that most businesses plan to participate and you not to do that, people are,” 2nd District will sign up in the coming weeks. Councilmember Jeannine Pearce said at the Environmental Services Manager Diko unveiling event. “And we want to make Melkonian explained that the target busi- sure that we are keeping it as clean and safe nesses are mostly bars, restaurants and bar- for our community as possible.” bershops – places where people tend to According to city data, 65% of cigarette smoke the most. butts, which are not biodegradable, become “Broadway is a very busy business cor- litter. These butts leach chemicals into the ridor. If you look around, it does have a lit- environment and are poisonous to children, tle bit of a litter issue,” Melkonian said. pets and wildlife if ingested. The state “It’s a great opportunity. We talked to a lot spends $419 million annually to clean up of the business owners up and down the cigarette butts, which make up one-third of street, and a lot of them showed a lot of in- all litter found on roadways, public spaces, terest in participating. So we thought it was beaches and waterways nationwide. a great place to start.” The Broadway corridor is the first to take part in the city’s Can Your Butts pilot program, which aims to eliminate cigarette litter along city streets. The program launched on March 31. Pictured from left: Diko Ciaran Gallagher, the Northern Irishman Melkonian said that disposing of ciga- Melkonian, Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau (ESB) manager; Gallagher’s Pub & Grill Owner who opened his pub in Long Beach in rette butts in proper receptacles is only the Ciaran Gallagher; and ESB recycling specialists Elisa Calderon and Leigh Behrens. (Photograph by the 2005, partnered with the Long Beach En- first step in the litter abatement program. Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 17

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 17 Going Green

the storm drains and into the waterways, we’re trying to be proactive and give people the opportunity to dispose of them and re- cycle them,” Melkonian said. “Studies have determined that if you give people opportu- nities to dispose of them properly, they will.” Along with being environmentally friendly, city brochures for the Can Your Butts cam- paign note that retail establishments and restaurants that sell tobacco products or alco- hol for consumption on the premises are legally required to provide and empty ciga- rette waste receptacles in all areas that smok- Pamphlets and other materials related to the Can Your Butts campaign are available through the ing is lawfully permitted. Businesses also are Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau. required to keep properties and adjacent areas, including sidewalks, streets, gutters, The campaign also encourages participat- catch basins and alleys, litter free. ing businesses to utilize free cigarette waste About 38% of cigarette litter is associ- recycling through TerraCycle. The New ated with the number of ashtrays available Jersey-based company provides shipping and the amount of existing litter, according labels for companies to ship extinguished to city data. It’s estimated that for each re- cigarettes, cigarette filters, loose tobacco ceptacle added, the litter rate decreases by pouches, outer plastic packaging, inner foil 9%. Additionally, 41% of employees who packaging, rolling paper and ash to be re- smoke report that no cigarette receptacles cycled. Ash and tobacco are turned into are provided by their employer. compost, while filters can be melted down “This is an opportunity for Broadway, and used to make industrial products such again, to take the next step in becoming a as shipping pallets. corridor that’s really clean and leading the More than 9,800 locations participate in way in describing the kind of city we want to the program, according to TerraCycle’s be,” Councilmember Pearce said. “So we’re website. For every pound of cigarette waste encouraging business owners to get educated collected, the company donates $1 to the on the Can Your Butts campaign and take the Keep America Beautiful Cigarette Litter opportunity to get one of the receptacles.” Prevention Program. For more information on the Can Your In addition to the full-sized receptacles, Butts campaign or to request a receptacle eligible businesses can receive free re- for an eligible business, visit litterfreelb.org. sources from the city such as posters and For more information on TerraCycle’s cig- pocket ashtrays. arette waste recycling program, visit terra- “Rather than allowing them to go down cycle.com. I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 18

Page 18 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Going Green

Such instances have already occurred. They should be applauded. But there is an of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, Adapting To For example, the summary report noted awful lot more to be done.” and it has partnered with engineering firm Climate Change that in 2014, Hurricane Marie caused 20- The use of trucks fueled with biodiesel AECOM to “help guide the city’s assess- foot swells in Long Beach waters that could aid in reducing fine particles in the ment/inventory of GHG [greenhouse gas] (Continued From Page 1) caused $10 million in damage to the Long air, Schubel pointed out. “Biodiesel burns emissions and approaches to reduce them enough city to be manageable [but] we are Beach Middle Breakwater. at a higher temperature, so it emits far with specific goals and targets moving for- a large enough city to have national im- Areas currently most vulnerable to fewer particulates than conventional ward,” Taylor said via e-mail. pact,” Schubel said. “We experience most coastal flooding include the Peninsula, diesel. And it’s one step above clean In recent weeks, President Donald of the aspects of climate change. For exam- Alamitos Bay, Belmont Shore and the lot trucks,” he said. Trump has taken executive action to roll ple, we not only have the ones that happen north of Alamitos Bay Marina, according The summary report includes a list of back environmental regulations put in place on land but we also have the changes that to the report. While seawalls and addi- local initiatives to reduce air pollution, in- during the Obama administration. Trump’s happen in the ocean.” tional breakwaters could help temporar- cluding the San Pedro Bay ports’ Clean order revoked one executive order and As a coastal city, Long Beach will be im- ily, eventually “retreat inland will be the Air Action Plan, an effort by the City of three presidential memoranda from the pre- pacted by rising sea levels, according to the only viable option,” it stated. The report Long Beach to plant 10,000 trees, and vious administration, and rescinded the for- report. Increasing oceanic temperatures suggested conducting a thorough review more. According to Mark Taylor, chief of mer president’s 2013 Climate Action Plan due to climate change are causing seawater of where previous storm damage has oc- staff for Mayor Garcia, the city has been and a strategy to reduce methane emis- to expand, which, in addition to melting curred, a survey of sea walls and working to expand its use of green vehi- sions. It also initiated reviews of other poli- glaciers, is causing rising sea levels, the re- drainage infrastructure to create hazard cles, and it has encouraged the use of cies, including the Clean Power Plan, and port stated. “Sea level in the Long Beach- modeling, and a review of all assets at electric cars through an electric car an analysis of the “social cost of carbon.” Los Angeles area is expected to rise nearly risk of flooding. charger giveaway and by installing more Trump’s executive action also removed a one foot by 2030, up to two feet by 2050, While Schubel acknowledged that the charging stations. ban on leases for coal operations on federal and as much as 5.5 feet by 2100,” the sum- Port of Long Beach and the city have Schubel views an expected increase in lands and initiated a review of regulations mary report stated. made strides toward reducing air pollu- drought length and frequency as the most for oil and gas development. “If we cut off all greenhouse gases to- tion, he believes air quality is bound to difficult climate change challenge facing “I do have concerns because I think the morrow, which we obviously can’t do, sea become worse, regardless. “Air quality the region. “We all felt a relief when we actions we take over the next decade are level would continue to rise for decades gets worse as the temperature goes up. going to be very important in limiting the and perhaps longer,” Schubel said. And Long Beach already has some bad had so much rain this winter. But all of While this is a long-term threat, climate air quality, even though it’s much better the studies suggest that the pressures on potential impacts of climate change,” change also affects coastal communities than it was 20 years ago,” he said. our water supply will increase as the earth Schubel said of the president’s recent ac- in the short term, Schubel pointed out. “We have among some of the highest warms,” he said. tions related to the environment. “So we “What’s an immediate threat when you asthma rates, particularly for those people According to Taylor, the mayor’s office will step up our programs.” have these coastal storms superimposed who live along the 710 corridor. We need has encouraged water conservation pro- Schubel added, “And as we have seen, upon temporary rises of sea level, more data. We need better studies,” grams in partnership with the Long Beach the president doesn’t always get what he whether they are king tides or El Niño, Schubel said. “I think the Long Beach Water Department. The city has also ini- wants. And so I think we can continue and those are the ones that are doing the dam- Health [and Human Services] Department tiated the Long Beach Municipal Urban will continue to work on the science be- age now,” he said. “And the damage they and California Department of [Public] Stormwater Treatment (MUST) project to hind all of this and [building] an educated will do in the future only gets greater be- Health need to collaborate on those. But we reclaim and reuse stormwater for irriga- public, because the educated public then cause they are superimposed upon a also need to continue to reduce the emis- tion and industrial uses, he noted. can influence what their congressional higher stance of sea level.” sions from the port. They have done a lot. The city is actively pursuing the creation representatives do.” IR 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 19 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 20

Page 20 • April 11-24 • Long Beach Business Journal Small Business Showcase – Los Altos

Ecco’s Pizza Restaurant for nearly 25 years – Ecco’s Pizza restaurant Though Jim Xanthos has owned since 1993 – the establishment has been a Long Beach staple since40th 1977.anniversary Located event at 2123 N. Bellflower Blvd., Xanthos said he is planning a ink for early fall and hopes for city involvement. “I love Long Beach. It’s a great city,” Xanthos said. “We’ve had some pitfalls here, as far as the recession. I don’t th we have come back quite as strong as I would have hoped. But we’re Westwoodstill a family prior atmosphere restaurant.” Xanthos owned another pizza business in to purchasing Ecco’s. He said he sold that business in 1995 because of the com- mute. Ecco’s currently has 24 employees, many of whom are Cal State Longears. The Beach students. The cook has been with the establishment for all 40 y restaurant’s bestseller is the Ecco’s Special – a pepperoni, sausage and mushroom pizza – according to Xanthos. He said the space has new patio seating andited more brunch changes are in the works, including the possibility of offering a lim s of habit. on weekends. “But right now, our customers are pretty much creature They don’t like a lot of change. So whatever we do, we have to be very careful com. because they notice everything.” For more information, visit myeccospizza.

