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New Agency Head Touts Centre City Development Corp.

Jeff Graham on the fourth-floor patio at Civic San Diego headquarters.
Jeff Graham on the fourth-floor patio at Civic San Diego headquarters.

The San Diego City Council on October 23 unanimously approved the mayor's appointment of Jeff Graham as Civic San Diego's new president. Graham had been vice president of redevelopment at the disbanded Centre City Development Corporation.

In an interview with Graham at the downsized office suite at 401 B Street (where they are now subleasing unused offices), he responded to a question about criticism CCDC received for being too cozy with developers. He said that during his five years at CCDC and now Civic San Diego, “I would disagree that we have favored developers. Our track record on affordable housing is looked up to throughout the state….

“I've got a really challenging role here,” he said. “Our greatest funding source for affordable housing and neighborhood improvement has been taken away. So we have to see how we're going to fund these improvements.”

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One new way, he explained, was through federal tax credits.

“We did apply for 'New Markets Tax Credits.'" That program, established by Congress in 2009, rewards investment in low-income areas with tax credits against federal income taxes.

“We applied for $65 million,” Graham added. “It can't be spent just on affordable housing. You have to demonstrate that you are creating permanent long-term jobs with it. So, the projects we applied for range from a new healthcare facility to a rec center in Southeast San Diego.” He stressed that Civic San Diego expects to work on areas besides downtown and the southeastern part of the city.

Graham's current salary is $138,000, but “his future salary as president has not yet been determined,” said Lisa Greeson, assistant VP of human resources. While budgeted at 32 people, the agency currently has 26 employees and is “actively recruiting for two project managers,” Greeson stated. “I’m not sure at this time if/when we will fill the remaining positions.”

Civic San Diego has taken over both CCDC and the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation. It will continue to administer the downtown San Diego parking district and manage the construction of parks and fire stations.

Graham was chosen from three candidates named by a nominating committee. The committee had one representative selected by the mayor, two representatives from the city council, and two representatives selected by Civic San Diego's board.

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Jeff Graham on the fourth-floor patio at Civic San Diego headquarters.
Jeff Graham on the fourth-floor patio at Civic San Diego headquarters.

The San Diego City Council on October 23 unanimously approved the mayor's appointment of Jeff Graham as Civic San Diego's new president. Graham had been vice president of redevelopment at the disbanded Centre City Development Corporation.

In an interview with Graham at the downsized office suite at 401 B Street (where they are now subleasing unused offices), he responded to a question about criticism CCDC received for being too cozy with developers. He said that during his five years at CCDC and now Civic San Diego, “I would disagree that we have favored developers. Our track record on affordable housing is looked up to throughout the state….

“I've got a really challenging role here,” he said. “Our greatest funding source for affordable housing and neighborhood improvement has been taken away. So we have to see how we're going to fund these improvements.”

Sponsored
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One new way, he explained, was through federal tax credits.

“We did apply for 'New Markets Tax Credits.'" That program, established by Congress in 2009, rewards investment in low-income areas with tax credits against federal income taxes.

“We applied for $65 million,” Graham added. “It can't be spent just on affordable housing. You have to demonstrate that you are creating permanent long-term jobs with it. So, the projects we applied for range from a new healthcare facility to a rec center in Southeast San Diego.” He stressed that Civic San Diego expects to work on areas besides downtown and the southeastern part of the city.

Graham's current salary is $138,000, but “his future salary as president has not yet been determined,” said Lisa Greeson, assistant VP of human resources. While budgeted at 32 people, the agency currently has 26 employees and is “actively recruiting for two project managers,” Greeson stated. “I’m not sure at this time if/when we will fill the remaining positions.”

Civic San Diego has taken over both CCDC and the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation. It will continue to administer the downtown San Diego parking district and manage the construction of parks and fire stations.

Graham was chosen from three candidates named by a nominating committee. The committee had one representative selected by the mayor, two representatives from the city council, and two representatives selected by Civic San Diego's board.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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