READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: The renovated Harbor Center, which opened its largest tenant,

The Home Depot, this week (“Harbor Center comes to life,” Jan. 5).

I live at 2349 College Drive and was one of the initial members of the

Neighbors of the Harbor Center. I see the opening of the Harbor Center as

something fearful. We have survived a year of assault with dirt and dust

that literally scoured the paint off our cars and our windowsills and

covered our plants. We have heard all of the noise of construction, and

now the Harbor Center will open at 6 a.m. The traffic from people

bringing goods in goes directly behind our wall. This is a great concern

apart from the noise -- the visual assault. We back up to the center, and

those on the other side of the street face the center. Stand on their

front steps. Every time those people come out of their homes they are

assaulted with the cement walls of the buildings. Some people in some

sections of town receive great sympathy if a tree obstructs their view.

We have these prison walls that are a visual assault. And I don’t believe

any members of the planning commission or the City Council realized just

how great that visual assault would be.

I am also very concerned about the traffic. I noticed that finally there

is a direct sidewalk access along Wilson. That has been closed off at

various spots all during construction, so somebody going along there with

small children is told in the middle of the block -- far, far from any

crosswalks -- “do not proceed further.” I think signage should have been

put at crosswalks to let people know that further on down the block that

this would be a problem.

Of course I rejoice if the city feels that it is going to increase its

tax base, but at what a cost. The cost was ours.

KATHARINE BEQUETTE

Costa Mesa

I think the new Harbor Center will definitely improve the area, and it is

coming together just fine. I can’t wait until it is finished so that I

can go shopping there.

I have already been to Rite Aid, and I am looking forward to the opening

of Home Depot and Albertson’s market, as well as all the other stores.

ELEANORE TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

In response to your request for feedback regarding the newly renovated

Harbor Center, I would just like to say: What a waste of prime retail

space! Not to mention the nuisance and inconvenience it has and will

continue (to a greater degree) to impose on the surrounding residents.

I happen to live approximately 20 to 30 yards from the new Home Depot. I

am one of the forgotten and discounted residents. I live in an apartment,

and I’ve been here for three years. I believe the only reason the

developers were able to get this center built is because the property is

surrounded by apartment-dwellers, and very few home owners live close

enough to pose a threat of protest to the design. On the other hand there

are probably close to a thousand apartment-dwellers who were probably

expected to “just move away” if the center was an inconvenience, only to

be replaced by new residents who would have to accept the center since it

was there prior to their arrival.

This “new” center is much too industrial for this residential area. Most

of the new stores are redundant and unnecessary. This residential area

has no need for another “lumberyard,” nor did it need another

supermarket. This area already has more supermarkets per square mile than

anywhere else on Earth. I also think the “day labor” problems that will

soon start daily at The Home Depot will be another salute to poor

planning.

I thank God “Nick’s” is still there.

Maybe it’s time to “just move,” but then where would I get great pizza?

It’s a tough call.

DAVE LAW

Costa Mesa

The new Harbor Center is as yet unfinished and has already caused

financial strain on Costa Mesa taxpayers, who will now have to pay

$75,000 annually to open the Job Center doors every Sunday, due to the

expected overflow of day laborers expected to line up looking for work

near the new Home Depot at the completed Harbor Center.

Whatever happened to Sunday being the day of rest? Costa Mesa council has

no right to run the Job Center seven days a week. It is not the

taxpayers’ duty to provide the Job Center. Except for operating emergency

services, the council members should be promoting the godly practice of

keeping Sunday the “Lord’s Day” not a “Home Depot work day.”

On a positive note, at least the far-out “Jetsons” comic architectural

style of the Harbor Center accurately reflects the personality of Costa

Mesa’s council.

RUSSELL NIEWIAROWSKI

Santa Ana Heights