Copyco USA Inc. After moving to Irvine from Dallas to pursue new opportunities, Albert J.J. Kwon took a chance on a small copying business in Los Altos. He purchased Copyco USA Inc. at 2155 Bellflower Blvd. in 2004, despite not having any experience in the industry. “But my wife thought that I could do it,” he recalled. When he bought Copyco from the previous owner, it was struggling. But Kwon learned the trade and built upon the business. “It was a good opportunity. . . A challenge, in a way,” he said. “I try [to provide] the best service, you know, at a reasonable price. I think our prices are the best in town,” Kwon said. In fact, he hasn’t raised prices in more than a decade, although he may do so soon due to rising costs. Still, he is determined to keep prices low. “Our location is pretty good because Bellflower Boulevard has a lot of traffic, and a lot of students pass by,” Kwon said. “Actually, a lot of professors recommend it to other professors.” Many of his customers come from California State University, Long Beach, but he also serves local public schools, churches and small businesses. Services range from copying to bookbinding to printing blueprints and more. “We do everything,” Kwon said. For more information, visit: www.copycousainc.net.

Tattered In 2013, longtime thrifter Leah Zahn opened Tattered, a secondhand clothing store located in the Los Altos Market Center North, to pur- sue her love of fashion in a way that would allow her to interact with others. Zahn studied fashion design at Long Beach City College. After graduating and working for various companies as an assistant fashion designer, she realized she preferred interacting with others to working at a desk. “I kind of went on this journey where I went back to retail, loved it a lot, and loved being around people,” Zahn said, referring to her experience managing a Buffalo Exchange sec- ondhand clothing store. “I always liked the concept of secondhand clothing,” Zahn said. “Recycled fashion is great for the environment.” Zahn chose the location at 5555 E. Stearns St., Ste. 106 for Tattered because she recognized the center as a shopping hub for the local community. “I live in Belmont Heights, but I find that my family al- ways comes to this area for whatever reason – to go to Target, go to Trader Joe’s,” she said. Tattered purchases popular brands and vintage clothing to sell and also offers accessories and gifts made by local artists. For more information, visit: tatteredtrading.com.

Sushi Kinoya Iris and Martin Gi have owned Sushi Kinoya, which translates to house of happiness, at 5521 Stearns St. for nearly nine years. The couple immigrated to the United States from South Korea about 25 years ago, at which time Iris’ brother began teaching Martin the art of sushi. After years of working in various sushi restaurants, Martin decided to branch out on his own. He and Iris opened their first restaurant in the Riverside area. After a couple of years, the pair decided to move the business and spent a year trying to find the perfect location. “We were looking for a good location everywhere. But one day we just drove by and suddenly saw this shopping center, and both of us were like, ‘This is it,’” Iris said. “We are so lucky to be in this area.” Iris explained that the area appealed to the couple because of the good weather and its proximity to the beach. She said the restaurant has 10 employees, in- cluding her and Martin, and about 70 regular customers. “The regular customers are very loyal,” Iris said. “We’re like a fam- ily. The best part [is that] if something happens, they tell me, and we share together the happiness or the sorrow. And we’re all here.” For more information, call 562/598-8169. 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 21

Long BeachLong BeachBusiness Business Journal Journal • April • 11-24, April 11-24 2017 • Page 21 Small BusinessReal EstateShowcase & Development – Los Altos

Articles by Assistant Editor Samantha Mehlinger ll Businesses and Senior Writer Brandon Richardson. Support Local Sma Photographs by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan This edition features small businesses in the Los Altos area of East Long Beach, primarily along Bellflower Boulevard and Stearns Street. E.J. Malloy’s Janine and Dave Ritter have been friends with E.J. Malloy’s founder Brent Brakebill for years. “Our kids grew up together playing soccer,” Janine said. Sixteen years ago, Brakebill decided to open a second E.J.’s in addition to his original Broadway location, and Ja- nine became the manager. After managing the second E.J. Malloy’s in Bixby Knolls for 14 years, Janine and her husband went into business with Brakebill to open the third location in Los Altos. “We had heard the Fish Tale was closing, and so Brent and my husband discussed that this location would be a good opportu- nity because there is really nothing around here as far as a sports bar,” she said, referring to a longtime restaurant at 5506 E. Britton Dr., where E.J. Malloy’s is now located. “Being that I managed for so long, and all the hours that go into it and the heart and soul, I figured it would be nice to be an owner and do the same thing,” she said. In addition to being located close to her home, Ritter said she likes the location because of its family-oriented atmosphere. “It’s still a very family neighborhood pub, which is great,” she said. “It’s very casual. People are very friendly.” For more information, visit: ejmalloyspub.com. Umberto International Clothier In 1956, Umberto Autore immigrated to Long Beach from Italy where he was schooled as a tailor in Milan. One year later,ich Autorewas opened Umberto International Clothier in Los Altos, wh moved to its current location at 2141 N. Bellflower illBlvd. enjoys in 1970.his After 60 years of business in Long Beach, Autore st work. “It’s the design, the creation – it keeps me young and busy,” Autore said. “I’d rather do this than play golf. I love it. It’s not the money – it’s my life, it’s enjoyment. I love to create styleailor and- make people happy.” His shop provides custom suits and t ing from scratch for men and women, as well as ready-made suits. Autore said he is now serving third-generation customers, with some driving from as far as Reno and San Francisco. Autore explained that what sets his shop apart is that he is part of the old school of tailoring, skills that can’t be found much in thehis United States. He forgoes computers and continues to do all designs by hand. “We have everything in the store. If you come here, you don’t have to go anywhere else,” Autore said. “We can dress you up from the bottom to the top.” For more information, visit umbertosmenswear.com.

with their kids about money, more than half of those discussions were initiated by the kids. That same survey found that children actually want to learn about money. Small Business Dollars & Sense So how can you prepare your kids for a successful, healthy, lifelong relationship with money? Here are age-appropriate things you can begin to talk with them about now: It’s Not Too Early To Teach • Teach younger children where money comes from. An allowance for completing chores can establish a work ethic early. Your Children About Money • Practice waiting and saving. The sooner your child makes saving a habit, the better, and the more likely it will become a habit that lasts into adulthood. pril is National Financial Literacy Month and teaching children • Help your child to create a budget. Budgeting is one of the key components for financial Aabout the importance of money management, budgeting and saving success. Start simple for younger children then expand with age to prepare for the larger is the purpose of the American Bankers Association’s Teach Children to budgets they will need to manage later in life. Save Day on April 28. • Help your child understand the difference between needs and wants. The idea is for Many of us can look back to our childhoods and relate to kids who them to be aware of the balance between the two, so that spending on the “wants” isn’t ex- love to play “store,” complete with toy cash registers and fake currency. cessive. It’s a lesson that many adults often struggle with as well! From a child’s perspective, those plastic coins and paper dollar bills • Help your child to set financial goals. Whether it’s having enough money to buy a toy, By Ben are just as valuable as the real thing! the coolest new shoes, or even a car, helping your child establish a plan to reach that goal — AlvArAdo Children are ever-observant and so very eager to learn. They understand and learning to have fun spending on a plan — can be one of the greatest financial teachers. that money is important to buying food at the grocery store, clothes and For fun, interactive and free lessons check out HandsOnBanking.com. The non-com- other essential items. But, when and how do they begin to understand you have to earn the mercial online curriculum is easy to use and lessons are specifically tailored by age- money to buy groceries and pay bills, and you need to budget and save money for other group, adults included! wants versus needs? It starts earlier than we realize and it takes age appropriate teaching These are just a few of the ways you can get started. Whichever methods you choose, start for them to learn the skills they will need to financially thrive when they become adults. now. Your child’s financial future is at stake. Getting them on the road to financial success When 6,544 students aged 15-18 participated in a financial literacy test, the average now can increase the likelihood that the ride has as few bumps as possible. score in 2016 was 60% according to the Financial Educators Council. (Ben Alvarado, a 26-year veteran of Wells Fargo, is the president of the bank’s So. Calif. A Harris Poll Financial Literacy Survey found that of families who have had discussions Region, which stretches from Long Beach to Orange, Imperial and San Diego counties.) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 22

