Gains & losses

GAINS

A NEW NEIGHBOR

The first tenant has moved into Downtown’s new Plaza Almeria. Astra Oil

Co. moved its oil trading business from Long Beach to the $23 million,

Mediterranean-style project, which began in April 1998. It stands three

stories tall and covers an entire city block.

In addition to the usual collection of shops, restaurants and offices,

the complex also features 42 two-bedroom townhomes, ranging anywhere

between $300,000 and $400,000. The grand opening is expected in October

or early November.

City officials hail the project, bordered by Main and 5th streets and

Orange and Olive avenues, as a smooth transition from the heavy

commercial buildings near the pier into the quieter, tree-lined

neighborhoods north of downtown.

BUS STOP REOPENS

Huntington Beach City School District officials have reopened a Perry

Elementary School bus stop at Chapel Lane and Vallarta Drive.

Six parents of Perry and Moffett elementary school children urged the

board of trustees to reinstate several bus routes eliminated last year to

reduce transportation costs.

“This whole thing revolves around the safety of the kids,” said Don

Hofeldt, whose now-17-year-old son was hit by a car three years ago while

riding his bike in a crosswalk on his way to Sowers Middle School.

Hofeldt has a fifth-grade daughter attending Moffett school, which had a

total of eight bus routes eliminated. The move required fourth- and

fifth-graders, who get bused across Magnolia Street to school, to walk

home.

Removing the bus stops prevented all students bound by Garfield Avenue on

the south, Ellis Avenue on the north, Beach Boulevard on the west, and

Newland Street on the east, from taking the bus.

The bus stop addition will allow all students to ride the bus to school

and only students in kindergarten through third grade to be transported

home.

COFFEEHOUSE OK’D

The planning commission approved a permit for a new coffeehouse after

slashing the business’s nighttime hours because it will be located near

residential areas.

The coffeehouse owners originally proposed operating from 7 a.m. to

midnight on weekends, and then offered a compromise of 11 p.m.

“I request to stay open later on the weekends after movie hours so we can

have a little more business to help pay our bills,” owner Tu Yen Pham

said.

But planning staff and commissioners agreed that, until the business has

proven itself worthy of late-night hours, it will have to close by 10

p.m., even on weekends.

Four other businesses at the 16040 Harbor Blvd. retail center sent

letters to the commissioners expressing concerns that a late-night

coffeehouse might compromise safety, as well as the noise level, at the

center.

LOSSES

DEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD

A court cleared the way for a developer to move forward with construction

along the border of the Bolsa Chica mesa, despite the discovery of

ancient human remains and artifacts.

Orange County Superior Court Judge William McDonald saw no need for a new

environmental study of the site at the southwest corner of Bolsa Chica

Street and Los Patos Avenue, where Hearthside Homes plans to build an

upscale residential community.

Hearthside, formerly the Koll Real Estate Group Inc., had argued that

previous studies unearthed remains similar to those found last month when

grading work uncovered what are believed to be an American Indian’s

cheekbone fragment, a tooth, a cog stone and a grinding stone.

The Bolsa Chica Land Trust alleged in its lawsuit that development on the

six-acre property may destroy “rare” pieces of American Indian history.

The group may appeal the judge’s ruling but that offered little solace to

Eileen Murphy, a member of the land trust. “How do you say devastated,”

she said.

American Indian tribes are expected to rebury the remains this month.

CITY WORKER ARRESTED

Huntington Beach officials have yet to decide whether a park employee

arrested last month for operating a drug lab out of his Lake Forest home

should be fired, or disciplined.

On Aug. 12, police raided the apartment of Brian Civitano, 37, and found

evidence that he manufactured methamphetamine, said Detective Tom

Richard, who works for a countywide drug task force.

Officials arrested Civitano while confiscating chemical ingredients,

equipment and a few grams of the “finished product,” Richard said. “It’s

a very strong case, in my opinion,” he said.

The district attorney’s office charged Civitano with the manufacture of

methamphetamine, the possession of a chemical with intent to manufacture

methamphetamine, and two counts of child endangerment because his

daughters were with him at the time of his arrest, deputy district

attorney Jonathan Fish said. The children are in protective custody, said

Gary Hudson, special agent supervisor for the state department of

justice.

If convicted, Civitano could face up to nine years and eight months in

prison.

Civitano, who’s out on bail, works for the city’s park, tree and

landscape division. His supervisor, Daryl Smith, wouldn’t comment on the

case.

Before taking any disciplinary action, the city must give all city

employees, including Civitano, an opportunity to defend themselves.

EX-CITY TREASURER PASSES AWAY

Former city treasurer and community activist Donald L. Watson died Sept.

11 from heart complications at his Huntington Beach home. He was 70.

“There were a lot of people that he touched in the city and in the

community,” said a tearful Shari Freidenrich, the city’s current

treasurer.

Freidenrich, who replaced Watson after he retired in 1995, recalled how

generously he gave of himself.

“He was a great mentor to me when I came in,” she said. “He was always

willing to help.”

That spirit carried over to his work for the Huntington Beach Community

Clinic, where he served as chairman of the board, said Beverley Watson,

his wife of 48 years. He also sat on the board of Pacific Liberty Bank,

she said.