San Diego's first high-rise affordable housing opens - Father Joe's ...

Western 

Roundup 

Martha’s rustles up 

another successful event 

Page 5 

By Patricia M. walsh 

Just days after Father Joe Carroll 

was joined by a crowd of 400, 

including government officials, 

donors, staff and volunteers, to cut 

the ribbon at San Diego’s first highrise 

workforce/affordable housing, 

working families began moving into 

their new homes at 16th & Market. 

“It’s heartwarming to see these 

working families move into homes 

that are safe, affordable and full of 

modern amenities,” says Father Joe, 

president of Father Joe’s Villages. 

The ribbon cutting on Feb. 

11, 2009, officially opened the 

12-story residential tower, the 

largest building project in Father 

Joe’s Villages history. The building 

has 136 apartments for working 

families and individuals earning 

between 30 and 60 percent of the 

area median income. Building 

tenants enjoy a wide array of 

amenities and have immediate 

access to public transportation, 

schools, parks, recreation, health 

care and shopping. City DIGZ, a 

hip fashion retail shop, is open on 

the first floor. (See story, page 3.) 

San Diego County Supervisor Ron 

Continued on page 16 

Children’s Charity Dinner 

An Evening Under the Big Top 

Page 2 

Culinary Arts Program 

serving up success at st. Vincent de Paul Village 

Centerpiece 

VILLAGE NEWS Patricia M. Walsh 

Blanca and her daughters Kenia, 12; Dayan, 10; and Kassandra, 8; were among the 

first families to move into 16th & Market. 

Fashion 

Finds 

Teens uncover hip 

looks at City DigZ 

Page 19 

May 2009 • Volume 19, Issue 1 

San Diego’s first high-rise affordable housing opens 

NoN-ProFiT 

U.S. PoSTage 

PAiD MaiL 

MaNageMeNT 

groUP 

St. Vincent de Paul Village 

3350 E Street 

San Diego, CA 92102-3332 

Community at 16th & Market 

By Mathew Packard 

As we look back at the ribbon cutting celebration and opening of 

16th & Market, the newest development for Father Joe’s Villages, 

and families have settled in to their new homes, I want to reflect upon 

what we hope this building represents to East Village and the larger San 

Diego community for years to come. 

When first proposed, the 12-story high-rise building, affordable to 

families – most working but living at the lowest ends of our economic 

spectrum – was met with some concern and, in fact, opposition. Many 

involved in the initial stages of this development challenged the idea and 

questioned whether a high-rise was the most effective place for families. 

In fact, for more than a few, the outdated images of rundown public 

housing in places like Chicago, Detroit and New York clouded the vision 

of how the 16th & Market building could meet the needs of the diverse 

population and be designed in such a way as to welcome families while 

giving the community a well-designed structure that enhanced its vitality 

and desirability. 

Thanks to a committed development team the vision became a reality. 

The team included staff of Father Joe’s Villages; an architect with a vision, 

Joseph Wong Design Associates; a dedicated general contractor, ROEL 

Construction; and a group of design, engineering and construction 

professionals who worked tirelessly to give San Diego and working families 

a distinctive building that will contribute to the core of our community 

well into the future by providing warm, safe, affordable homes rich with 

amenities to working families. 

This achievement could not have happened without first doing our 

homework. We knew that in order to convince the doubters we had to 

Continued on page 15 

Martha’s quick to help when Rescue Mission burns 

By John wolohan 

After an early morning fire 

destroyed the Coachella Valley 

Rescue Mission, Martha’s Village 

& Kitchen immediately prepared 

to assist the Mission and those 

displaced by the fire. 

Meals that the Mission was 

previously serving are now being 

served at Martha’s. This includes 

200 public breakfast and dinner 

meals in addition to Martha's 

usual public lunch meal served, 

and approximately 90 dinners per 

night to the Rescue Mission, and 

sack lunches as needed. 

Word of the fire was quickly 

given to Martha’s security staff 

after it started on March 11, 

2009, at 1:05 a.m. Security Shift 

Supervisor Gilbert Gomez, 

Security Officer Ruben Perales, 

Emergency Specialist Veronica 

Gonzales, and ES Supervisor Cesi 

Zazueta quickly took action and 

contacted local law enforcement to 

assess the situation and announce 

that Martha’s was available for any 

displaced residents. 

Darla Burkett, executive director 

of The Coachella Valley Rescue 

Mission, thanked Martha’s. “The 

fire engines were still coming 

to battle the fire when Martha’s 

workers came over to offer their 

services and a place to sleep for 

whoever needed one,” she said. n 

John Wolohan is vice president 

of operations for Martha’s Village 

& Kitchen.