Page 22 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson

(Continued From Page 1) Although the budgeting process for the with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s De- sing. In 2016, a federal court jury found major leaps toward fulfilling that vision,” next fiscal year, which starts in June, is still partment, increasing city payments to the that Carson’s ordinance controlling mobile Robles said, referring to the Future Unlim- underway, Farfsing estimated that the city California Public Employment Retirement home park rental rates violated the rights ited motto. This is in part because of what is running a $3 million deficit. Major costs System and rising health care costs. of an owner of such a park. The city is ap- he called a “great” business climate in the associated with the deficit include a An additional $500,000 had to be allo- pealing that ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit city. “The best indicator of that is that peo- $700,000 increase to the city’s contract cated for attorney costs, according to Farf- Court of Appeals. ple are coming in droves to explore oppor- To contend with the deficit, Farfsing is tunities here in Carson,” he said. considering increasing fees for some com- The biggest name to land in Carson this munity programs, and perhaps eliminating year is the NFL’s Chargers. The former San some. Before the budget is passed, two Diego team is temporarily relocating to the more workshops are planned with the city StubHub Center for at least two years until council, he noted. the new stadium it will share with the Los Positive news for the city budget came Angeles Rams is completed. when Carson voters approved the renewal “Businesses see us as a business-friendly of the utility users tax last year. The tax community, and they value our geographic funds everything from law enforcement to location that provides the convenience of street maintenance to parks and recreation multiple freeways, port access, two airports programs. “It means that the city can count – Long Beach Airport and LAX. . . . And on a reliable financial stream of income,” we have our own university, Cal State Robles said. “[However,] while it has Dominguez Hills,” Robles explained. brought us some financial stability, it hasn’t “There are very few communities like that. provided and met our full expectations in I think businesses see that as a plus, and terms of revenue,” he explained. Low gas they are now waking up to the opportunity prices are causing a shortfall in expected and the potential of Carson.” revenue, he noted. To ensure that the city government stays Community Matters on course and is able to foster a stable envi- Among various community issues, pol- ronment for this growth, once-interim City lution, homelessness and crime are some Manager Ken Farfsing has, after nearly two Carson Mayor Albert Robles is part of the City of Carson’s five-member city council. The mayor and that rise to the top of Robles’ priority list. years in the role, decided to stay on in an of- councilmembers are all elected at large. Mayor Robles’ term is through November 2020. Mayor Pro “I think there is a concern, because of ficial capacity. Robles said that Carson has Tempore Lula Davis-Holmes’ term expires in November 2018, as does the term of Councilmember Elito our geographic situation, that our residents not seen a city manager as well-regarded Santarina. Councilmembers Cedric L. Hicks and Jawane Hilton are serving terms through November are exposed to pollution generated from the 2020. With so many development projects underway and planned in Carson, the mayor believes the and experienced as Farfsing in a long time. city’s future has never been brighter. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) refineries, generated from the commerce at Farfsing, who served as city manager of the ports . . . more than any other commu- Signal Hill for 19 years, first took what was nity, except maybe Wilmington,” Robles originally intended to be a temporary posi- said, “and that Carson residents’ health tion after Carson had experienced years of doesn’t appear to receive as much consid- management turnover across departments. eration as the health of other communities.” “There are a lot of big projects that are For example, Robles pointed out that going on right now, and I just didn’t feel it the South Coast Air Quality Management was appropriate for me as a professional District has held hearings in Torrance but manager to kind of walk out,” Farfsing said none in Carson. “We’re asking them to of his decision to stay on. He added that he have one here in Carson, and they refuse intends to stay until the city government to. Why?” he asked. has achieved more stability. As in surrounding cities, homelessness “Every department has turned over the top is also an issue in Carson. “We have made management staff within the last two years, an effort to help our homeless popula- so it is a real unstable situation,” Farfsing ex- tion,” Robles said. “We have events at plained. “That’s not good for the community. various parts of the city where we invite It’s not good for the employees. So providing various nonprofits to come out to provide some stability has kind of been the goal that services for the homeless.” For example, I have set for leaving.” The most senior head the city sponsors events where mobile of a city department is the director of public dentist units come to the city to provide works, who has been with the city for a little homeless individuals with dental care. more than two years, he noted. Similarly, a cosmetology school that the “The biggest issue has been the budget,” city partners with provides free haircuts Farfsing said. “The accounting software is for the homeless. DOS [disk operating system]-based so it’s “Just last week, we had a conference here floppy disks. . . . It doesn’t even have up- at a community center . . . where ways to dates anymore. So it has been difficult to address the homeless situation were dis- Carson City Manager Ken Farfsing, left, and Director of Community & Economic Development John get a handle on the budget. That has been a Raymond have worked together to streamline the city’s building and planning fee system, which has cussed, and what could be made available real issue,” he explained. enabled the city to charge for time and materials related to project application processing. This is to landlords so they could provide homes “When I came in [in 2015], the prior just one of the methods Farfsing has employed to address budget challenges. (Photograph by the to the homeless,” Robles said. year’s budget had not been printed. It was Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s De- never completed,” Farfsing said. “And so no partment recently informed the mayor and one could really point me to a budget.” The City Of Carson Important Numbers city council that violent crimes in the City city is in the process of acquiring new soft- California State University, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum of Carson are “significantly down,” accord- ware for its budgeting process, as well as Dominguez Hills 1812 South Alameda Street ing to Robles. “We’re much safer than we for use in other city departments, he noted. 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson CA 90747 Rancho Dominguez 90220 were just a couple of years ago,” he said. Farfsing hired a forensic auditor to get www.csudh.edu • 310/243-3696 www.dominguezrancho.org • 310/603-0088 There has, though, been an increase in non- to the bottom of the budget and has since University Theater: 310/243-3588 Doubletree By Hilton violent crimes such as petty theft and vehi- hired a new director of finance, Kathryn Carson Chamber of Commerce 2 Civic Plaza Drive • Carson 90745 cle break-ins, he noted. 530 East Del Amo Boulevard, Carson 90746 doubletree3.hilton.com • 310/830-9200 Downs. “Kathryn has done a really good Overall, Robles is excited about the city’s www.carsonchamber.com • 310/217-4590 SouthBay Pavilion job with an old system [and] getting a Carson City Hall 20700 South Avalon Boulevard • Carson 90746 future. “I feel blessed to be here, the mayor handle on where we are in terms of rev- 701 East Carson Street, Carson 90745 www.southbaypavilion.com • 310/366-6629 at this moment in time,” he said. “We are enues and expenditures,” Farfsing said. ci.carson.ca.us • 310/830-7600 International Printing Museum at a stage in our development where I can “And what she found going back through Community Development Department 315 West Torrance Boulevard • Carson 90745 confidently say that in five years, when we historic budgets is that seven of the last 310/952-1773 www.printmuseum.org • 310/515-7166 do this interview again, Carson is going to 10 budgets have been out of balance. So Carson Community Center StubHub Center be significantly different, significantly bet- we have been drawing down, essentially, 801 East Carson Street • Carson 90745 18400 Avalon Boulevard • Carson 90746 ter, because of the incredible new develop- our savings account.” www.carsoncenter.com • 310/835-0212 www.stubhubcenter.com • 310/630-2020 ment that’s coming into Carson.” I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:43 PM Page 23 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 24

