READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: We asked readers what they thought about a proposal to beautify

a busy intersection in Corona del Mar with landscaping and flower-themed

decor.

I think the removal of the ficus trees has made our business district

look terrible (“A blooming proposal for Corona del Mar,” Nov. 17). Then

to replace the trees with the very small trees looks bad. Everyone that

comes into my business agrees and can’t believe what they did. I doubt a

few flowers at the north end of town will help. We need trees that look

substantial.

ANDREA CAMPBELL

Newport Beach

This is a great idea. Thanks for catching a vision of how special this

community is and working to make it even better. I’ve only lived here for

four years, but I loved this little community since I was in high school

in Long Beach 35 years ago.

Keep up the good work!

JIM PRICE

Corona del Mar

Corona del Mar is not a walking town like Laguna Beach. It is a working

town. People live there and they go to the store and they get hardware

and fireplace equipment. So it will never be a charming village like La

Jolla. First of all, the business owners need to get down to basics and

paint their stores and cleanup. Secondly, one simple design element would

be to encourage shop keepers to put up awnings in each block. Try to

match the colors as much as they could.

The flowers and the foliage treatment on the islands is kind of a joke.

The low plantings look dead. The foliage sculptures look lean and sparse

like a bunch of little old ladies put them together. Why don’t we turn

that over to Roger’s Gardens and put their signs up? Let them do it and

contribute something to them. But let them do it in exchange for

advertisement. Corona del Mar needs some plain old ordinary cleanup. The

Albertsons center looks horrible. The Port Theatre looks deserted. The

cleaners, fingernail places and liquor places look terrible. Look at the

places with awnings and see a difference.

See the tie-in with the word village. At least we can make people think

it is a village. This is from somebody who loves Corona del Mar and

spends a lot of time in La Jolla. And it could be much the same if people

would just get together and do something in conjunction with each other.

Each store is too much its own little thing.

DONNA LEVERETTNewport Beach

I think it is an excellent idea. And you have my vote of confidence. I

think keeping the landscaping beautiful and inviting will make this place

a more beautiful and inviting place for people to come, enjoy and live.

Thank you for the article. Hope to see more articles about our little

town of Corona del Mar.

PETE ANZALDO

Corona del Mar