2 

Village News, MaY 2009 

is published by 

Father Joe’s Villages® 

3350 E Street 


P: 619.446.2100 

F: 619.446.2129 

www.neighbor.org 

Publisher/President 

Father Joe Carroll 

Editor 

Patricia M. Walsh 

Associate Editor 

Miriam H. DiBiase 

Editorial 

Martha’s Village & Kitchen 

Gloria Gomez 

Claudia Castorena 

John Wolohan 

Stephanie Tristan 

Graphic Design 

Hernando Marquez 

Kathleen Wise 

Production Coordinator 

Emily Velez-Confer 

Web Design 

John Bradley 

We welcome your comments and 

suggestions. Please send to: 

villagenews@neighbor.org 

or Village News, 3350 E Street, 


In accordance with Federal law 

and U.S. Department of Agriculture 

policy, Father Joe’s Villages® is 

prohibited from discriminating on 

the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, age, or disability. To file 

a complaint of discrimination, write 

USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 

or call 800.795.3272 or 202.720.6382 

(TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider and employer. 

St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. 

Martha’s Village & Kitchen, Inc. 

Toussaint Youth Villages, Inc. 

National AIDS Foundation, Inc./ 

Josue Homes are partners of 

Father Joe’s Villages®, a registered 

trademark of S.V.D.P. Management, Inc. 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors® 

is a registered trademark of 

St. Vincent de Paul Village, Inc. 

© 2008 S.V.D.P. Management, Inc. 

Dear Neighbor, 

It’s true, there’s no place like home. But once in a while it’s nice to get 

out, go to a park, eat in a restaurant. Getting out and about isn’t something 

our young children at the Village get to do much. 

When they eat … their meals are in the same building where they live. 

When they go to school … they are still on site at the Village. When they 

come “home” … they share a room, not an apartment, with their parents 

and brothers and sisters, and have little privacy. 

The Village is a great place for these neighbors in need to be at this 

time in their lives, but it does have its limitations. 

That’s why summer camp is so important for these young children. 

It gives them a chance to get away – even if it’s only for a day at the pool 

– and enjoy life’s experiences outside the Village. 

Camp lets them see the big world and gives them the chance to enjoy 

simple pleasures, like roasting marshmallows, swimming, hiking, 

horseback riding, or even going to a museum. 

Yes! 

Father Joe’s Villages FAST 

1 child $125 

2 children $250 

4 children $500 

I want to help Father Joe send a 

child to camp. 

8 children $1,000 



i’d like to send _________ children to camp at 

$125 each = $ _________. 

Send all 400 kids to Camp St. Vinny’s this year 

at $125 each = $50,000. 

10 sack lunches $2/ea $20 




The benefits of camp are indisputable – children improve their selfesteem 

… they get physical activity … they make new friends … they 

have fun … and they get out “of the house” to see the bigger world. 

Your gift of just $125 will let one child enjoy the outdoors for an 

entire week this summer. So please, give the gift of camp to a child who 

would otherwise be limited to the routine of the Village. 

Thank you and God bless, 

Father Joe Carroll 

President, St. Vincent de Paul Village 

Thank you for your tax-deductible donation! Save a stamp! donate online www.neighbor.org 

PLEASE PRINT USING A BALLPOINT PEN (Required for cash, checks and credit cards) 

Name 

Address City 

State 

Please email me at 

Donation $ 

Zip Phone ( ) 

c Check enclosed made payable to St. Vincent de Paul Village 

c Visa 

Credit Card # 

c MasterCard c American Express c Discover 

Code (on back of card) Exp Date 

Please print cardholder name 

Signature 

(required for credit cards) 

c FAThER JOE, PLEASE USE mY GIFT FOR YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAmS AS NEEdEd. 

Clip out and mail to: 

Father Joe’s Villages provides support services for all the agency’s partner Villages. 

services include but are not limited to food service, security, maintenance, property 

acquisition and development, human resources, accounting, information technology, 

grant writing, fundraising, creative/communications and general management. 

26th Children’s Charity Dinner set for May 16 

The 26th Annual Children’s Charity Dinner – An Evening Under the Big Top – will 

be held on Saturday, May 16 at the Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa in Mission 

Bay. The night pays tribute to those who have made a powerful impact on the lives of 

our youngest neighbors in need. Proceeds from the event support children’s programs 

at St. Vincent De Paul Village and the Toussaint Academy of the Arts and Sciences. 

Receiving this year’s Bishop Maher Award are RCP Block & Brick and the Finch 

Family; Dottie Cunningham, the Village Ladies Guild; and Mother Antonia Brenner, 

Prison Nun in Tijuana, Mexico. 