Page 24 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson Auto Dealerships Carson Business Is ‘Booming’ he City of Carson is home to five major car dealerships, including Carson T Honda, Carson Nissan, Carson Toyota, Car Pros Kia and Win I By BRANDON RICHARDSON Chevrolet/Hyundai. The auto dealer industry generates 29% of the city’s $24 million Senior Writer in annual sales tax revenue, according to city staff. Carson Toyota has been located in Carson since 1974, according to General Manager Diaa With numerous developments, both residential and commercial, the City of Carson is Ahmed. He said the dealership employs 168 people, about 70 of whom are Carson residents. seeing tremendous economic growth, according to Mayor Albert Robles. “I think 2016 was better so far, but maybe things will switch around in the next couple months. We don’t know,” Ahmed said. “Year over year, we’re growing, like, 4% or 5%.” The mayor attributes the growth in business popularity to less burdensome tax struc- Ahmed said the construction on the 405 Freeway at Wilmington Avenue has created tures, including no local property tax, a low utility tax, and a lower sales tax and business a challenge for the dealerships in the area. He noted that sometimes the exit will be license fee than surrounding communities. closed, making it difficult for customers to get to the dealerships. Despite the construc- “And the fact that we have areas of Carson, about a 20-square-mile area, that is focused tion, Ahmed said the city treats the dealerships well. on catering to the business community,” Robles said. “You know, we have industrial parks, “I think they are doing their job. The city is clean. The streets are clean. I think they are business centers. And I think businesses like that.” doing their share,” Ahmed said. “And when we really need them, when we are having a Carson Chamber of Commerce President John Wogan said he has been involved with problem, they dispatch an officer to us right away. They’ve been helpful.” the community for 20 years and that this is a great time for the city. He said the location Health Care between Los Angeles and Orange County and two airports – Los Angeles International aiser Permanente has two facilities serving the City of Carson, including its Carson and Long Beach airports – makes it ideal for business. Wogan explained that things are K Medical Office building located at 18600 S. Figueroa St. in Gardena and its Main coming together and the city is coming into its own. Street Health Education Pavilion located at 23621 S. Main St. in Carson. “Business is booming. We have new stores opening up. The feeling is excellent. We “Now we serve, in the South Bay service area, over 242,000 members,” Ozzie Mar- have so many new businesses that want to come to Carson. People now want to come and tinez, chief administrative officer for Kaiser South Bay, said. “What’s exciting about move here. We’re going up.” that is that a large portion of those members – about 50,000 of our members – live in the Carson and Rancho communities.” Martinez explained that a large population of patients also work in the area, so the company is excited to be able to provide health care to its members at a location conveniently located close to home or close to the workplace. The Figueroa facility is currently having 45,000 square feet of space built out on the third floor of the building, according to Martinez. He said the space would be utilized as a comprehensive specialty center, including a comprehensive women’s health center and an ambulatory surgery center for outpatient surgeries. The new services will increase the facility’s provider count by 60 and is scheduled for completion in early 2019, according to Martinez. The Main Street facility provides addiction medicine and health education services. “Kaiser Permanente is really doubling down on looking at mental wellness, psychiatry, addiction medicine,” Martinez said. “We’re really trying to make a huge impact in this work and really eliminating the stigma.” Health education classes are offered in both English and Spanish, and they aim to help patients live the healthiest lives possible, particularly while manag- ing chronic illnesses, Martinez explained. He said the goal is to drive a part- nership with the city and residents to improve quality of life. Kaiser staff said the medical office serves approximately 2,000 patients per week, while the Main Street facility serves about 700 in health education. “Things have been going great. We appreciate the partnership with the City of Carson,” Martinez said. The Providence Medical Institute - Carson Primary Care was established in the center of Downtown Carson at 21501 S. Avalon Blvd. in 1996. Today, the office pro- vides services related to family medicine, internal medicine, and industrial and oc- The Providence Medical Institute – Carson Primary Care opened at 21501 S. Avalon Blvd. in 1996. The facility cur- cupational health. Additionally, the facility offers radiology and laboratory services. rently offers family medicine, internal medicine, and industrial and occupational health services. Pictured from left: “Our philosophy is to provide the best patient experience by serving our pa- Tu (Alfredo) Om, MD, site lead; Alwyne Barbee, practice manager; and doctors Jane Ekejiuba and Joyce Chang. tients with respect and compassionate care,” Alwyne Barbee, clinic manager, (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) said. “The pioneering physician of this clinic was Dr. Thomas Jasperson, who practiced in the Carson community for over 30 years and joined Providence Little Company of Mary. As a result, we have served over four generations of families in the Carson community.” Barbee said the facility will open its immediate care and walk-in clinic in the fall of this year, which will provide an affordable alternative to emergency care for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. Hospitality & Tourism he DoubleTree by Hilton is Carson’s most prominent hotel, conveniently Tlocated off the 405 Freeway at 2 Civic Plaza Dr. near city hall. The hotel has 225 guest rooms, a fitness center, a pool, a 24-hour business center and conference facilities. “We’ve been very lucky for the last couple of years with the hospitality business in Carson,” General Manager Greg Guthrie said. “This year, . . . our first impres- sions and budgeting for the year is slightly down from what we’ve been used to the last couple years. But we’re still anticipating [5%] growth year over year.” Guthrie said the amount of business in Carson and the South Bay makes it a great location for the hotel. He noted the opening of the Porsche Experience Center has been good for business, bringing in national and international busi- ness executives to the area. This has increased the amount of meetings and events held at the hotel. “The news with the Chargers is also exciting for us. We know that we will definitely draw from people who will be going to the games for those week- ends,” Guthrie said. “There’s [also] a possibility of us getting some business from the NFL in some form. So we’re excited about that.” A hot topic in the area is whether or not tourism will decline due to govern- Ozzie Martinez, chief administrative officer for Kaiser South Bay, said the company’s Carson Medical Office is ment activity, according to Guthrie. He said he has heard reports of tourism de- currently having 45,000 square feet built out to be used for a comprehensive women’s health center and outpa- clining on the east and west coasts. However, he said DoubleTree has not seen tient surgeries. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) any drop yet and doesn’t expect to. (Please Continue To Page 26) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:44 PM Page 25 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 26

Page 26 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson Industrial Real Estate ndustrial real estate is one of the largest economic drivers for the ICity of Carson. Watson Land Company alone owns, leases and manages approximately 12 million square feet of industrial space in Car- son and Rancho Dominguez. It corporate office is in Carson, and it has an Inland Empire office in Chino Hills. “The market continues to be very strong. And industrial [real es- tate], for lots of reasons, seems to be the darling amongst many real estate sectors,” Watson President and CEO Jeff Jennison said. “So while retail and self-storage and other sectors have had some issues, industrial continues to flourish.” Some of Watson’s big-name clients include Price Transfer, Damco Distribution Services, Dependable Highway Express and Custom Goods, Jennison said. Currently, Watson’s portfolio in the South Bay is full, and on the rare occasion that there is a vacancy, it is filled quickly, according to Jennison. Because of the high demand, Jennison said the company can be selective about to whom it leases. “We tend to not always pick the user who is willing to pay the highest rent but the one who’s going to bring the most jobs to the area, the biggest amount of investment, and who we think will be a better fit for the community long term,” Jennison said. The Carson Companies manages about 3 million square feet of indus- trial space in the city and another 12 million nationwide, according Pres- ident Jim Flynn. The Newport Beach firm has a corporate branch office Carson DoubleTree by Hilton General Manager Greg Guthrie said he anticipates 5% business growth year over year for the in Carson, along with offices in Texas and Pennsylvania. hotel. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) Flynn also said demand is high and business is good in the area. He attributed it to the uptick in the national economy, low unemployment rates and consumer activity. “So you have those dynamics that are occurring – strong economy, strong consumer and the evolution of e-commerce,” Flynn said. “All of those are supporting a vibrant industrial market, both manufacturing and logistics.” City Council Moratorium On Development, Leases Irks Business Owners However, despite the demand for space in the area, industrial real es- tate landowners and tenants are currently at odds with city officials over a surprise emergency moratorium. The city approved the moratorium at its March 22 meeting. The decision blocks any new industrial develop- ment and requires new and renewal leases longer than three years to re- ceive council approval for 45 days. “It is an opportunity for the city to review its land use regulations,” Mayor Albert Robles said. “Our land use regulations have not been up- dated – comprehensively reviewed and updated – since Ronald Reagan was governor of California. That’s a long, long time ago. And I would submit to you that Carson is a completely different city today.” Robles said the temporary pause is allowing city officials to assess land use regulatory structure to improve the quality of life for all resi- dents. He claims that under current regulations, the city cannot stop proj- ects that may be hazardous to public health from being constructed near schools or residential areas. Another concern voiced by landowners and businesses alike is the fear that the 45-day pause will be extended, which adds a great deal of un- certainty to doing business in the city. A comment by the mayor does little to quell this fear. Jeff Jennison was named president of Watson Land Company in August 2015, and recently added the title of CEO. The “I can tell you this: As the ordinance was approved at the city council company owns, leases and manages about 12 million square feet of industrial space in Carson and in the adjacent Rancho meeting last Tuesday, it will not be extended like that at all,” Robles said. Dominguez area. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) “If it is extended, there will be amendments, adjustments to it.” Kim Snyder, president of the southwest region for landowner and manager Prologis, which has just under 5 million square feet of industrial space in Carson, said he understands that the city is having a hard time keeping up with infrastructure improvements and knows this has been an ongoing issue. “I’m not crazy about it, but I understand where they’re coming from,” Snyder said. “We really care about that community’s infrastructure and how it looks and how safe it is to drive and so on. So we kind of get what they’re driving at and appreciate it.” Snyder said he views this as a way for the city to determine how to get more money in the coffers to keep pace with infrastructure needs, something that is sorely needed, especially if the area continues to grow in both development and population. The city council said lease approvals could take between one to three months, according to Flynn. He noted that most leases are longer than three years due to the fact that many companies need more time to re- cuperate their investment in the property. Because of this, he said some companies are opting to look for space elsewhere. Flynn said the mora- torium should never have been needed because city officials could have been looking into the problem already. “They could have been doing that over the last five years. Why all of a sudden a moratorium? The city already has a lot of tools in its toolbox to regulate what’s happening,” Flynn said. “We’re pretty dis- Jon Woodworth has been with General Mills for 16 years and has served as the Carson plant manager for the past year. mayed about it and have talked to the city about it and tried to figure The Carson plant has produced Yoplait yogurt products since 1979. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) out what their endgame is.” (Please Continue To Page 28) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 27 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 28

