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.
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