The St. Vincent de Paul Tapestry Award will be presented to Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis 

of San Rafael Parish. 

Celebrating a circus theme of An Evening Under the Big Top, the event invites guests to 

let their inner child run free while enjoying the timeless fun of the circus from peanuts 

and popcorn, to three-ring performers and dancing to Rockola - San Diego’s favorite 

classic rock cover band. 

Tickets are available beginning at $300 per Circus Guest. For 

more information, please contact Blair Amidei at 619.446.2134 or 

blair.amidei@neighbor.org 

Give the gift of camp to a child this summer 

Special sack lunches for camp day trips 

FACTS 

St. Vincent de Paul Village 

3350 e St., San Diego, Ca 92102-3332 

VN-CaMP 09

By Quinnton Duenez 

finally graduated high school. It happened. And boy am 

I I happy. 

I didn’t do it alone though. I had so much help from 

everyone around me at Toussaint Academy of the Arts and 

Sciences. From friends, family, and all the staff at Toussaint, 

everyone helped me from the beginning as I was trying 

to finish up all my last high school credits while I was in 

college as a full-time student. It was a great struggle trying 

to do high school and college at the same time, but Donna 

Blomquist, the educational case manager, was there to help 

every step of the way. Now that I’ve graduated high school 

I’m at City College full time, and by the end of this summer I 

will have about 24 college credits before I even turn 18. 

How I got to TAAS is not of much importance, what is 

really important is that I am here now succeeding in more 

things than I could imagine. There is so much opportunity 

here that really anyone can succeed. I am lucky to have 

been able to be on the Rodger Hedgecock show to get 

references and network. And I was even in one of Father 

Joe’s commercials. 

It is fun living here with other teens, almost like dorms. 

We all have similar backgrounds so it’s easy to get along. We 

are all like family, helping each other when we need it, or 

even just hanging out after a long day. I love being able to 

Village News, MaY 2009 3 

Father Joe's Villages 

Shop with purpose: City DIGZ opens at 16th & Market 


In today’s budget-conscious 

economy there’s a place to shop 

without guilt. At City DIGZ you 

can enjoy the pleasure of product 

and price and enjoy a sense of 

philanthropy. 

City DIGZ is Father Joe’s 

Villages’ hip new retail shop at 

16th & Market in East Village 

where fashion finds are affordable 

and sales benefit programs for 

homeless youth. 

Shoppers can enjoy an inventory 

of new and used merchandise that 

is replenished twice a week. About 

70 percent of the merchandise 

is new and appeals to a youthful, 

upscale and urban market. 

The range of merchandise is 

as eclectic as the store’s urban 

décor. There are clothes, cell 

phone accessories, sunglasses, 

bikes, surfboards, skateboards, 

Boogie Boards, electronics, 

household goods, vinyl records 

and CDs, purses, jewelry, and 

shoes, shoes, shoes. 

Try on these prices for size: Steve 

Madden dress shoes for $18, Polo 

jeans for $10, and Jedidiah brand 

T-shirts for $5. n 


A family member captures Quinnton on camera just before 

he graduates. 

San Diego lawyer and real estate 

executive Charles E. Black, who 

led the Petco Park development 

team to revitalize San Diego’s East 

Village and was the senior executive 

of the Irvine Company in San 

Diego County, has volunteered to 

serve as general counsel for Father 

Joe’s Villages. Black was a member 

of Father Joe’s Villages Board of 

City DIGZ is open from 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday 

through Saturday. Teens and 

young adults interested in 

volunteering in the store can 

get retail experience and 

receive credit for community 

service hours. For more 

information, contact Adriana 

Perelson at 619.645.3333. 

Shoppers Shari Booth, left, and her mom Louvenia Foster, a 

cook at the Paul Mirabile Center, show off their great buys. 

For $7, Louvenia bought a Miss Tina purse, a bag designed 

by singer Beyonce’s mother. Booth’s zebra print fleece 

blanket was $10. For more fashion finds, see page 19. 

Charles Black to serve as general counsel 

Directors from 2006 to 2008. 

“In these tough economic times 

with funds being tight it was easy to 

ask a board member to step down 

from the board to provide pro bono 

services,” said Father Joe Carroll, 

president of Father Joe’s Villages. 

When he was developing the 

Ballpark Village project, Black 

worked closely with Father Joe and 

Village staff in the development of 

16th & Market. 

The balance of Black’s time will 

be devoted to his practice at the 

Law Offices of Charles E. Black and 

development services business. 