Page 28 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson

The Carson IKEA at the SouthBay Pavilion employs more than 255 people, according to Store Manager Maike Buhmann, pictured. She said many employees have been at the location since the store opened in 1992. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) Jennison said he understands the city’s issues and concerns and that he is sympathetic In a letter to the South Coast Air Quality Management District on April 5, Long to them, but that the surprise moratorium, which feels like an attack, is not a good way Beach Mayor Robert Garcia weighed in on the issue, asking for the certification of the to treat the largest employment and investment sector in the community. environmental report to be delayed while local environmental impacts are examined. “We’re really concerned about it. We’re concerned about the unintended conse- “With some of the highest asthma rates in the nation in West Long Beach and the quences of a moratorium,” Jennison said. “It’s a large bubble of uncertainty that is surrounding area, it is important to be cautious and deliberate while considering already causing customers who are considering Carson to look elsewhere and, in this project,” Garcia said. one case already, to decide to go elsewhere.” Should the project receive certification and proceed, Dami said construction would One thing that Snyder, Jennison and Flynn can agree on is the fact that the city gave no begin this year, with completion set for sometime in 2019. advanced warning to landowners or tenants that it was considering the moratorium. Snyder The California Resources Corporation also has a modest presence in Carson’s oil in- and Flynn said the first he heard of it was two days before the council was set to vote. dustry with two wells that produce approximately 100 barrels of oil per day, according Manufacturing to Amy Fronzo, manager of external relations for the company. She said no significant change is expected to Carson production in 2017. arson is home to various manufacturers, including General Mills, which has op- Retail And Restaurants C erated a Yoplait yogurt products plant at 1055 E. Sandhill Ave. since 1979. The company also has a warehouse in the city. arson has seen continued increase in the number of retail stores and restaurants “General Mills, across all of our locations, including Carson, tries to develop really C with ongoing construction, renovations and conversions, according to John Ray- strong relationships within our communities,” Plant Manager Jon Woodworth said. “In mond, director of community development for the City of Carson. terms of business . . . there are really no dramatic changes for the business here locally.” Recently, work was done to bring F21 Red, a Forever 21 concept, to the South Bay Woodworth said he has been with the company for 16 years but only relocated to Carson Pavilion. The store is scheduled to open at the end of the month. The former Sears Au- a year ago. However, he said his initial outreach to Carson city officials and the city’s chamber tomotive is being converted to restaurants, including Chipotle, Smashburger, Jersey of commerce has been positive and that the city makes it easy for manufacturers to operate. Mike’s and Applebee’s, which is still under construction. Ducommun Incorporated, a supplier of products, engineering services and support Raymond also said there is a proposal to convert the former 50,000-square-foot services to the global aerospace and defense industries, has had a facility in Carson Kmart facility into a John’s Incredible Pizza, which he described as a play place be- for more than 20 years and renewed its lease recently for at least another five years, tween Chuck E. Cheese’s and Dave & Buster’s. according to Vice President Douglas Groves. “Their facades are very colorful with yellow and purple and blue and checkerboard “Our business is stable,” Groves said. “We’ve got a couple hundred people here, and all that,” Raymond said. “They’ve come in with that plan, and we think that’s going so it’s a nice-sized factory that provides a nice base of employment for a multitude to go forward. That’s on Figueroa near the 110 Freeway.” of different levels of employment – from the people working on the manufacturing John Desco, executive vice president of asset management for South Bay Pavilion shop floor [and] up through executives.” owner Vintage Real Estate, said the site has seen pretty solid growth in retail and restau- The company occupies about 100,000 square feet of office and industrial space in rant sales, which can be attributed to the city’s growing popularity and development. the city and has a supportive relationship with its landlord and the city, Groves ex- Besides F21 Red, which he thinks will have resounding success, Desco said the com- plained. The Carson facility has also served as the company’s headquarters for the last pany is working with a couple other notable retailers that will hopefully be announced 10 years, previously located in Downtown Long Beach. soon. Sears has plans to subdivide its building to allow for two tenants to share the Groves said the company anticipates continuing slow but steady growth at the rate space with the company, which recently announced store closures throughout the coun- of about 5% per year. Earlier this year, Ducommun announced a multiyear, multi- try. The plans have not been finalized. million-dollar contract with Airbus to produce additional titanium structures for en- “We’ve been very pleased, impressed, and certainly we’re going to continue to try to develop gine support and frames on the A320neo. the center and bring more good venues for shopping and dining to the City of Carson,” Desco “It’s a good location for us for a multitude of different reasons,” Groves said. “We said. “We’re always working on the mall itself – doing improvements, keeping up the facilities have a lot of long-tenured employees that live in this area. It’s a pretty good labor mar- there, trying to keep it clean and lively and fresh and a good shopping environment.” ket to draw from. We’ve been very happy here.” IKEA is one of Carson’s largest brands, with the company making just under $40 Oil Industry billion worldwide last year, a 7.9% increase from 2015. The Carson store currently esoro Corporation, a major player in the city’s and state’s oil industry, is cur- employs more than 255 people, including many who have been at the location since it T rently facing roadblocks with the development of a $460 million project in Car- opened in 1992, according to Store Manager Maike Buhmann. son. City officials have concerns regarding the project's environmental impact report, The company often launches new products, according to Buhmann. She explained claiming it focuses on regional benefits rather than impacts on Carson itself. that the store gets a lot of business from people moving into the area, as well as current Kenneth Dami, director of government and public affairs for Tesoro, said the project Southern California residents. She said the company's goal is to create lifelong cus- consists of shutting down a fluid catalytic cracking unit at the company’s Wilmington tomers, who will use the store for every major life event, including marriage, buying refinery, which would reduce emissions by 70,000 metric tons – equivalent to removing a new home and having children. 13,500 vehicles from the road – while creating about 4,000 jobs. “We look forward to constantly growing and working with the City of Carson and neigh- “It’s going to be a big economic boom to the area,” Dami said. “We’re in discussions boring cities,” Buhmann said. “The [city] really has blown up a lot, and we were pleased with [the city] about where their concern is. We’re addressing their concern, and I think to learn about all the housing development and senior living center. That’s really great. we have a very good story to tell.” We’re pleased to see that positive growth in the City of Carson.” I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:30 PM Page 29 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 30

