Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen is a South African–born construction and real-estate executive who has shaped San Diego’s skyline and beyond. As founder and CEO of Gafcon, Inc., and partner in Protea Waterfront Development, Gaffen has led dozens of major projects – from local civic landmarks to multi–billion-dollar waterfront redevelopments. Over a four-decade career, he has built a reputation as a hands-on leader. Colleagues describe him as “down to Earth” and community-minded, often involving local stakeholders in his projects. In this comprehensive biography, we trace Gaffen’s journey from his early life in South Africa to his current role spearheading the transformative Seaport San Diego project and other global developments.
Early Life and Education
Yehudi Gaffen was born and raised in South Africa. A native of Johannesburg who grew up in Pretoria, he came of age during the turbulent apartheid era. In 1971 he was conscripted into the South African Defense Forces and served as a corporal in the Border War. After the conflict, he attended the University of Cape Town, initially studying civil engineering but ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. In 1979, driven by political upheaval at home, Gaffen and his wife Pam emigrated to San Diego. He later explained that the unrest and repression in South Africa (before Nelson Mandela’s release) convinced them it was not a viable future for raising a family.
Upon arriving in California, Gaffen entered the construction and real-estate field. He joined Sunroad Enterprises – a local developer – where he helped complete projects like the Sunroad Marina on Harbor Island. Those early years in San Diego gave him exposure to complex development projects and set the stage for his next venture.
Founding Gafcon and Early Career
In 1987, Gaffen and his wife co-founded Gafcon, Inc., a program and construction management consulting firm. The name “Gafcon” (from Gaffen Construction) reflected his vision of assisting project owners in delivering large-scale developments that support vibrant communities. Under Gaffen’s leadership as CEO, Gafcon steadily grew to become one of Southern California’s most respected firms. It has managed hundreds of projects across civic, educational, and commercial sectors.
Major early achievements include coordinating the development of university housing and public facilities. Over the years Gafcon’s portfolio expanded to encompass high-profile bond-funded projects and complex public works. By the 2000s, Gafcon was trusted on multi-billion-dollar programs such as California school bond initiatives and city hall projects. Gaffen also helped launch Protea Holdings in 1994 (with partner Jeff Essakow), a development company that would later become Protea Waterfront Development. Protea’s projects have included commercial and retail ventures in San Diego (notably redeveloping Del Mar’s Flower Hill Mall).
Major Projects and Achievements
Gaffen’s career is marked by an extraordinary range of urban redevelopment and infrastructure projects. Below are some of the standout projects he has led or managed:
- North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (San Diego): A key harborfront revitalization outlining parks, promenades, and public spaces.
- Port of Los Angeles Waterfront & Promenade: Major redevelopment of the LA harborfront to include parks, retail and public amenities.
- Seaport San Diego Redevelopment: Leading a multi-billion-dollar, 70-acre transformation of San Diego’s waterfront (on the Central Embarcadero). This flagship project (see below) includes plans for an aquarium, marina, tower, and public market.
- Shanghai Zizhu Hi-Tech Park (China): Master-planning a massive $12 billion mixed-use city along the Huangpu River. This 3,000-acre project (Zizhu Purple Bay) is designed as a live-work-play community for 50,000 residents.
- AltaSea Ocean-Innovation Campus (Los Angeles): Project management for a $135 million redevelopment of the Port of LA’s waterfront into a science and technology campus.
- Los Angeles Forum Redevelopment: Program management for the renovation of the iconic LA sports and entertainment arena.
- Education Bond Programs (CA): Oversight of dozens of school district construction projects tied to Proposition S and Z in San Diego, Prop S & N in San Diego CCD, and the LA Community College bond program – collectively totaling roughly $46 billion in investments.
- Civic and Community Projects: Including the San Diego County Hall of Justice, Del Mar Fairgrounds revitalization, and renovation of San Francisco’s China Basin Landing after fire damage.
Under Gaffen’s management, Gafcon has earned a reputation for handling complex urban projects. For example, a former colleague notes that Gaffen “thrives on challenge,” preferring projects that are technically and logistically demanding. Industry publications have repeatedly recognized Gaffen’s influence: he was named to the San Diego Business Journal’s SD500 list of local leaders and is often cited as one of the region’s most influential development executives.
Transforming San Diego’s Waterfront: The Seaport Project
One of Gaffen’s most ambitious endeavors is Seaport San Diego, a plan to reimagine 70 acres of downtown waterfront. In 2016 the Port of San Diego awarded the project’s redevelopment rights to Protea Waterfront Development (where Gaffen is CEO and managing partner). Valued at well over $1 billion, Seaport San Diego is envisioned as a mixed-use urban district that will “open the waterfront” to the community with parks, education, and commerce.