For more information on Charles 

Black, see www.ceblegal.com. n 

VILLAGE NEWS PHOTOS Patricia M. Walsh 

Father Joe and Keith Mackay, vice president of retail for 

Father Joe’s Villages, stand in City DIGZ in the very spot 

where Father Joe had his first office over 25 years ago at the 

St. Vincent de Paul Village Thrift Store – a bathroom with 

plumbing removed to fit a table and chair. 

Through high school and college, TAAS is there for him 

help out the younger 14- and 15-year-old kids living here. 

They always say, “College? Really, Quinnton? How did 

you do it? You are only 17.” 

It is always a good bonding moment when you inspire 

others to do good as well. Sometimes I get home and I hear 

my guardian angels (Toussaint staff), ask me: 

“Where have you been?” 

“What were you doing?” 

And my favorite: “Are you staying on top of your 

homework?” 

The staff at Toussaint is, really, almost like parents. They 

are ALL there for you whenever you need a hand to reach 

out and lift you up. That is what everyone needs/wants and 

that’s what they offer. 

After I turn 18 I plan on staying at TAAS and moving into 

the graduate dorms and stay in school. Boy, 18 can’t come 

any sooner. 

I almost don’t want to leave this place. It is a place I can call 

home. But my time will come to show the world what I can 

do – get out there and make something of myself. 

To anybody reading this I have a quote for you. “The best way 

to begin life is to begin to live.” So start living for a better day. n 

Quinnton Duenez is a resident of Toussaint Academy of 

the Arts and Sciences. 

Dine at sammy’s sunday, June 21 and 

support Father Joe’s Villages 

Enjoy a meal at any Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza in San Diego from 

noon until 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, 2009, and 20 percent of all pretax 

food and beverage sales (excluding alcohol) will be donated to 

Father Joe’s Villages. 

Diners must present a “Sammy’s Night” flier to their server to ensure 

the donation. Download a flier from www.neighbor.org. To find a 

Sammy’s location near you visit www.sammyspizza.com.

a BuiLDinG 

LiKE no otHEr 

1. 16th & Market is the 

largest building project 

in Father Joe’s Villages 

history and the first 

high-rise affordable 

housing in San Diego. 

2. The Village CREED greets 

all who enter the lobby. 

3. The second floor laundry 

room allows parents to see 

children at play through a 

closed-circuit monitor. 

4. The backyard on the 

second floor has a tot 

playground, basketball 

court, barbecue grills and 

a community room. 

5. The first floor exercise room. 

6. The tot room provides a 

place for little ones to play. 

7. One of five community 

rooms in the building. 

8. The view deck on the 12th 

floor also has barbecue grills. 

9. A view of downtown 

from the 12th floor 

conference room. 

Photos by 

Patricia M. Walsh & 

Emily Velez-Confer 

8 

1 

9 

7 

2 


16th & Market 

3 

4 

5 

6

14 


16th & Market 

Welcome home 

Settling in at 16th & Market 

Brian at home on his balcony. 

a home with a view 

Brian Fernandez, who has 

worked at Father Joe’s Villages 

for nearly five years, shares a 

two-bedroom apartment with a 

roommate. The 27-year-old avid 

Chargers fan says he didn’t expect 

all of the amenities the apartment 

has, his favorite being the balcony 

with a view of the Coronado Bay 

Bridge to the west. He also enjoys 

the well-appointed kitchen where 

safe family environment 

single mom who works in 

A a deli, Blanca Verdugo was 

living in an apartment in an old 

house when she found out about 

16th & Market, and completed an 

application online. Her new threebedroom 

apartment is close to 

her job and her children walk to 

a nearby bus stop each morning 

to get to school. Blanca especially 

appreciates the building’s security 

and safe environment. Her oldest 

daughter, 12-year-old Kenia, likes 

having her own room for the first 

time. “You can have your stuff 

wherever you want and you can 

decorate how you want without 

having to ask your sisters,” she 

says. Dayan, 10, likes the building’s 

computer room. Kassandra, 8, can 


on a recent weeknight he was 

making a fresh salmon dinner. “It’s 

really nice; I am so blessed,” he 

says. Brian’s apartment is filled with 

contemporary furnishings, much 

of which he purchased at Father 

Joe’s Villages auctions, including 

his couch and chest of drawers. 