Page 30 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson

1 into account negative impacts to Carson, focusing on re- Carson Amidst gional benefits instead. “We’re in negotiations with Tesoro right now, [which] Large-Scale Citywide is probably the best description of it right now,” Farfsing said. “We’re at the point now with Tesoro and the air dis- trict that we don’t necessarily agree that the EIR has Development everything in it that we need to mitigate the health im- pacts on our communities. But we’re still meeting with 2 Tesoro to try to figure this thing out.” I By BRANDON RICHARDSON Carson is also undergoing several infrastructure im- Senior Writer provements, including a $20 million project along one and a half miles of Carson Street. Farfsing said this is From retail to restaurants to housing, the City of Carson currently the largest infrastructure project, and it consists is taking off in terms of development projects. of traffic calming measures as well as beautification and “When you think about it, Carson doesn’t really have a drought tolerant landscaping. traditional downtown,” City Manager Ken Farfsing said. Other infrastructure improvements include a Wilming- “We’re kind of creating a downtown.” 2 ton Avenue ramp off the 405 Freeway, which is nearing One of the largest projects in the works will be taking place completion; intersection work near city hall; and a at the 157-acre site where the city had hoped to build a mas- stormwater capture project at Carriage Crest Park, which sive football stadium complex for the Chargers. After the is in the planning stages. team’s decision to opt for Inglewood, Carson had to decide Farfsing said that the city does not have a lot of general what to do with the site, now divided into five areas, or cells. fund monies to allocate toward infrastructure improvements The city currently has an exclusive negotiation agree- 3 due to a budget deficit. He explained that much of the con- ment with Santa Monica-based developer Macerich Real struction is paid for through redevelopment agency bond Estate Co. to build a large outlet mall on cell two of the property. John Raymond, director of community develop- funds or grants the city has applied for. ment, said the city has selected a developer to construct “All this was laid out in the ’40s and ’50s – very automo- a traditional big-box, cross-entertainment retail center on bile-centric but not really a pedestrian environment. Very cells three, four and five. little of Carson is a pedestrian environment,” Raymond said. 4 4 “The way that site is configured is the big box would “So we are trying to take our main commercial street, Car- be in the back, and there’s this kind of donut hole in the son Street, and make it more so.” center where they would put like a Dave & Buster’s or The following is a list of development projects in the City that sort of thing, plus a cluster of restaurants and other of Carson that were recently completed, currently under entertainment kind of retail,” Raymond said. “The inter- construction, approved or in plan check, or under review. esting thing about their proposal is that it has two hotels.” Farfsing said it has yet to be determined what the re- Recently Completed maining cell will be developed into, but noted it could be 1. 20700 S. Avalon Blvd. – Remodel of the existing residential or retail. South Bay Pavilion Mall to accommodate a new Forever The site is a landfill area, which Raymond and Farfsing 21 retail store. 5 said makes it very difficult to develop. Due to waste de- Under Construction composition, structures must be built on piles that go 2. 402 E. Sepulveda Blvd. – Mixed-use development through the trash and 20 feet into the native soil to prevent consisting of a four-story building with 65 affordable 5 the buildings from sinking. There are also environmental residential units for seniors and 3,000 square feet of issues to be considered. commercial space to accommodate retail use. “This has been the most complicated project. We are 3. 21601 S. Avalon Blvd. – Mixed-use development 6 lucky to have [Raymond] because he’s got so much expe- 7 consisting of one four-story building and one five-story rience at it,” Farfsing said. “But he’s spending three-quar- building with 357 residential units and 30,000 square ters of his time, easily, on it, while still trying to run his feet of commercial space to accommodate retail and department, which has a lot of stuff going on.” restaurant uses. Several housing and mixed-use developments are under 4. 21801 Vera St. – Single-family residential develop- construction or in the works for the city, as well. Ray- 8 ment consisting of 18 three-story units. mond noted that a number of projects recently approved 5. 21721 Moneta St. – Multifamily residential devel- are for affordable housing developments. opment consisting of 13 two-story units. Raymond made special note of a project by Los Ange- 6. 20700 S. Avalon Blvd. – Remodel of the existing les-based developer Meta Housing Corporation that con- South Bay Pavilion Mall to accommodate two new retail sists of 45 affordable units set aside for working artists. tenants. 9 “Carson doesn’t really have an arts economy. There are 7. 1802 E. Carson St. – Commercial development con- no galleries here. There’s no music store. There’s no any- sisting of a new Starbucks business. thing like that,” Raymond said. “So when you start look- Approved/In Plan Check ing at how you would like to change the community, introduce some positive change, we think that could be 8. 21205 S. Main St. – Affordable multifamily devel- a really tremendous boost and a different sensibility to opment consisting of 46 units for working artists. what Carson’s about.” 9. 600 W. Carson St. – Affordable multifamily devel- One of the largest housing developments coming to the opment consisting of 51 units for military veterans. 10 city is Union South Bay – formerly The Avalon – by Far- 10. 19200 S. Main St. – Commercial development con- ing Capital, which will include 357 residential units and sisting of a 40,000-square-foot airship hangar for 30,000 square feet of commercial space for retail and Goodyear Tire Company. 11 restaurant uses. 11. 1281 University Dr. – Commercial development con- “We believe Carson’s future is bright, and we are ex- sisting of a 47,000-square-foot neighborhood retail center. cited to be a part of the city’s growth,” Faring CEO Jason No rendering available. 22300 S. Avalon Blvd. – Com- Illoulian told the Business Journal. mercial façade remodel for an existing 2,775-square-foot restaurant. 13 Other large projects in the city include the Shell Revi- 12. 20920 Chico St. – Commercial development con- talization Project and a proposal by Tesoro to merge two sisting of an 11,500-square-foot DaVita dialysis clinic. 12 of its refineries. The revitalization project was put on the backburner by Shell Oil Products U.S. years ago, but the Under Review 14 company recently said they plan on presenting the city with 13. 20330 S. Main St. – Multi-family development con- a proposal eventually, according to Raymond. sisting of multiple four-story buildings with 300 units. As for the Tesoro merger, the company hopes to shut 14. 123 E. 223rd St. – Multi-family development consist- down a Wilmington operation and develop a new facility ing of a three-story building with 10 condominium units. in Carson to reduce emissions to the region. Carson city (Source: Prepared by City of Carson Community Devel- officials do not think environmental impact reports take opment Department. Renderings also provided by the city.) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 31 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 32

Page 32 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson Los Angeles Chargers To Shine A Spotlight On The StubHub Center

Katie Pandolfo, general manager of the StubHub Center in Carson, shows Ken Derrett, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the Los Angeles Chargers, around his team’s temporary new home field. Season tickets for the 30,000-seat stadium are sold out. For more information about the team, visit www.chargers.com. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan)

I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER smaller venue size. “Stub- “Obviously, we are a Soccer (MLS) team. The Galaxy and its af- Assistant Editor Hub Center provides a rare building that operates 365 filiate teams, such as the LA Galaxy II re- opportunity to fans to see days a year already, and serve team, still call the facility home. Carson’s StubHub Center is now home NFL action in such an in- we’re used to doing very “The Galaxy are doing great. We have to the Los Angeles Chargers – at least, timate setting,” he said. large-scale events,” Pan- been growing year over year, I think, at until the NFL team’s new stadium is built “We want our fans to have dolfo said. “And so it was the same rate that soccer has been grow- in Inglewood. But with the Chargers a superior entertainment experience, and just a turnkey solution for them to come ing in this country,” Pandolfo said. When playing in Carson for the next two years, playing at StubHub is the first step in in and have all the amenities that they she started working at the center in 2004, both the city and the center are set to that direction. Every seat will feel close need for an NFL game.” there were only about 10 teams in the enter the massive national spotlight af- to the action.” The Chargers are contributing to some MLS. Now there are 22, she said. forded by the NFL. The team’s greatest challenge will be necessary improvements at the stadium, In addition to its main stadium, Stub- “The leadership and the folks in Carson accommodating everyone who wants including the addition of goal posts and Hub Center has a number of other profes- have welcomed us with open arms,” A.G. tickets, according to Spanos. In fact, as netting. Some slated improvements, such sional sports facilities, including the Spanos, president of business operations announced in recent weeks, the team’s as switching out the southerly scoreboard VELO Sports Center, America’s largest for the Chargers, said via e-mail. “The season at StubHub is already sold out. with an LED one, have been in the works indoor wood bicycle racing track; a ten- area will provide a tremendous home for “We’re excited about the welcome for some time, Pandolfo noted. nis stadium; and a track and field facility. the Chargers while our the new L.A. sta- we’ve received from the community and Pandolfo said that having the Chargers at The center often hosts a variety of sport- dium and entertainment district at Holly- fans throughout the area. But we know we StubHub is an “exceptional opportunity” ing events, including professional boxing wood Park is constructed.” have a tremendous amount of work to and one that elevates the center to a national matches and cycling competitions. While the new planned stadium for do,” Spanos said. “We know we have to and international stage. “While we have had “I think, because of our location on the joint use by the Chargers and Los Angeles fight for our place in L.A. and earn the the great fortune of having amazing soccer campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills, Rams will feature 80,000 seats, StubHub community’s support. And we know it experiences here – we’ve had David Beck- our role is very important to be an active Center only has about 27,000. It is ex- won’t happen overnight.” ham and a lot of the soccer stars come community partner,” Pandolfo said. “We panding its capacity to 30,000 seats for The Chargers’ current mission is to get through the stadium – I think this reaches a partner with the city and a lot of the other the Chargers’ run, according to StubHub to know the community and discover how whole different demographic.” nonprofits and organizations within the Center Manager Katie Pandolfo. to make a meaningful contribution, StubHub was built in 2003 as the home city to make sure that we are being a good Spanos has a positive take on the Spanos stated. of the Los Angeles Galaxy, a Major League corporate citizen, a good neighbor.” StubHub Center puts on a variety of Tesoro Gives $1.25 Million For Playground Benefiting Disabled Carson Children events for the community each year, in- cluding events for Easter, Halloween and I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER “The city does not currently have a playground with equipment Thanksgiving. “We just did a huge Read Assistant Editor that children with disabilities can easily access,” Carson Mayor Across America event a few weeks ago on Albert Robles stated. “Thanks to the Tesoro Charitable Founda- Dr. Seuss’ birthday,” Pandolfo said. Ath- letes from the Chargers and Galaxy came The Tesoro Charitable Foundation is giving a $1.25 million tion, this grant will fill this gap in our park amenities, and as Car- to the stadium where they read to hundreds grant to the City of Carson Parks and Recreation Department to son receives the future progress payments of the $1.25 million of local elementary school children. “It was grant to complete this project, we say thank you to the Tesoro install playground equipment for children with disabilities at Dol- just an incredible atmosphere – just one ex- phin Park, 21205 Water St. The foundation presented the depart- Charitable Foundation.” ample of things that we do with schools in ment with the first installment of this grant at the opening day of The City of Carson is partnering with the nonprofit organization this area to try and give back to the kids the park’s baseball, softball and t-ball program on April 8. Shane’s Inspiration to design the playground. I who live right here in this community.” I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 33

