Watkins Landmark’s April 2022 Newsletter
Build To Serve
Hello,
Watkins Landmark Construction is roaring into the Spring of 2022. We have spent the last couple of years treading water as COVID decimated the economy, as was the case with most companies. Fortunately for us, the need for affordable housing in Southern California as well as the construction of the new San Diego Socker’s Arena has Watkins Landmark reaching for new heights!
We are also very fortunate that work in the Inland Empire is starting up again. From Palm Springs to Coachella, this area was especially devastated by COVID. In a tourist based economy, the cancellations of the BNP Paribas Open, Coachella and Stagecoach during COVID resulted in taking close to a million visitors a year out of the desert. The effects on the local economy were devastating. Now that those events are back on schedule, construction projects are coming back as well. Last month you read about the start of our Tamarisk Country Club Renovation project. Since then, we have also been awarded work at the Indian Wells Country Club.
This month’s newsletter contains two articles and our Culture Section. The first article is on our United Methodist Church of Vista project. This is our first project for The Barrie Company, owned by my friend Elizabeth Barrie. Our second article is on our Bonita Glen project for Silvergate Development. Bonita Glen is located right off Interstate 805 in Chula Vista. Our Culture Section covers our 2nd Sun Devil 100 award from Arizona State University, my alma mater.
Thank you for all of your comments and suggestions for our newsletter over the years. We truly try to incorporate the best of your remarks into our periodical. You can always click on my name and email me at Jody James Watkins with any observations or critiques.
Sincerely,
Jody James Watkins
CEO/Founder
WATKINS LANDMARK CONSTRUCTION
San Diego / Inland Empire
United Methodist Church Update
By Keagen Fritz, Assistant Superintendent
Watkins Landmark Construction is full bore at the United Methodist Church of Vista as the new building addition begins to take shape and the existing church renovations gather momentum.
Over the past couple of months, we’ve roughed in all underground work, installed all structural steel, and successfully poured our complete foundation for the new addition. Now, we are wrapping up rough framing as MEPs, fire protection, and exterior decorative steel keeps pace. The framing is uniquely striking with towering peaks, varying roof pitches, multiple gables, and other distinct sacral architectural elements that add to and compliment the existing structure. In the coming weeks, we’ll be installing the new roof, fine grading our site to allow remaining site work to begin, and transitioning to our finish phases of the building addition.
Inside the existing church, we are rolling through multiple phases of renovation work. On the main level, we are more than halfway finished enlarging and updating their common use rooms along with the beautification of both public restrooms to include all new tile and accessories. On the ground level, we recently finished upsizing the HVAC hot water system to provide the supply volume needed for heating the new addition. We are also scheduled to begin a substantial flooring replacement across both levels to modernize the main common areas and bring the new finish points into the existing building to create seamless unity between structures, all while not interfering with daily church business.
Few projects have such inherent satisfaction woven into the construction process as UMC Vista. It is an honor for our team and company to be able to contribute to such a beloved and important community space. The excitement to open the new Fellowship Hall and Classroom Addition to the public builds each day as we move through the project and inch closer to turning over another Landmark facility. The team includes Belén Tillet (Project Manager), Joel Rawson (Superintendent), Keagen Fritz (Assistant Superintendent), Ruben Bravo (Sr. Project Engineer), Lisa Karp (Project Coordinator), and Molly Watson (Sr. Accountant).
Bonita Glen Progress Update
By Krysten Santiago, Business Development Coordinator
I had the pleasure of visiting the Bonita Glen Project site and speaking with Assistant Project Manager, Marco Peña who walked me through what’s next for the $30+ Million Multi-Family apartment complex.
The 170-unit complex is broken down into 7 buildings ranging from A-F. While we can expect buildings B-G to be turned over by the end of May, building A is projected to take the longest. Due to building A’s podium structure and being the largest with 66-units, the estimated completion date will be between September and October. Punchlist will begin next week beginning with Buildings F & G, followed by B & C, then D & E. Peña anticipates anywhere from 10-20 units to be punched out per day.
The next few weeks will be busy for the team as they are tasked with beginning property landscaping which will add major enhancements to the complex with plants, trees and greenery. They have already started the improvements that have been requested of them by the city, by performing site work beginning on Vista Drive. Another larger portion of the complex, the pool building, is underway as they begin excavation. The building is to have a spa, fitness center, yoga room, BBQ area, fire pits, co-work offices and EV charging stations, which will be part of larger community spaces shared by all tenants.
When asked what challenges they still face, Peña says “Throughout the construction industry as a whole, due to COVID, the material lead times are still being affected, which then carries over to manpower reliability.” Regardless, he and the team are taking into account every scenario and making sure they keep the surrounding areas clean and organized to avoid any potential conflicts with neighboring homes and businesses.
Silvergate Development, Studio E Architects and Bandak PM have all been wonderful clients and allies from the go, by assisting with pushing through the life of the project. Peña says that “every team member has been instrumental in the success of Bonita Glen’s development due to their willingness to go above and beyond, especially Geoff and Oscar who have been the driving force behind the project’s major accomplishments.”
The project is scheduled to be fully completed by Winter 2022. The Bonita Glen project team consists of Geoff Sherman (Sr. Project Manager), Oscar Iniguez (Sr. Superintendent), Marco Peña (Assistant Project Manager), Julian Schacht (Assistant Superintendent), Jesse Nelson (Assistant Superintendent) and Jose Ramirez (Project Engineer).
Culture Section: ASU Alumni Sun Devil 100 Award
Watkins Landmark Construction was honored with our 2nd Sun Devil 100 award at Arizona State University. We received our first Sun Devil 100 award back in 2016. Each year, the ASU Alumni Association recognizes leaders of organizations from around the world that demonstrate innovation, growth and entrepreneurial spirit. Companies of all sizes, from individual business owners to large corporations, spanning dozens of industries are honored at the annual awards program.
Honorees are invited back to campus to connect with fellow Sun Devil business leaders, meet ASU executives and deans and interact with aspiring student entrepreneurs.
As most of you know, our CEO / Founder Jody James Watkins is an ASU Alumni. So this award is very close to his heart. Thank you for all of your continued support throughout the years.