McCune Motors is a family-owned company with two locations, one along the Mile of Cars in National City and the other in the Chula Vista Auto Park. McCune Motors has been awarded the coveted status of a 5-star Award for Excellence rating by Chrysler LLC. In addition, McCune has also been awarded the No. 1 Chrysler dealership in California for 12 years and running. Chrysler has incorporated a number of McCune's departmental processes and business forms as a prototype for other dealerships to use in their daily operations, and Chrysler has adopted these forms as well for their own 5-Star dealership process guidebook.   

What a great time to be in National City. Construction is moving ahead, new developments are being planned, public improvements are at a all-time high, community involvement is at its highest point in decades, and the changes both in form and attitude become more and more apparent every day. We've known for a long time that National City was a diamond in the rough; well now we're polishing up that diamond and it's shining bright.   

Fred Harris is a believer in tough love. As a chemical dependency counselor and treatment coordinator at Paradise Valley Hospital's Bayview Behavioral Health Campus, he works with many patients who are dually diagnosed with major psychiatric disabilities and chemical dependency issues.   

An open house and hardhat event last November brought together more than 200 potential residents and supporters of Paradise Village, the largest senior residential development project in San Diego's South Bay.   

On March 20, 2008, Westfield unveiled a 300,000-square-foot expansion and redevelopment of Westfield Plaza Bonita in National City. This $120 million redevelopment has brought the shopping center to more than 1 million square feet and created space for the new Café Terrace food court and full-service restaurants, a 140,000-square-foot anchor Target store, a 14-screen state-of-the-art AMC Theatre, a 23,000-square-foot Borders Books and several new specialty retailers.   

Safe Routes to School program   

The 34-unit MJ Cottages apartment property located at 330 Palomar Street in Chula Vista has sold for $5.525 million, according to Lou Bulte of Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC), who represented the seller in the transaction. The purchase included a $3.025 million loan through Chase Commercial.   

Began over 30 years ago as "Our House," a drop-in drug rehabilitation center for youth in Chula Vista, South Bay Community Services today maintains its youth-centric focus, servicing more than 7,000 youth annually. But it has also branched out to include myriad programs to help family members of all ages with the spectrum of challenges they may face -- from National City to the border.   

National City wants people to visit its waterfront. MRW Group thinks it has just the incentive.   

A longtime dream of National City became a reality this summer when the 173-room Marina Gateway hotel opened in time for July Fourth on Bay Marina Drive at Interstate 5. The 15-year project is the result of extraordinary efforts by a wide team of participants including the National City Community Development Commission (CDC), California Integrated Waste Management Board, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Port of San Diego and developer MRW Group.   

While other downtowns struggle with stalled projects, National City's is transforming into a vibrant downtown with the near-completion of Centro Condos, developed by Constellation Property Group.   

Sweetwater High School recently broke ground on its $46 million modernization project in a ceremony commemorating Phase I construction of Proposition O. Local officials including Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) Superintendent Jesus M. Gandara and National City Mayor Ron Morrison gathered with Sweetwater High Principal Wes Braddock to kick off the construction project.   

Incorporated on Sept. 17, 1887, National City is the second oldest city in San Diego. It is also among San Diego's fastest growing communities. Located minutes from downtown San Diego and the U.S.-Mexico border, National City is "In the Center of It All." This diverse and vibrant community is home to more than 2,500 businesses that already call it home.   

In May, the SANDAG Board of Directors approved the City of National City 8th Street Corridor Smart Growth Revitalization Project for TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program funds, in the amount of $2 million. This was a competitive process with 43 entries from cities through the region. The National City Smart Growth project earned the highest score and received the maximum allowable grant amount.   

The National City Bayfront Business Expo and Job Fair offers an exciting marketing, networking and educational platform for small business to access stimulus resources. The event, scheduled for July 16 from noon to 5 p.m., will be held at Marina Gateway, National City's newest bayfront development, 740 Bay Marina Drive.   

After years of planning and months of construction, the latest example of the Sycuan Tribe's business diversification efforts is bearing fruit. The Marina Gateway Project on the scenic National City waterfront is open for business.   

Since 1911, when gas service was first available in the South Bay, both the area and the company providing that energy have changed dramatically. Today the South Bay continues to grow, in terms of its population and growing prominence in the region. To stay ahead of the area's expansion, SDG&E continues to supply safe and reliable natural gas and electricity service, as well as the energy solutions required to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.   

From Point Loma in San Diego to the shores of Imperial Beach, the Port of San Diego has had an impact on a large portion of the county. The Port's jurisdiction covers 3,415 acres of land and 3,402 acres of water, which includes 33 miles of scenic waterfront along San Diego Bay and 403 acres of beachfront in Imperial Beach.   

Plaza Boulevard is a major east-west artery for the city of National City. This artery carries much of the cross-city traffic because it runs through the heart of the city's business district, and therefore plays a big role in facilitating much of regular as well as commerce-related traffic through the city. Recognizing the commercial as well as commute value of Plaza Boulevard, National City has been working toward plans to widen the boulevard, not only to increase capacity and reduce delays and congestion, but also to help improve operations and increase safety.   

Along state highway 54 and just east of state highway 5 sits a 26-acre site that has seen many uses, including a drive-in, swap meet and car lot. The Derr family, owners of the property, is partnering with San Diego-based developer Colton Sudberry to create a mixed-use project that will benefit both National City and Chula Vista. The anchor tenant will be a Lowe's with additional development along the Sweetwater Channel. The project is expected to be complete in 2011.    

In South San Diego County, all commercial property types are exhibiting higher rates of vacancy than in other submarkets in the region as a result of higher unemployment rates and high residential foreclosures and short sales.   

The expansion of State Route 905 keeps on rolling as the second phase of this project has just started.   

The South Bay Union School District has appointed seven community members to an Independent Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, which will oversee the expenditure of Proposition X funds.   

From an abandoned Bank of America building in Barrio Logan to its new state of the art facility in Otay Mesa, Circle Foods has come up in the world.   

All regions of San Diego County see median prices remain flat or increase; some ZIP codes still hit hard.   

Sweetwater High School has just started construction on its $46 million modernization project.   

Another Proposition O project is set to get under way Tuesday afternoon with a ground-breaking ceremony for the Hilltop High School renovation project.

   

Nasland Engineering has completed civil engineering design services for the $1.4 million revitalization of Old Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach.    

National City Middle School has begun construction on a $16.4 million modernization project, which includes building a 17,734-square-foot addition to the campus that will house classrooms and a new cafeteria.