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 33 Focus On The City Of Carson Arts, Cultural And Academic Institutions Offer Array Of Programming For Community

I By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Carson in Rancho Dominguez, is open to Assistant Editor the general public via scheduled tours be- tween 1-4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays The City of Carson is home to a variety and Sundays. Third and fourth grade stu- of cultural and arts institutions, including dents from regional public schools regu- historic sites, museums, a major university, larly visit to learn about the site and its and a community center with various recre- history in Southern California. ational and support programs. “Throughout the tour, you would actu- Carson is one of 11 South Bay cities that ally learn more about the Dominguez was originally part of Rancho San Pedro, family, the legacy of the South Bay and the first Spanish land grant in California. the political history as well,” Fernandez Manuel Dominguez, grandson of grant re- said. “So we have artifacts here, paintings cipient Juan Jose Dominguez, eventually [and] photographs from the family.” The became mayor of what was then known as original structure on-site was built in El Pueblo de Los Angeles. He later resided 1826, he noted. The facility is available with his six daughters at the Dominguez for rental for events. Rancho Adobe, which is now a historic site Another local museum, the International and museum. His descendants – the Car- Printing Museum, also places an emphasis son, Watson and Del Amo families – are on education. The museum houses a work- still involved with the site today, according ing collection of antique and replica print- to Executive Director Luis Fernandez. ing presses and machinery. Originally “The museum was opened to the public in founded in 1988 in Buena Park, the mu- 2004,” Fernandez said. “The mission state- seum relocated to Carson in 1998. ment of the Friends of Rancho San Pedro, “The collection probably represents 300 which is the funding arm of the museum, is years of machines and artifacts,” Executive to preserve and increase community aware- Director Mark Barbour said. “The oldest ness of the Dominguez family and the physical printing press [in the collection] is homestead and the Rancho San Pedro, from 1806.” This printing press is the same which is the first land grant in California.” kind that Benjamin Franklin – who spent a The nonprofit museum, located near (Please Continue To Page 34) 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 34

Page 34 • April 11-24, 2017 • Long Beach Business Journal Focus On The City Of Carson

years, the department had been considering putting on a popular musical as a means of The Emotional Connection: The Porsche Experience Center In Carson public relations outreach and recruiting, DeLuca said. To assist in this effort, the city I By MICHAEL GOUGIS awarded the university an $18,000 grant. Contributing Writer The grant enabled the university to hire pro- fessional musicians to play during the per- The 911 Carrera S fires down the formance, as well as professional actors to straight that parallels the 405 Freeway, supplement the cast of students. shoving me back into the driver’s seat. I DeLuca leads Teatro Dominguez, a the- am not giggling at the snarled traffic just ater group within the department that, a few feet to my left – there is no room through an academic course, visits local in my brain for that. My foot holds the schools to provide educational perform- accelerator hard on the floor, 420 tur- ances. “It’s multicultural children’s theater,” bocharged horsepower are flinging me DeLuca said. “A lot of the things we do forward, and my attention is focused like with Teatro are historical kinds of plays.” a laser on the billboard that is my braking Last year, the group visited schools to put marker. At these speeds, I do not want to on a play about the Dominguez family and be late on the brakes. My mind is riveted Luis Fernandez came on as executive director at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum about six months the origins of the South Bay. “That was a to the task at hand. ago. The museum features displays of artifacts from the Dominguez family, which was gifted the entirety nice historical play that we toured to 4th A lift off the gas, moderate pressure on of the South Bay via a Spanish land grant in 1784. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) grade classes,” he said. the brake pedal, a hard left to drop into a portion of his life working as a printer – and Arizona, Barbour noted. The museum CSUDH also houses an art gallery that is recreation of the steeply-banked Karus- would have used, he noted. itself is in the midst of expanding its gal- open to the public. “The University Art sell hairpin from the legendary Nurbur- The museum is open to the general pub- leries, which currently encompass about Gallery is one of the major exhibition spaces gring’s Nordschleife circuit, and my lic on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 18,000 square feet. in the South Bay, and it is a valuable resource driving coach in the passenger seat is urg- During the week, it hosts group tours, in- When it comes to the arts, California for the campus and surrounding community,” ing me already, impossibly, to feed in cluding many from local schools. “One of State University, Dominguez Hills Director Kathy Zimmerer told the Business more throttle, more power, more speed. the delightful parts about that museum is (CSUDH) offers year-round performances Journal via e-mail. “We are dedicated to I tell the panic center of my brain to shut that it is a working collection,” Barbour and programming open to the surrounding serving our campus and local community by the heck up, look through the corner, nail said. “We are able to use the machines to community. exploring art and culture in all its diversity the gas hard and the Carrera drifts slightly demonstrate the process of printing and The university’s theater and dance pro- through our exhibitions and events.” sideways and climbs up and out of the print keepsakes and historical documents to grams produce two plays and two dance The University Art Gallery also works banking, the rear end sideways and driving . . . help in our process of storytelling about concerts each year at the University Theatre with local groups. “We have worked hard. The tires graze the edge of the road American and world history, great inven- on campus, which seats about 500 people, closely for years with the Boys and Girls and we fire back down the straight, and tions and inventors [like] Benjamin according to Bill DeLuca, professor of the- Club of Carson to create K-12 Arts in the I’m thinking, that was good but nowhere Franklin, Guttenberg and others like that, ater arts. Smaller productions are also Schools workshops, including a series of near perfect, please, please, can I do this and the advance of the printing press across mounted in the Edison Studio Theatre, workshops in conjunction with two exhibits about a thousand more times. . . . the states in the 19th century.” which seats about 65 people. last year, ‘Inciteful Clay’ and ‘Wild Land,’” This experience is available to the pub- The International Printing Museum has Last year, the theater department part- Zimmerer wrote. lic at the new Porsche Experience Center a mobile trailer modeled after a Benjamin nered with the City of Carson to produce the The gallery features between seven and in Carson. The $60 million, 53-acre facil- Franklin-era printing shop that visits large-scale musical “Hairspray” in addition 10 exhibitions per year, including two an- ity opened late last year and has already schools and groups throughout California to its regular lineup of productions. For nual exhibitions by CSUDH seniors, ac- drawn more than 10,000 visitors through cording to Zimmerer. It also hosts visiting its doors. It is one of only two in the U.S., Cal State Dominguez Hills: A Community Resource exhibitions. “We recently hosted the exhibit a handful in the world, and even among ‘Heated Exchange: Contemporary Encaus- that small number, is unique in that it is California State University, Dominguez ence building which was built in 1973.” tic,’ which featured 10 artists who use the the home of the company’s North Amer- Hills is a growing institution within the The university received a $4 million ancient art of encaustic (hot wax) to create ican racing operations. Porsche recently CSU system and stands to contribute to grant from Toyota to create the Toyota their paintings and sculpture,” Zimmerer allowed the Business Journal to tour the Carson, not only through its existing aca- Center for Innovation in STEM Education said. “This exhibition was organized by facility, experience the driving training demic programs but also through future de- within a planned $82 million science Virginia Commonwealth University, with curriculum, and interview Andre Oost- velopment. building. “It’s designed to provide cutting- artist Reni Gower as curator.” huizen, vice president, marketing, The university is working on a campus edge instruction for our own students who Upcoming exhibitions include a show- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. master plan to carry it through the next two are in the science disciplines but then also case of works by 16 CSUDH design pro- “The Porsche Experience Center is, for decades and beyond, according to Naomi to help teacher candidates . . . in terms of gram graduates, which is showing on April us, a vision to realize our brand connec- Goodwin, interim vice president of admin- learning how to teach science,” Goodwin 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and the annual tion with our followers, our customers, istration and finance. “The focus is on set- explained. senior studio art exhibition, which runs our enthusiasts,” Oosthuizen said. “In an ting the stage for the next 20-plus years for This fall, the university had 14,731 stu- April 24-May 4. age when we’ve been challenged with the life at the campus and really envisioning the dents enrolled, according to Dr. Rod Hay, One of the city’s largest hubs for commu- electrification of vehicles . . . nobody future buildings and facilities that we need provost and interim vice president of aca- nity events and programming is the Carson necessarily needs a sports car on a day- to support our academic mission,” she said. demic affairs. Of those, 10,862 were full- Center, a municipal facility with 40,000 to-day basis. So for us, it’s a method to “We are looking to create a university time students. “This is my 21st year, and square feet of event space. “Primarily the emotionalize, to engage, educate people, village on the east side of campus that we just continue to grow our reputation Carson Center is a banquet/convention cen- give them a really deep dive into the tech- would expand the campus as a living/learn- and the number of applications pretty sig- ter type facility for bookings for the pub- nology. And it’s an opportunity to demon- ing community,” Goodwin said. “It would nificantly,” Hay said. About 55% of lic,” Community Center Manager Adrian strate those technologies in a controlled, be a blend of residential, pedestrian-ori- CSUDH students say they work more than Reynosa said. The Carson Center offers 23 brand-appropriate, safe environment.” ented retail and then open spaces for meet- part-time in addition to pursuing their de- bookable spaces for weddings, small con- To accomplish this mission, the Porsche ing and entertainment, as well as business grees, he noted. ventions and other events, including a ball- Experience Center offers a series of cir- development,” she explained. The student body is diverse, with 60.3% room capable of seating up to 800 people. cuits and testing grounds for drivers to ex- Residences would include student resi- of students identifying as Hispanic, 14.5% The center also houses various commu- perience surface conditions that would be dence halls, faculty housing and market as African American, 10.9% as white, nity programs sponsored by the city, in- unsafe on a public road. Polished and rate units for anyone wishing to live on 10.8% as Asian, 0.3% as Hawaiian-Pacific cluding a Dial-A-Lift transportation epoxied pavement, further slickened with campus, according to Goodwin. The devel- Islander, 0.1% as American-Indian, and program, a stroke center to help stroke vic- water, and a steep, wet, downhill slope al- opment would generate funding for the 3.1% as two or more races. tims rehabilitate and an early childhood de- lows drivers to experience spins and university. “This CSU is such a resource for the velopment program. “We also have our locked brakes and to find out what a car The plan also addresses needs associ- surrounding community. A large percent- career center housed here at the facility, does under those circumstances. Drills ated with academic facilities. “Dominguez age of our alums still live within this area,” where the public can come in and get infor- marked out with cones on the broad, flat Hills is a really vibrant and energetic sort Hay said. “Basically, they are coming mation on jobs, resume critiques [and] in- expanse of the skidpad teach you how to of campus community,” Goodwin said. [here], being educated and then going terview workshops. They also provide a avoid obstacles, snake your way through a “Unfortunately, though, all of our aca- back into the community and taking posi- variety of job fairs throughout the year here slalom course and really use the brakes to demic buildings were built in the late tions. So I think we are an incredibly good at the site as well for the public to help their limit. The handling circuit simulates 1960s and ’70s, including the current sci- resource for the region.” I them gain jobs and employment.” I a mountain road; the acceleration course, 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 35