Brian parks in the underground 

parking, and his home-to-work 

commute is just three minutes. n 

Blanca and her daughters Kenia, 

Dayan, and Kassandra. 

be found dangling by her knees in 

her favorite part of the building – 

the playground in the “backyard” 

on the second floor. n 

Andrea, Robert and baby Emma in their cozy two-bedroom apartment. 

a short commute to work 

For Andrea Amado De La 

Torre, who is a residential 

manager at 16th & Market, 

the commute to work is just 

an elevator ride away. She 

and her husband, Robert, 

and baby Emma have a cozy 

two-bedroom apartment that 

is beautifully decorated in 

soothing beige tones with warm 

brown accents. The baby’s room 

‘everything 

is wonderful’ 

The Graves family moved 

into their three-bedroom 

apartment at 16th & Market after 

living at St. Vincent de Paul Village 

for two years. Kevin, a minister at 

a local non-profit organization, 

was a guest speaker at the ribbon 

cutting ceremony for the building 

in February. 

Amy, a full-time mom, manages 

the family and budget. Twelve-yearold 

twins Forrest and Alison attend 

a local middle school. For Forrest 

and Alison, having their own 

bedrooms is a dream come true. 

Amy enjoys the spacious kitchen 

with stainless steel appliances, 

granite countertops and custom 

cabinetry, as well as the apartment’s 

two bathrooms, one for mom and 

dad and one for the kids. 

is large enough for a crib, chest of 

drawers, large reclining chair and 

twin bed. The master bedroom has 

its own bathroom. The family, who 

moved to San Diego from Indio, 

Calif., enjoys the sweeping city views 

and their apartment’s proximity to 

outdoor and recreational activities 

like the San Diego Zoo, Balboa 

Park, and the bay and the beach. n 

The Graves family at the ribbon cutting for 16th & Market. 

Kevin is hard-pressed to say what 

he likes most, before he lands on 

Bathroom in the master bedroom. 

his favorite: “Everything about our 

new home is wonderful.” n

Community 

Continued from page 1 

VILLAGE NEWS Emily Velez-Confer 

Lori decorates her bathroom. 

a sunny start 

to every day 

Lori Mallette’s one-bedroom 

apartment at 16th & Market 

faces east. 

“Absolutely the best thing is I 

can enjoy the sunlight that comes 

through my apartment,” she says 

with a big smile. “I have a view of 

the sunrise every day; whereas my 

old apartment was on the first floor 

and DARK.” 

Lori, who is a waitress, found out 

about the affordable housing highrise 

from a friend, and she applied 

the last day applications were being 

accepted. Three months later she 

called the management office to 

follow up, and after providing some 

additional documentation, she was 

happy to learn she could move in. 

“It is gorgeous, modern, clean, 

and safe. I have onsite parking 

and a laundry room,” she says. “It 

is centrally located, easy access to 

City College, Balboa Park, and I can 

easily visit family and friends. Great 

freeway access too.” n 

take every opportunity to educate the 

community that through design and effective 

diligent management, high-rise affordable 

housing can work. We completed many 

hours of internet research identifying 

other successful high-rise affordable 

housing initiatives all over the country. We 

documented in detail what we saw as best 

practice in design, amenities and operations. 

We took these lessons learned and invited 

local stakeholders such as the San Diego 

Housing Commission staff and board, the 

Building a community 


Bernie Miles is a reserved, 

even-keeled kind of man. 

His calmness amid any storm has 

served him well in his 15 years 

working at St. Vincent de Paul 

Village, including his current 

position as property manager 

at San Diego’s industry-leading 

affordable housing high-rise. 

He breaks from his middleof-the 

road serenity and his 

eyes light up when he talks 

about building a community for 

tenants at 16th & Market. After 

three years of working behind 

the scenes to develop policy 

and procedures, and reviewing 

1,050 prospective tenant 

applications for 134 apartments 

in the building, Miles is looking 

forward to the next phase. 

“For me, that’s the fun part 

– building a community,” 

says Miles, with a wide smile. 

“We get to create a neighborly 

environment and introduce 

people through events like 

barbecues.” 

Miles knows a lot about people 

and building communities. The 

46-year-old started in 1992 at 

St. Vincent de Paul Village in 

Children’s Services, where he 

worked for five years. After a 

move to north county and a 

brief hiatus from the Village, he 

returned in 2001 as a residential 

program manager. In July 2006 

he moved into a position in 

permanent housing, working 

with residents in supportive 

housing at Villa Harvey Mandel 

and Village Place before taking 

on the job as property manager 

at 16th & Market and the just- 

Center City Development Corporation staff, 

and members of the development team 

on a road trip where we toured successful 

projects in Los Angeles and in San 

Francisco’s Tenderloin district. After these 

visits and debriefs, Father Joe’s Villages, 

compiled a report entitled “Effective High 

Rise/High Density Affordable Housing.” The 

report analyzed our findings and included a 

matrix listing all of the design features and 

amenities we found. We are proud to say 

16th & Market incorporates virtually every 

one of the best practices. 

