READERS RESPOND -- Residents react to Balboa hotel proposal

My wife and I think that commercialism and expansion of tourism has

already deteriorated and is now ruining the old hometown atmosphere of

Balboa, Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar and the city of Newport Beach

(“Hotel proposal draws wait-and-see reaction,” Oct. 20). Tearing down a

well-kept mobile home park that has been with us for decades as well as

the historic American Legion building, its well-known American Legion

Yacht Club and leased city docks is just another insult to our

“hometown.” Fortunately for us, the Cannery was saved. Let’s not let

commercialism get the best of Newport. We are against tearing these

landmarks down in order to build a 156-room luxury resort.

A.J. and ELIZABETH TERRELL

Corona del Mar

I want to comment on the proposed hotel where the American Legion and

Marina Park mobile homes are. I think it is a disgrace if the city went

ahead with this. I am a veteran and I remember the stories when Post 291

moved to its present location. They owned the property south of the Post,

but the city needed that property to complete a street. So they relocated

the American Legion where it presently is. At that time, the city council

said it would be the American Legion’s permanent home. And that was

understood. They told them at that time they could not buy the property

because it was on tidelands. Now we find out it is not on tidelands. And

now the city is hearing a proposal that would have them move from their

location. I think it is a disgrace to put a hotel on a location such as

the American Legion. Some of the older residents will remember what the

veterans did for this country. And to sell them out for a hotel I think

is almost sacrilegious. But I think the city council should look at some

of the old history of this city and look at some of the commitments this

city made to the veterans.

JOHN MCDANIEL

Newport Beach

I live in Newport Heights on the boundary of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach

and I am a member of American Legion Post 291 -- probably one of the

youngest members. I just want to make a comment about the proposal to

construct a hotel on the site of where both the Marina Park mobile home

park and the American Legion sit. I think it is very, very sad. Just like

the development that is happening across the highway from Crystal Cove. A

profit-making deal to bring other people in who aren’t really a part of

the community should not supersede an institution such as the American

Legion, which honors members of the community who have contributed so

much to our well-being. I just can’t believe this would even be an issue

with our community. I think the American Legion deserves to remain in the

beautiful spot that it is.

PAT KOVALCHECK

Newport Heights

I read your article regarding the proposed hotel on the American Legion

site. I cannot believe that this hotel is owned by an American firm, as

no board of directors would allow a consideration of removing the

American Legion to build a hotel. I think this is completely out of

order. And I am glad it is only in a proposal state. I am sure our city

council will turn it down.

DERICK ELLIOTT

Newport Beach

I would strongly oppose a hotel being built at Balboa Boulevard and 15th

Street. In the summertime we already live with heavy traffic on the

peninsula and the hotel would only make it worse. I would strongly

oppose.

MARY ALICE LE FEBVRE

Balboa Peninsula

I am very much against a hotel being built where the mobile home park and

the American Legion Post are on the peninsula. I am very much against

this!

CATHERINE SWIGARTNewport Beach

This has a strange parallel to the discussions regarding a Fashion Island

expansion (“Resort planned for marina site,” Oct. 19). I do not feel we

need more traffic, more people or more congestion. It is hard enough to

get down the peninsula as it is now. I do not think we need Italian-style

villas, restaurants, or another high-rise in order to satisfy a

developer’s pocketbook. But there is more at stake here than less space.

The American Legion hall has been here longer than the majority of our

citizens that reside here today. Some buildings should be recognized as

very important parts of our city’s history. The Balboa Theater, Harbor

High Bell Tower, Balboa Pavilion, Fun Zone and the legion hall come to

mind and should stand as is to remind us of simpler times. If this deal

goes through, then maybe we can tear down the Balboa Ferry? After all, it

is old and we really don’t need it. Maybe we can find a way to replace it

with the London Bridge currently out at Lake Havasu?

RALPH E. ROLLINS III

Costa Mesa

I am responding to the article that says “Resort proposed for Marina Park

and American Legion site.” I have been living in the Newport area for 25

years. This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard yet. Can you

imagine what a 156-room anything would do to the peninsula? Don’t hold

your breath Steve Sutherland [the developer of the proposed project]

because I have a crystal ball and this is not going to happen. Our

veterans come first, and they are not moving.

KAY ANDERSON

Newport Heights

I have been a resident on the Balboa Peninsula for 50 years. Regarding

the proposal for building the new hotel there on Balboa Boulevard and

15th Street, here it goes: Right now, we are in the middle of the week in

the middle of October. The weather is beautiful. I have called the hotels

that are on the peninsula and also at the Newport Pier area and none of

them are even half-full. So the first thing is what is the demand? The

second thing is the peninsula has one street going one way and one street

going the other way. Balboa Boulevard is a very, very small street. This

is another “field of dreams” idea -- build it and they will come. But

somehow I can’t see why we are building something that doesn’t need to be

built when the ones that are here now aren’t full, anyway. We don’t have

the parking. This is a bad idea because of the street and the congestion.

We have no way to fill that hotel year-round. And it doesn’t make sense

to take up that much room and to build that much space when we don’t have

the area devoted to parking. Let’s tear down the Fun Zone and build

another Staples Center. There are reasons why the Staples Center is in

Los Angeles: It was needed. We don’t need anything more congested on the

Balboa Peninsula.

JOSEPH CLEARY

Balboa Peninsula