Under Gaffen’s leadership, the Seaport plan includes a 500-foot tower and a 192,000 sq. ft. aquarium (in partnership with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and OdySea Aquarium). It also calls for a new marina, an “urban beach,” hotels and hostels, a public market, plazas, and even a marine-tech incubator. As Gaffen himself put it, “nothing as big as this has been done in San Diego” and the city is “on the verge of truly becoming one of the great cities of the world”. (A 2019 San Diego Magazine report noted that Gaffen’s team “won the bid to redevelop the San Diego harbor” with a ~$2 billion plan covering exactly 70 acres.)
Gaffen remains closely involved in the Seaport effort, often engaging with local stakeholders. He has emphasized community input, with union and community leaders praising his inclusive approach. For example, a labor union president noted that Gaffen “goes out of his way to include the community” and speaks “like a regular guy who cares about people,” rather than talking only in developer jargon. This people-first approach reflects Gaffen’s long-term view: he expects the Seaport project to be his legacy in San Diego. The next phases will include public outreach, design finalization (expected by late 2024), and eventual construction of the waterfront park, aquarium, and other facilities.
International and Regional Projects
While based in San Diego, Gaffen’s work has global reach. In China, Gafcon has led the master planning of the Zizhu Hi-Tech Park (also called Shanghai’s Zizhu Purple Bay). This is a vast mixed-use development (over 3,000 acres) combining housing, office parks, a marina, and an 800-acre “InnoTown” technology hub. With a projected cost of $7–12 billion, Zizhu is one of the largest international projects Gaffen has undertaken. Colleagues on the project say Gafcon was chosen for its Seaport vision and delivered beyond expectations.
Regionally, Gaffen has also led redevelopment of waterfront and urban sites beyond San Diego. He oversaw the renovation of San Francisco’s China Basin district after a 2014 fire, and Gafcon has managed work at numerous city and county facilities in Southern California. In addition, as an AltaSea (Port of LA) trustee, Gaffen helped guide the transformation of a former industrial pier into an ocean-science campus. He is active in regional planning circles, serving on boards such as the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and AltaSea’s governing board.
Leadership Style and Recognition
Yehudi Gaffen’s leadership style blends bold vision with personal humility. Friends and colleagues emphasize his down-to-earth character and family values. Longtime associates note that Gaffen remains “still humble, still respectful” despite huge successes. His wife Pam (now retired) was integral in Gafcon’s early days, and even Gaffen’s son Josh now leads development efforts at Gafcon.
Gaffen’s community-oriented approach has earned him several honors. In 2020 he was named one of San Diego’s “500 Most Influential” community leaders by the Business Journal. In 2024 he was set to receive the inaugural Gaffen Blue Champion Award at the TMA BlueTech conference – an honor created in his name to recognize leaders in the marine economy. The award cited his “visionary leadership” in revitalizing San Diego’s waterfront and promoting collaboration between the San Diego and Los Angeles maritime communities. TMA BlueTech’s executive director lauded Gaffen for setting “the standard” in building a “sustainable Blue Economy” that balances innovation, community, and environmental stewardship.
Throughout his career, Gaffen has demonstrated a consistent philosophy: take on projects that “power vibrant communities” and tackle challenges that others might shy away from. Whether steering Seaport San Diego or breaking ground on a school campus, he focuses on long-term impact. This vision has also guided Gafcon’s corporate culture and hiring, as he mentors new leaders (including his son and longtime staff) to carry forward the firm’s mission.
Personal Life and Legacy
Behind the scenes, Gaffen maintains strong family and cultural ties. He and his wife Pam have raised a family in San Diego, and his children and relatives are part of his story. Notably, his parents were Jewish immigrants who fled Eastern Europe before World War II – a heritage Gaffen honors through charity and remembrance. For instance, he led a 15-year project to memorialize his family’s lost community in Bauska, Latvia, dedicating a synagogue garden to their memory. He also enjoys outdoor pursuits: he is an avid fly-fisher and hunter, often practicing the challenging “spey” style of fly fishing on the rivers.
Today, Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen is widely regarded as a visionary developer and community leader in San Diego. He continues to oversee Gafcon’s projects while driving the Seaport San Diego plan forward, with construction expected to begin after design approvals. For those interested in San Diego’s future, watching Gaffen’s work offers a glimpse into the city’s coming renaissance.
Conclusion: Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen’s biography is a story of ambition, community focus, and long-term vision. From his early days selling fish tanks in South Africa to leading global mega-projects, Gaffen has maintained a hands-on commitment to his work and values. Readers who want to learn more about these developments can follow updates from the Port of San Diego and Gafcon. As construction unfolds on Seaport San Diego and other initiatives, Gaffen’s legacy of building communities “for generations to come” continues to take shape.