Recently, I was able to attend a tour of 

affordable and supportive housing projects 

Bernie Miles, property manager at 16th & Market. 

opened Boulevard Apartments in 

North Park. 

Miles has now completed 

the “lease up” phase of 16th & 

Market, which involved setting 

policy and procedure and the 

application process for tenants. 

“The part that feels good is when 

residents sign a lease and I can 

say, ‘Here are your keys.’ 

“Ninety percent of those moving 

in are families,” Miles continues, 

“and many haven’t had their own 

place in so long. Some folks have 

never even used a dishwasher.” 

Miles says he likes to see tenants 

walk around the building in awe 

of the facility and overhear them 

comment about how they can’t 

believe they’re really living here. 

“For us it’s not about making 

a profit,” Miles says. “It’s a net 

operation that lets us provide 

affordable housing to people who 


really need it.” Miles points out 

that many tenants are coming 

from situations where 50 

percent of their monthly income 

was going to rent. “These rents 

are really affordable and people 

enjoy being accepted into the 

building.” 

As much as Miles lives in the 

moment of making history at 

16th & Market, he’s looking to 

the future of another planned 

building at 15th & Commercial 

that will replace the Bishop 

Maher Center. 

Looking at a large aerial shot 

of the Village he keeps on his 

desk and tracing buildings 

with his hands, Miles says, “I 

remember when a lot of these 

buildings were ideas … and 

when Father Joe gets an idea, 

watch out!” n 

in New York City, known for its investment 

in especially supportive housing. I came 

away from the tour even more invigorated 

and excited about what Father Joe’s Villages 

has accomplished at both 16th & Market 

and Boulevard Apartments, which opened 

in April; and a future project at 15th & 

Commercial we hope to break ground for in 

the latter part of 2009. 

The beautiful design and amenities 

developers included in the buildings we 

toured showed developers had not just the 

tenants in mind, but the local community 

as well. They realized the message their 

building was communicating to the 


16th & Market 

Courtesy 

officers 

At 16th & Market, tenants, 

staff and visitors enjoy the 

presence and assistance of 24hour 

courtesy officers. At all times 

there is a member of the courtesy 

staff walking the building, and a 

courtesy officer at the lobby desk 

to answer questions. 

Lt. Jesus Gonzalez, who started 

working as a security officer at 

St. Vincent de Paul Village four 

years ago, heads up the Village’s 

permanent housing security team 

and courtesy staff, which covers 

16th & Market, Villa Harvey 

Mandel, Village Place and the newly 

opened Boulevard Apartments. 

“I like to work with people 

and give them customer service,” 

Gonzalez says. “My motto is 

‘help those in need.’” Instead of a 

traditional uniform, courtesy staff 

members wear khaki slacks and a 

blazer to contribute the building’s 

feel of home. n 

Lt. Jesus Gonzalez 


surrounding neighborhood would impact 

future development and the ultimate 

understanding of how affordable housing 

can and must be viewed as an essential part 

of community development. 

I am pleased to say this is the same message 

16th & Market and Father Joe’s Villages is 

bringing to San Diego. Affordable housing 

in whatever form – high-rise or low-rise, 

downtown or elsewhere – can enhance and 

bring value to the community and should be 

welcomed. n 

Mathew Packard is vice president of 

development for Father Joe’s Villages.

16 

Ribbon cutting 

Continued from page 1 


16th & Market 

Roberts was the guest speaker at the 

ribbon cutting and presented Father 

Joe with a proclamation. Bishop 

Robert H. Brom of the Catholic 

Diocese of San Diego blessed the 

building and offered a homily. 

“When Jesus took flesh through 

the Blessed Virgin Mary, He made 

His home with us,” Bishop Brom 

said. “Now, we pray that He will 

enter this place, which will be a 

home for many, and bless it with 

His presence. 

“May He always be among those 

Father Joe shares a laugh with the crowd. 

who will dwell here,” he said. “May 

He nurture their love, share in 

their joys and comfort them in 

their sorrows.” 

Bishop Brom also led a prayer 

of gratitude for the generosity 

and hard work of the building’s 

donors, financial partners and 

construction crew. The building 

was made possible largely by 

$21 million in funding through 

Ballpark Village/JMI Realty and 

Lennar. JMI Realty is owned by 

San Diego businessman John 

Moores. Other funding came from 

tax credits, government grants and 

loans, and private contributions. 

“We thought it was important 

that we get involved in providing 

housing that the rest of the market 

was not providing,” says Father 

Joe. “We are making a long-term 

commitment and working with 

our neighbors to make a better 

place to live for everybody.” 