Long Beach Business Journal • April 11-24, 2017 • Page 35 Focus On The City Of Carson The Emotional Connection: The Porsche Experience Center In Carson

a drag strip. It is fun, but it’s not just a game; rience the performance is a convincing way chased in Germany. The Porsche Speedster with the Porsche Motorsport North America time spent in one of the 90-minute driving to seal the deal. After a helicopter tour of Cafe echos the design details of that iconic operation. Porsche always has supported sessions, which start at $385, really does Los Angeles, Oosthuizen said, the Carson car; Restaurant 917 is a five-star dining ex- customer-racing programs, and around the make you a better driver in a panic situation. location’s desirability was easy to see. It was perience with menus crafted in Germany world to this day, it is rare to find a sports In addition, rather obviously, Los Angeles close to Los Angeles International Airport, from the same leather used in the company’s car series without a class for the production traffic doesn’t allow many opportunities to easily accessible via freeway, and Watson vehicles. Driving simulators allow you to ex- race cars turned out by Porsche. Porsche experience what a Porsche really can do. Land Company and city officials at Carson perience famous tracks from around the Motorsport North America had grown into And Southern California is home to many were happy to help make the deal work. world (and the handling course just outside three different buildings in Santa Ana, and (and legendary) Porsche dealerships, places The 50,000-square-foot building houses the door); for the discerning client there is a the company decided to bring the racing op- that are revered in the community of the nine conference rooms, with one large personal design studio where you can sit with eration onto the Experience Center site. marque’s enthusiasts. The Experience Cen- enough to accommodate vehicles. The store a consultant and customize your new Porsche One large room of the facility is a spare ter serves as a real showcase for the dealer- offers high-end Porsche products like sun- in any manner you choose. parts inventory for the production race cars. ships. Not only are the cars gorgeous in the glasses, luggage and purses, as well as model What makes this particular Porsche Expe- In a stroke of marketing genius, the actual showroom, but letting the customers really vehicles that previously only could be pur- rience Center unique is that it shares space workshop is visible to the public. Separated by a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, all of the work of preparing race cars, restoring price- less vintage race cars for private collectors, goes on where the public can watch. During our visit, technicians were restor- ing the Porsche 962 that Mario and Michael Andretti drove at the 24-hour race at Daytona in 1984. Porsche customers and enthusiasts can press their noses against the glass to see the exacting, detailed work that goes into race car preparation and restoration, as well as getting a close-up view of incredibly historic cars just on the other side of the glass. The car that won the Dakar Rally in 1986 was on display, with a huge sign warning technicians not to wash it – the car is shown as it came off the course, original dirt a badge of honor. Cars from the company’s museum in Stuttgart, Germany, are shipped to the center and put on display for six months to a year. Some cars are not behind the glass wall, but are displayed in the expansive lobby. The company wants visitors to get close to the vehicles, to really get a feel for their size, the cramped driver accommodations, to develop a sense of what it would be like to pilot one down the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans at well over 200 miles an hour. On display during our visit was perhaps one of the most famous racing cars Porsche ever built – the soft blue and orange 917K (kurzheck, or short tail) in the livery of Gulf Oil, the type of vehicle that starred in the Steve McQueen movie “Le Mans.” This very car’s real-world exploits are mythical to Porsche enthusiasts. In 1971, on the challenging, dangerous and fast pub- lic road Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Mexican driver Pedro Rodriguez used this car to set a world lap record for closed-course competition and – with co- ex- driver Jackie Oliver – a world record for av- pe- erage race speed, en route to the win. The car is visually stunning from a dis- tance, more so from up close, and as you stand there and appreciate what happened all those years ago, in this very vehicle, the ab- solute best the company could create, the racer becomes a vehicle for the visitor to connect in a very real way with a monumen- Top: The 53-acre Porsche Experience Center adjacent tal accomplishment of the company’s past. to the 405 freeway in Carson is one of two in the U.S.; the other is in Atlanta. Center: Porsche technicians prep Those moments on the track, experienc- racing vehicles and restore vintage race cars behind ing the company’s latest car, or the mo- the glass wall as visitors watch. Porsche also places ments in the showroom, reminiscing about race cars, replicas and production cars in the lobby for the company’s past, are entirely emotional. visitors to examine closely. Above left: Andre Oost- And they are exactly why the Porsche Ex- huizen is the vice president of marketing for Porsche perience Center exists. Immersing the vis- Cars North America, Inc. Above right: The Gulf Oil-liv- itor in the company’s environment, it eried Porsche 917 starred in the Steve McQueen film generates a connection, not with a specific “Le Mans,” but this particular car’s real-life story is spectacular as well. This restored racer took Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver to a record-setting win at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 1971, and was car, but with Porsche itself. recently on display in the lobby at the Porsche Experience Center in Carson. Right: The Porsche 917 Restaurant is located on the second level. The name and (For more information about the Porsche decor were inspired by the legendary 917 racecar, which gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. (Exterior and Experience Center, visit: www.porschedriv- restaurant photographs provided by Porsche Experience Center. Other photographs by the Business Journal’s Larry Duncan) ing.com.) I 1_LBBJ_March28_2017_LBBJ 4/8/17 9:31 PM Page 36