Other guest speakers included 

Richard Lawrence, president of 

the Affordable Housing Coalition 

of San Diego County; Wayne 

Hickey, chief executive officer of 

ROEL Construction; and Kevin 

Graves, a new tenant in the 

building who previously lived for 

two years at St. Vincent de Paul 

Village with his family. 

Father Joe thanked everyone 

who was involved in the project 

and recognized many members of 

the Villages’ boards of directors, 

Mathew Packard, vice president 

of development for Father Joe’s 

Villages; and Barbara Warden, 

a former member of the CCDC 

who initially brought Father 

Joe and Moores together to 

discuss the idea of the affordable 

housing building. 

After the ribbon cutting guests 

enjoyed a reception and took a 

tour of the building. Students 

from the Village’s Culinary Arts 

Program provided beverages 

and appetizers at stations located 

throughout the building. Village 

docents volunteered as tour 

guides, and members of Father 

Joe’s Villages grants department 

provided visitors with information 

about the building. 

Among the many supporters 

on hand was longtime volunteer 

Dottie Cunningham who marveled 

at the building, which is built on 

the site of the original St. Vincent 

de Paul Thrift Store. “I remember 

25 years ago when we couldn’t find 

a table with four legs or a chair to 

sit on,” she says. “This is amazing. 

No one could have imagined this. 

We didn’t realize how much Father 

Joe would do.” n 


County Supervisor Ron Roberts, with big scissors, gets help to snip the ribbon from some of the many officials involved in making the building a reality. 

Guests included, from right, Steven Francis, chairman of the board for Father Joe’s Villages; Charles Black, general 

counselor; David Malcolm, member of the board for Father Joe’s Villages; and Annie Malcolm. 

Mathew Packard, vice president of development for Father Joe’s Villages, is 

thanked for his unwavering dedication.

Bishop Robert H. Brom of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego blesses the affordable housing high rise at 16th & Market. 


Construction worker Ismael Alfaro was 

very moved to see his name on the 

building’s plaque. 


Volunteer docents from St. Vincent de Paul Village assisted with building tours. 


A mouthwatering spread of food was 

served by Culinary Arts students at 

St. Vincent de Paul Village. 


16th & Market 



Children's Charity Dinner honoree Mother Antonia Brenner of the Servants of the Eleventh Hour chats with Bishop Brom.

18 


Neighbors Helping Neighbors FAST FACTS 

Donated art adds color, 

community to 16th & Market 

charitable notion by artist Donald Strandberg 

A unwittingly got him the largest-ever permanent 

display of his artwork. 

It all began when he decided he wanted to donate his 

oversized paintings to a nonprofit after he lost his storage 

space. A friend suggested he call St. Vincent de Paul 

Village. “I didn’t even know they took things like art,” he 

says. So he made the call and a truck picked up the art. 

When Mathew Packard, vice president of development 

for Father Joe’s Villages, saw the art, he offered it to 

the interior designer for 16th & Market, who decided 

the oil on canvas works were perfect for the building. 

Strandberg’s big and bold abstract art inspired by 

nature — some created as far back as 1989 — appear 

Ladies Guild is busy 

behind the scenes 

By emily Velez-Confer 

So many projects and activities 

get done at the Village thanks 

to the time and talent of the Village 

Ladies Guild (VLG). Members 

participate in many and varied 

volunteer activities including 

stuffing envelopes, assisting with 

the Thanksgiving Day 5K, and 

bringing Santa’s workshop to life. 

Needless to say these energetic 

and friendly women are vital 

to helping Father Joe Carroll 

accomplish so much. 

Fabulous Feb. getaway 

On Feb. 18, 2009, the VLG held 

its Fabulous February Getaway 

Luncheon at the Hilton Hotel 

Mission Valley. The annual 

luncheon helps raise funds for 

Easter shopping held every year 

for the parents of children living 

at St. Vincent de Paul Village and 

teens at Toussaint Academy. 

The lunch started with a social 

hour and silent auction. “RB 

Swingtet,” a band from Rancho 

Bernardo, kept the room filled 

with great tunes. 

Ladies Guild President Joyce 

Ellison introduced Father Joe 

Carroll, who lead a prayer and 

thanked the group for all its help at 

the 16th & Market ribbon cutting 

ceremony. Mistress of Ceremonies 

Laura Kojima, Volunteer Services 

program manager, shared her 

appreciation for the Guild’s 

support throughout the year. Judith 

Fleshman spoke on behalf of the 

planning committee and later said 

that this year’s event was a pleasure 

to co-chair with all the support 

she received from the committee 

members and donation of silent 

auction items. 

After the drawing and silent 

auction winners were announced, 

the luncheon came to a close. All 

present said their good-byes as old 

friendships were renewed and new 

ones were established. 

Christmas luncheon 

Friends and guests gathered 

on Dec. 8, 2008, at the Admiral 

Baker Clubhouse for the VLG 

annual Christmas Luncheon. 

Some arrived in shades of blue and 

formed a “Rockettes” line to show 

off the coincidence. 

Father Joe joined the festivities 

and shared his stories that always 

get a heart-felt laugh. He thanked 

those who “weathered” the rain 

to volunteer at the Thanksgiving 

Day 5K Run/Walk (Swim?), noting 

that even with the bad weather 

the event beat the previous year’s 

attendance record. 

The dining tables were decorated 

with lovely poinsettias surrounded 

with real holly, Christmas 

ornaments and candy canes. A choir 

to have been commissioned just to fit the building’s 

community spaces, and bring the true meaning of the 

San Diego community to the building. 

“So many ideas can be worked out on a large scale,” 

Strandberg says of his art. “Working in these large 

abstractions evokes a sense of outdoors with life and 

space by using nice juicy paint.” Strandberg is also 

a musician and has his own album “900 Miles,” a 

solo guitar compilation. His paintings can be seen at 

www.donstrandberg.com. 

To donate household goods, business items, art, 

sporting goods or any re-usable items, call 619.687.1050 

to schedule a pick-up, or bring items to 815 33rd Street, 

San Diego, CA 92102. 

Through the generosity of donors and the time and talent of volunteers, Father Joe’s Villages is 

fortunate to have a wide range of supporters who model our motto and who are truly Neighbors 

Helping Neighbors®. 


Donald Strandberg with one of several of his oil on canvas abstract paintings. 


Blue is the new red as these ladies proved at the Ladies Guild’s Christmas 

Luncheon. From left, guests Ethel Stagg and Fran Nizic, and members 

Nan McCord and Virginia Barker. 

from Scripps Ranch High School 

directed by Ray Ruben performed 

very unique arrangements, all 

done a cappella. 

After a very short “business 

meeting,” luncheon planners, 

subcommittee members and 

co-chairs Janet Milliken and 

Delia Werth were thanked. Betty 

Andersen, Diane Montag and 

Mary Kasimatis gathered items 

and put together the baskets for 

the drawing. 

On the day of the event, Delia, 

Betty Hauck, Kathy McKinley, 

Ruth Barker, and Manuel Flores 

decorated the tables with Janet’s 

direction. Connie Gallagher, Vivian 

McNeece, Sally Kiely and Marie 

Ostwald worked at registration 

with Delia’s direction. Helga Bencik 

greeted the ladies, and Michele 

Leon-Scharmach was in charge of 

additional ticket sales along with 

Susan Bua and Nancy Shevik. 

Candy canes decorating the tables 

were collected and put to new use 

by Dottie Cunningham as stocking 

stuffers for Santa’s Workshop. The 

event committee was given a round 

of applause for the organization of 

this fine luncheon. 

For information on joining the 

Village Ladies Guild, please contact 

Virgina LaMendola, membership 

chair, at 619.435.2108. 

Emily Velez-Confer is the production 

coordinator for Father Joe’s Villages. 

generous support 

from funders 

Father Joe’s Villages receives 

generous funding from both 

public and private donors. The 

following are recent donations 

received: 

Las Patronas designated 

Father Joe’s Villages as a major 

beneficiary of the Jewel Ball. 

Funds raised will help provide a 

new playground for children at 

the Village. 

Payless Shoe Source donated 

vouchers for Payless shoes for 

children at St. Vincent de Paul 

Village and Martha’s Village & 

Kitchen. The donation totaled 

$4,125. 

The Kaiser Community 

Benefits Program awarded 

St. Vincent’s $25,000 for 

Health Services. 

The Medical Clinic at St. 

Vincent de Paul Village was 

awarded $10,000 for dental 

supplies by The Pierre Fauchard 

Academy Foundation. 

Martha’s Village & Kitchen was 

funded for $2,500 to provide 

holiday food baskets at Martha’s. 

The Barbara Wetzel 

Foundation awarded $21,300 to 

support the ongoing operations 

at St. Vincent’s Family Living 

Center. 

The County of Riverside 

Emergency Food and Shelter 

Program awarded Martha’s 

$30,314 to help cover the 

costs of food services and rent 

assistance.

San Diego's first high-rise affordable housing opens - Father Joe's ...

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